638th Bochum Maiabendfest

1388 to 2026 — Bochum's Longest Tradition

The Bochum Maiabendfest is one of Germany's oldest documented city traditions. The first written records date back to 1388 — when Bochum was a small market settlement in the Mark with only a few thousand inhabitants. Since then — with interruptions — Bochum residents have celebrated their Maiabendfest with a unique tradition: the journey to Harpen, the oak excavation, and the grand parade back to the city center. 2026 marks the 638th edition — a must-attend event for Bochum residents and history enthusiasts.

When: April 23rd to 26th, 2026

The four-day festival program:

• Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 — Opening
• Friday, April 24th, 2026 — Concert Night
• Saturday, April 25th, 2026 — Parade Day (Main Event)
• Sunday, April 26th, 2026 — Children's Day

Thursday, April 23rd — Opening with Grand Tattoo

The opening day is marked by ritualistic traditional elements:

• 5:45 PM: Marching music by the Bochumer Maiabendgesellschaft kicks off the festival week
• Official opening on the Sparkasse stage at Massenbergboulevard
• Keg Tapping by the Fiege Brewery — Bochum's traditional brewery sponsors the festival
• Ecumenical Service in a city center church
• 9:00 PM — Grand Tattoo (Großer Zapfenstreich) at the memorial with a solemn ceremony

Friday, April 24th — Music with Bochum's Local Heroes

Friday is dedicated to music. Program starts at 11:00 AM with market stalls, concerts begin at 5:00 PM with DJ .NEWIL, followed by MBP and Bochum singer-songwriter Max Bering. Sparkasse stage and Husemannplatz are the main stages, with performances late into the evening.

Saturday, April 25th — Parade Day, Oak Excavation, John Diva

Saturday is the main event day featuring the oldest traditional elements:

9:45 AM — Assembly in Harpen

The Bochumer Maiabendgesellschaft gathers in the morning in the district of Harpen (east of the city center) for the official assembly.

10:00 AM — March to Harpen

Orderly procession of the festival society through Harpen with marching music.

12:30 PM — Traditional Oak Excavation

The medieval core ritual: The oak excavation in Harpen. A young oak tree is symbolically unearthed — this annually reaffirms Bochum's Maypole rights, dating back to the 14th century. A unique tradition preserved in this form at very few other places in Germany.

4:30 PM — Grand Parade

The Grand Parade proceeds from Harpen back to Bochum's city center. Thousands of festival society members, music bands, decorated floats, and horse riders march through the city — a spectacle lasting over three hours.

6:30 PM — The Movie Trip Show

Cover show featuring film music classics on the main stage at Massenbergboulevard.

9:00 PM — John Diva's Tribute to the Heroes

Musical highlight of the festival Saturday: John Diva and The Rockets of Love, Bochum's glam-rock sensation, present Tribute to the Heroes — a homage to the rock and pop heroes of the 80s. Open-air concert for several thousand spectators.

Sunday, April 26th — Children's Day

Sunday (11:00 AM–6:00 PM) is designed as Children's Day. Performances by Bochum schools, kindergartens, and youth groups shape the program. Children can participate on stage with their own contributions — a cross-generational festival finale.

Bochumer Maiabendgesellschaft 1388 e.V.

The organizer is the Bochumer Maiabendgesellschaft 1388 e.V. — the association is named after the festival's founding year. In its modern form, the society was re-established as an association in 1907, but the tradition dates back to the 14th century. The society has several hundred members and is divided into several groups with their own uniforms and marching bands.

Bochum — Ruhr Area Culture City

Bochum, with approximately 365,000 inhabitants, is the sixth-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia. It's an industrial city in transition — known for the Bochum Symphony Orchestra, the Bochum Theatre (Schauspielhaus Bochum), the Bermuda3eck (a downtown gastronomy district), and the Ruhr University Bochum. The Maiabendfest is Bochum's oldest city tradition, blending medieval heritage with modern Ruhr Area culture — a must-attend for anyone wanting to discover Bochum beyond the clichés.