Barmen geht live

Wuppertal's XXL City Festival — since 1988

'Barmen geht live' is Wuppertal's most important city festival and one of the largest city festivals in North Rhine-Westphalia. From Thursday, May 14th to Sunday, May 17th, 2026, the 38th edition will take over four central squares in the Wuppertal district of Barmen — the historical industrial and administrative core of Wuppertal. Four days of music, dance, street food, a Ferris wheel, and carousels, integrated into a dense concert program — free admission.

The Four Venues

• Alter Markt — Barmen's historic market square, featuring the central Ferris wheel and carousel
• Werth — Main stage along the most important shopping street
• Johannes-Rau-Platz — The square named after the former Federal President and Wuppertal native
• Geschwister-Scholl-Platz — The 'Young Area' with Extreme Rides for a younger audience

The 2026 Themed Program

The 38th edition focuses on the proven themed day structure:

Thursday, May 14th — Schlager Open Air

From 12:30 PM — Schlager program with various acts. From 9:00 PM 'SCHLAGER PARTY' with several headliner performances.

Friday, May 15th — La Bella Notte Italiana

From 3:00 PM — Dance groups. From 6:00 PM 'LA BELLA NOTTE ITALIANA SUMMER SOUND OPEN AIR' — Italian music, Mediterranean vibes, Italian street food.

Saturday, May 16th — Caipirinha Open Air

From 11:00 AM — Dance groups. 7:00 PM Caipirinha Open Air Party with Brazilian music, Capoeira demos, and Latin beats.

Sunday, May 17th — Church Service and Miss Election

From 11:00 AM — Ecumenical church service. From 1:00 PM — Dance performances. From 3:00 PM — Miss Barmen election on the Werth stage.

Attractions for Families

In addition to the concert program, the festival is supported each year by a classic Volksfest (public festival) program:

• Ferris wheel at Alter Markt — view over Barmen city center
• Carousel at Alter Markt
• Extreme Rides in the Young Area at Geschwister-Scholl-Platz
• Street food along the entire festival mile — Pizza, Crêpes, Pulled Pork, Currywurst
• Drink stands from local breweries and wine exhibitors

Barmen — the industrial heart of Wuppertal

Barmen is the eastern district of Wuppertal and was one of the industrial centers of the Bergisches Land region in the 19th century — the textile industry made Barmen world-famous. The Alter Markt with its baroque charm, the Werth as a historic shopping street, and the Schwebebahn (monorail) as an iconic landmark provide a unique backdrop for the festival. 'Barmen geht live' has been the annual identity festival of the district since 1988.