Bergedorfer Open Air Poetry Slam

Spoken Word under Bergedorf's Trees

The district of Bergedorf is located in the far southeast of Hamburg, on the border with Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein – a district with its own character, its own S-Bahn station, its own identity. Right in the middle: the Bergedorf Town Hall with its extensive park, which becomes a meeting point for the North German poetry slam scene once a year.

16 Years of Tradition

Since 2010, OpenAir-Bergedorf e.V. has been organizing the slam in the Rathauspark. The volunteer crew around Ute Becker-Ewe has developed the event from a small neighborhood idea into one of the best-known open-air slams in Northern Germany. 2026 marks the 16th edition.

How a Poetry Slam Works

Eight to ten slam poets take to the stage with self-written texts. Each has six minutes to perform their own words – witty, political, lyrical, personal, free. The audience judges by applause, a jury of spectators awards points, and in the end, a winner is determined. Not slapstick, but a serious discipline of contemporary stage literature.

A Summer Classic for Bergedorf

For the residents of Bergedorf, the slam is a fixed date in the summer calendar. Families come with picnic blankets, students from the Hamburg University of Technology cycle over from Harburg, and the regular Bergedorf audience sets up their folding chairs. The Rathauspark with its old trees offers the natural stage backdrop, and the Bergedorf Town Hall in the background provides the fitting historical setting.

Free Entry, Donations Welcome

As every year, the event is free of charge. OpenAir-Bergedorf e.V. collects donations for future years and to compensate the slam poets for their expenses. Those who come regularly are happy to give – the event relies on the commitment of the association and its supporters.