Sharon Osbourne and promoter Andy Copping of Live Nation U.K. have unveiled plans for an official BLACK SABBATH "Classical" orchestra tour during an appearance at MIDEM 2026 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. The ambitious concept will see local philharmonic orchestras perform the legendary heavy metal catalog at major venues worldwide, transforming songs that defined an entire genre -- and arguably invented heavy metal itself -- into sweeping classical arrangements that reveal new dimensions in music already considered among the most important in rock history.
The idea was developed by Ozzy Osbourne's longtime keyboardist Adam Wakeman, son of YES and solo legend Rick Wakeman. The younger Wakeman's classical training and deep, intimate understanding of BLACK SABBATH's catalog -- gained from years of touring with Ozzy -- made him uniquely suited to bridge the gap between heavy metal's heaviest originators and the orchestral world. Each show will feature both classical and original versions of the songs, state-of-the-art graphics and visual projections, a cutting-edge sound system, and approximately four guitar players to maintain the essential heaviness that is the DNA of every BLACK SABBATH composition.
The U.K. launch is planned for the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London -- a venue that has hosted historic performances by LED ZEPPELIN, ERIC CLAPTON, CREAM, and the annual BBC Proms -- serving as the springboard for a global touring entity. The production will then travel to major cities worldwide, engaging local philharmonic orchestras in each location to create a unique collaboration between the classical and metal worlds at every stop.
When asked about skeptics who might question whether BLACK SABBATH's music can translate to an orchestral setting, Osbourne insisted the transition is "unbelievable" and called the project "very, very exciting." The concept follows in the footsteps of similar classical reinterpretations of iconic rock catalogs by METALLICA and DEEP PURPLE, but BLACK SABBATH's uniquely heavy, doom-laden, and rhythmically complex material presents both greater challenges and far greater opportunities for dramatic, emotionally resonant orchestral arrangements.