44 Festival Rheinstetten

44 Festival — Techno and House at Messe Karlsruhe

On May 23rd and 24th, 2026, the Messe Karlsruhe in the Rheinstetten district will transform into the largest Techno and House festival in the Karlsruhe region. The 44 Festival offers a two-day lineup featuring international Techno and House DJs across multiple floors. Unlike most open-air festivals, the 44 Festival is an indoor event held in the exhibition halls — the vast spaces can accommodate thousands of dancers while providing a focused atmosphere and sophisticated sound systems.

Lineup and Floors

The lineup traditionally focuses on the top international Techno and House scene — DJs from Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and occasionally major international artists from the USA and Asia. Multiple floors cater to different sub-genres, from mainfloor Techno and Tech House to Minimal, Deep House, and harder Techno styles later in the night, offering a diverse program. Specific lineup details will be published on the festival website.

Cashless Payment and Service Concept

The 44 Festival operates on a cashless system — you load credit onto your festival wristband and pay for all purchases on-site contactlessly. This significantly speeds up wait times at bars and food stalls. Food and drinks are provided by Messe Karlsruhe's catering services, ranging from Bratwurst and fries to salads, sushi boxes, and vegan options. Energy drinks and non-alcoholic refreshments complement the bar offerings.

Shuttle from Karlsruhe Central Station

Since Messe Karlsruhe is not located in Karlsruhe's city center but in the southern district of Rheinstetten, the festival organizes a shuttle service from Karlsruhe Central Station. This is both environmentally friendly and convenient — take a train to Karlsruhe Hbf, hop on the shuttle, and arrive directly at the festival entrance. Return services operate throughout the night and on Sunday morning.

Messe Karlsruhe — The Venue

The Messe Karlsruhe is located in Rheinstetten, a municipality in the Karlsruhe district just south of the city of Karlsruhe. The venue is one of Southern Germany's most important exhibition centers, with halls for industrial, consumer, and special trade fairs. The hall architecture — high ceilings, large rooms, good acoustics — is well-suited for Techno festivals. In the summer of 2026, as part of the '44 Festival' event weekend concept, there will also be a comedy program with Felix Lobrecht — the well-known German stand-up comedian will perform as part of the festival week's supporting program.

Rheinstetten and Karlsruhe — The Electronic Region

Karlsruhe and its surrounding municipalities (Rheinstetten, Stutensee, Ettlingen, Pforzheim) have been a focal point of the South German electronic music scene for years. The ZKM Karlsruhe (Center for Art and Media) is a global center for electronic music art; clubs like Schwarzwaldhaus or Stadtmitte in Karlsruhe host Techno and House events year-round. The 44 Festival is the largest single festival event for this regional scene. With Karlsruhe being a university city (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design), it attracts a young, art- and technology-oriented audience.