Amplifire Festival

Premiere at MS Artville

Amplifire is new to the Hamburg festival calendar and celebrates its premiere edition in 2026. The venue is MS Artville at Alte Schleuse 23 in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg – the area that hosts the art programme around MS Dockville for most of the year. In August 2026, MS Artville will become a Rock, Punk, and Post-Hardcore festival for two days, a programmatic sister event to MS Dockville, which follows a week later.

Confirmed Headliners

The booking is remarkably high-calibre for a premiere: Biffy Clyro – the Scottish stadium rock band around Simon Neil and the Johnston twins – are typically in the main stage slot at major open-airs during the festival season, making their booking for Amplifire an unusual investment. Bad Religion from Los Angeles bring their Hamburg show, the only confirmed German date in 2026. Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, a British folk-punk singer-songwriter with a German fan base, are regular Hamburg guests. Turbostaat, the Husum-based Post-Hardcore institution, will play their album "Vormann Leiss" in full – a rare live format.

30+ Bands on Three Stages

In addition, over 30 other bands from the genres Rock, Punk, Post-Hardcore, Alternative, and Indie have been announced. The three stages are spread across the MS Artville site: the main stage with an Elbe view, a second stage in a former workshop hall, and a third (smaller) stage in an outdoor tent. The full lineup will be published on amplifirefestival.de and Instagram.

Inclusion and Clear Stance

The organisers have formulated a clear disclaimer statement: "People who exclude others must stay outside. We reject all forms of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism." This position reflects an attitude deeply rooted in the Hamburg punk and post-hardcore scene. A 24/7 awareness team, accessible grandstands and toilets, and social tickets for €50 for Hamburg residents with proof of income support.

A Newcomer with Profile in the State of Hamburg

With Amplifire, Hamburg gets a new rock festival that bridges the musical gap between the politically charged Wutzrock and the urban-indie-oriented MS Dockville – focusing on international rock, punk, and post-hardcore headliners, with a clear anti-discrimination claim. In the Hamburg-Mitte district / Wilhelmsburg borough, it is the second major festival on the MS Artville grounds, making the Elbe island a Hamburg festival hotspot in August.