Bergisches Oktoberfest Solingen

Solingen Celebrates in Traditional Costume

Bavaria is far away – but the Oktoberfest concept works in Westphalia too. Since 2017, the Bergisches Oktoberfest has brought the Wiesn (Oktoberfest) format to the Bergisches Land: a large festival tent, long tables, traditional costume (Tracht), Maß (liter Maßkrug) of beer, and Hax'n (pork knuckle), plus a stage program focusing on Schlager, Karneval classics, and sing-along hits. The format was developed by Come2gether UG from Wuppertal and has grown over the years to become the largest Oktoberfest event in the Bergisches Städtedreieck (Solingen, Wuppertal, Remscheid).

Four Festival Evenings, Two Weekends

Unlike the Munich original, the Bergisches Oktoberfest doesn't run continuously but as four festival evenings over two weekends: the third weekend of September (Friday and Saturday) and the fourth (Friday and Saturday). This has two advantages: Each evening is curated as a separate event, with its own headliner and audience – and the setup phases between the weekends allow for adjustments.

Mickie Krause, Paveier, Cat Ballou

The booking for 2026 shows the stylistic spectrum: Mickie Krause, the ultimate Ballermann star, opens on Friday. Die Paveier, one of the most popular Kölsch Karneval bands, will entertain the Rhineland audience on Saturday. A week later, Cat Ballou takes the stage – also prominent figures of Kölsch dialect music with songs like “Et jitt kein Wood”. A surprise headliner will perform as the finale on Saturday. Every evening, the main act is accompanied by Blechsauga – a show and festival tent band that plays all night long, keeping the audience entertained between the headliner sets.

The Klingenhalle Concept

The venue is the parking lot at the Klingenhalle in Solingen-Mitte – a centrally located, well-connected spot easily accessible by public transport. The festival tent is generously sized, with various ticket categories: best seats in Cat. 1 (incl. beer and food), standard seats in Cat. 2/3, and VIP tables for groups of eight with dedicated service. The atmosphere is classic beer tent – long wooden tables, communal singing, early sing-alongs starting at 5 PM.

Discover Solingen

Solingen, the city of blades for 700 years, has more to offer than just the Oktoberfest. The Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum), the Müngstener Brücke (Müngsten Bridge – Germany's highest railway bridge), Schloss Burg (Castle Burg), and the suspension ferry shape the city. Those who take a stroll before or after the festival tent will discover an unexpectedly versatile place.