Reeperbahn Festival

In the location's words:

For over 20 years, St. Pauli has been transforming into the center of the international music scene every September. The Reeperbahn Festival is Europe’s largest club festival and, at the same time, one of the most important platforms for new talent in the international music industry. From September 16 to 19, Hamburg’s Reeperbahn becomes a stage for all kinds of music genres: from indie and pop to rock, singer-songwriters, electronic, hip-hop, soul, and jazz. With around 70 venues and over 90 clubs, as well as open-air stages on the Heiligengeistfeld, the festival offers four days full of discoveries, special moments, and pure networking. This year’s theme, “Forever Legit?”, puts the music industry and its evolution at the center. With this focus, the festival aims to amplify young voices, open up spaces, and enable genuine participation.

Music and Entertainment at the Reeperbahn Festival: From Clubs to the Elbphilharmonie

What makes the Reeperbahn Festival unique is its decentralized nature: Instead of being held at a single large festival site, the festival takes place across a wide variety of clubs, theaters, churches, and other venues throughout St. Pauli. This creates a very personal, intimate atmosphere between artists and the audience. Many artists who later became world-famous made their early appearances there. Artists such as Bon Iver, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Sigrid, Aurora, Annenmaykantereit, and Kraftklub performed at the Reeperbahn Festival long before their international breakthroughs.

The complete program of the Reeperbahn Festival: Music in all its facets

The Reeperbahn Festival offers three different ticket options: The Festival Ticket grants access to all concerts, shows, and parties, as well as the Arts & Word program. For everyone under 30, there’s up to a 30% discount on Festival Tickets (ID check required at check-in). Single-entry tickets for individual clubs or events are available starting at 23 euros. So it’s also worth stopping by on a whim—especially at Spielbudenplatz and in the Festival Village on Heiligengeistfeld, where there’s a free program for everyone, whether you have a ticket or not.

Arts & Word: Much More Than Just Music at the Reeperbahn Festival

Over 30 events in the Arts & Word section round out the program: readings, live podcasts, film screenings, art exhibitions, and performances invite you to discover new perspectives. The focus is on artistic explorations of socially relevant topics such as sustainability, equality, awareness, and various forms of discrimination.

The Artists: Newcomers and Established Names

The Reeperbahn Festival presents a carefully curated mix of local and international artists. The current 2026 lineup includes artists such as HVOB, Fat Dog, WizTheMc, Moses Yoofee Trio, Anna von Hausswolff, Dream Wife, TR/ST, and Dotan. The festival deliberately features a mix of up-and-coming talent and established artists, allowing attendees to discover new sounds while also experiencing big names live.

The artists performing at the Reeperbahn Festival represent the full spectrum of the current music scene: fresh pop discoveries, experimental electronic music, soul and funk, indie rock, and much more. The festival sees itself as a platform where established names share the stage with newcomers.

The Conference: The Music Festival for the Industry

Running parallel to the festival is the Reeperbahn Festival Conference, a major gathering of the international music industry. Since 2006, music professionals from around the world have been coming together here: label representatives, booking agencies, journalists, musicians, and everyone who works in the music industry. Through keynotes, panels, masterclasses, interviews, and intensive networking, current topics and challenges facing the international music business are discussed. The Conference is particularly valuable for newcomers looking to make their first connections in the industry.

The Anchor Award: An Award for Newcomers

Every year, the Reeperbahn Festival presents the Anchor: an international award for talented newcomers. The Anchor was recently presented for the tenth time. The award honors up-and-coming artists and is a major accolade in the music industry.

Getting to Hamburg

St. Pauli is easily accessible by public transportation. The Reeperbahn is centrally located in Hamburg’s Mitte district, not far from the Reeperbahn subway station. Parking is limited in the area, so traveling by public transportation or carpooling is recommended.

Sustainability and Awareness

The Reeperbahn Festival is actively committed to sustainability and social responsibility. This includes ensuring fair conditions for artists, partners, and staff, as well as having a long-term positive impact on the city of Hamburg. The Sustain Green Culture Summit at the Reeperbahn Festival Conference promotes dialogue about sustainable practices in the music and cultural industries.

Awareness is a core value: The festival creates safe spaces for all visitors and takes a stand against various forms of discrimination.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Reeperbahn Festival

1. How long has the Reeperbahn Festival been around?

The Reeperbahn Festival was founded in 2006, initially as a music festival inspired by the American South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Since then, it has steadily evolved into a multidisciplinary platform for music, art, film, literature, and the music industry.

2. What kind of music is played at the Reeperbahn Festival?

The Reeperbahn Festival is known for its broad, genre-spanning program with a focus on indie, alternative, pop, rock, electronic, and singer-songwriter music. It places particular emphasis on up-and-coming acts from around the world. The festival is considered an important platform for discovering new talent alongside established artists.

3. What is the Reeperbahn Festival Conference?

The Reeperbahn Festival Conference is the central industry gathering of the international music business, taking place alongside the festival. Since 2006, industry professionals from around the world have been coming together here annually for keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking. The conference is aimed at music creators, label representatives, booking agencies, journalists, and anyone who works professionally in the music industry.