The best music festivals in Germany

1. Rock am Ring/Rock im Park 

Rock am Ring and Rock im Park are affiliated events that are held at the same time at two different venues – on the Nürburgring motor racing rack in the Eifel and on the Zeppelin Field in Nuremberg. Here, visitors experience a fantastic line-up of international greats: from the US band Metallica to the Brazilian rock stars of Sepultura and the Japanese metal phenomenon Babymetal. Some 150,000 people from all over the world gather at these festivals every year.

2. Hurricane/Southside Festival 

The Hurricane Festival in northern Germany and the Southside Festival in southern Germany are also parallel events. Here visitors can look forward to an incredibly diverse programme. Anyone who says they like “a little bit of everything” when asked about their musical taste will feel entirely at home at these festivals. Indie, pop, rap and electronic music attract some 130,000 people here each year. 

3. Wacken Open Air  

The metal festival Wacken Open Air is dominated by distorted guitars and brutal drums – causing some to headbang and others to shake their heads. Metalheads from all over the world come together to turn the small northern German municipality of Wacken into one huge rock paradise for a week. During the festival, the village with a population of 2,000 hosts some 75,000 metal fans. Wacken Open Air is considered the biggest heavy metal festival in the world. 

4. Splash! Festival 

What is probably Germany’s most laid-back festival takes place in Gräfenhainichen in Saxony-Anhalt. The venue is “Iron City Ferropolis” – a former open-cast mine that has been converted into an event location. German and international rap stars perform here around a giant shovel excavator, also known as the “Big Wheel”. It is an annual gathering of the hip-hop scene as well as one of the few opportunities to see global stars such as Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar live in Europe. With around 40,000 visitors, it is regarded as one of the biggest festivals and the best-known hip-hop festival in Germany. 

5. Melt Festival 

Same location, different music: the Melt Festival also takes place against the industrial backdrop of “Ferropolis” in Gräfenheinichen. This is known for its unique blend of electronic sounds, indie rock and alternative pop music. With bands like Bonobo, The xx and Florence + The Machine, the festival is particularly popular among music critics. What is more, the numerous Arab, African, Latin American and East Asian artists make it a particularly diverse festival. Around 25,000 music fans meet here every year to party.

6. Fusion Festival 

With its cabaret stages and techno floors, the Fusion Festival has developed into a major cultural event that is often compared to the US festival “Burning Man”. For one week, a former military airfield in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania is transformed into a lovingly decorated fairytale world. The festival attracts artists and guests from all over the world, presenting a colourful mix of music, art installations, theatre performances and workshops. Offering an alternative atmosphere, diversity and openness, the Fusion Festival attracts some 70,000 visitors on average.

7. Nature One  

Nature One is a highlight for fans of electronic dance music. The former rocket base Pydna in the Hunsrück region of south-western Germany is transformed into a pulsating party zone for around 60,000 visitors. Hot newcomers share the stages with internationally renowned DJs and live acts, providing enough beats to dance the entire weekend away. 

8. MS Dockville 

The MS Dockville Festival has found its niche with a slick blend of indie rock, alternative rap and electro. It is held in Hamburg on the grounds of the Elbe island in the Wilhelmsburg district and features live music along with art installations, workshops and performances. The picturesque Hamburg harbour setting provides the perfect ambience for more than 60,000 visitors.

9. Reeperbahn Festival  

The Reeperbahn Festival is more than just a music festival: it can also be regarded as a meeting of the music industry. In addition to lots of shows by national and international newcomers, the festival features impressive live podcasts and discussion events. It is the perfect event not just for those interested in the music itself but in the work that goes on behind the scenes of an album, too. It attracts more than 40,000 people every year.

10. Parookaville  

In the space of just a few years, Parookaville has become established as one of the biggest festivals for electronic dance music in Europe. The site is designed like a city that comes to life once a year. Appropriately, “visas” are sold here rather than regular tickets. For three days at Weeze Airport on the Dutch border, huge bass boxes fill the space with sound, making the air vibrate and the ground shake. Around 80,000 visitors come here every year. 

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