Blue Moon Festival 2026 — Metamorphosis

Cottbus — Lausitz's Stoner Capital

With around 100,000 inhabitants, Cottbus is Brandenburg's second-largest city and the center of the Lausitz region. With its university, state theater, and Sorbian-German dual culture, the city is a cultural anomaly amidst the lignite mining landscape. The Strombad Cottbus at Stromstraße 14 is a former public swimming pool from the 1930s, now used as an alternative cultural venue — and since 2022, the annual venue for the Blue Moon Festival.

4th Edition — “Metamorphosis”

From July 31 to August 2, 2026, the 4th edition of the Blue Moon Festival will take place — motto “Metamorphosis”. In just three editions, the festival has established itself as one of the most important Stoner, Doom, and Heavy Psych festivals in the German-speaking world. With its manageable size (several hundred to a maximum of 2,000 visitors) and a dense selection of international and national acts, it caters to a very specific but loyal fan community.

18 Confirmed Bands — Top of the Genre and Hidden Gems

The international headliners: Fu Manchu (USA, shaping stoner rock since 1985, “No One Rides for Free”, “In Search Of…”), Kylesa (USA, Sludge/Post-Metal, reunion-oriented), 1000mods (Greece, one of the most important European Stoner bands), Wolves in the Throne Room (USA, Cascadian Black Metal/atmospheric), Dead Meadow (USA, Heavy Psych of the early 2000s). Also featured are Mephistofeles (Argentina, Occult Doom), Sons of Arrakis (Canada, Dune-inspired Stoner), Green Milk from the Planet Orange (Japan, Heavy Psych), and the European underground with Skyjoggers, Zerre, The Tazers, Cursed to Occult, Narbo Dacal, Acid Sitter, From Yuggoth, VanGroover, Deaf Giant, and Valea Viilor.

Camping and Alternative Atmosphere

The festival is structured as a camping festival — the Strombad grounds offer tent sites, rental tents, and pitches for motorhomes. The alternative atmosphere is explicitly intended: no commercial sponsorship, small stages, a bar with craft beer and vegetarian food, vinyl stalls, and merchandise from smaller labels. The Strombad itself — with its 1930s concrete architecture and the old pool edge — forms an unusual backdrop that fits the genre's dark atmosphere.

Band Contest with Three Slots

A program item with its own tradition: the band contest, which awards three slots for up-and-coming bands — one for Friday, one for Saturday, and one for Sunday. Bands can apply before the festival; a jury selects the three winners. In this way, the festival provides a stage for European Stoner newcomers — a contribution to the scene's development.