Events slated for 2025: Remaining occurrences scheduled for this year
Major Music Festivals to Grace North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026
Get ready for an exciting summer of music in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, as several major festivals are set to take place in the region. Here's a rundown of the confirmed events for 2026:
Parookaville 2026
Mark your calendars for July 17 to July 19, 2026, as the Parookaville Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary at Weeze Airport. This electronic music festival has been a staple in the region, featuring top-tier EDM artists such as Armin van Buuren, Robin Schulz, Hardwell, Steve Aoki, Paul Kalkbrenner, and more in previous years. While the exact lineup for 2026 has not been fully revealed yet, early limited pre-sale tickets are available for those who have attended since 2015.
Rainbow Festival 2026
The Rainbow Festival will light up the Fühlinger See in Cologne on June 27, 2026. Top stars will perform all day long on two stages - the Sunshine and Aqua Stage. Artists such as Kamrad, No Angels, Alle Farben, David Puentez, and Felix Jaehn are among those confirmed to perform. The festival kicks off at 12:00 noon and wraps up at 10:00 pm.
Summerjam Festival
Reggae, dancehall, Afrobeat, and hip-hop fans should not miss the Summerjam Festival, also taking place at the Fühlinger See. Vybz Kartel, a star of the scene, will give his only European concert at the Summerjam in Cologne. Other top acts include K.I.Z, Shenseea, or Davido.
Zeltfestival Ruhr
The Zeltfestival Ruhr, an annual cultural and music festival held in Bochum at the Kemnader See, will take place from August 22 to September 7, 2025, although the 2026 dates have not been announced yet. In 2025, artists such as Bosse, Cindy aus Marzahn, Samu Haber, Atze Schröder, and Leony graced the stages.
Juicy Beats Festival
The Juicy Beats Festival, featuring various genres, is expected to take place in late July 2026 in Dortmunder Westfalenpark. More details about the lineup will be announced closer to the event.
Wacken Open Air
For heavy metal enthusiasts, Wacken Open Air is a must-attend event. Scheduled for July 30 to August 2, 2025, in the village of Wacken, Guns N' Roses, Papa Roach, and Machine Head are among the headliners for Wacken Open Air 2025.
San Hejmo
San Hejmo, a festival featuring German-speaking artists from various music genres, will take place at the airport in Weeze on August 15 and 16, 2025.
Tickets for all these festivals, including the Rainbow Festival, Zeltfestival Ruhr, Wacken Open Air, San Hejmo, and Parookaville, are already available for purchase. Keep an eye on official festival websites or social media channels starting in early 2026 for the most updated lineups closer to event dates.
Other festivals alongside Major Music Festivals to Grace North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026 offer a diverse range of music genres. Home-and-garden enthusiasts can also explore the region, as several festivals will take place at picturesque locations such as Fühlinger See in Cologne and Kemnader See in Bochum.
