Bulli Summer Festival Wesel 2026

The Volkswagen Bulli Mecca on the Lower Rhine

The Bulli Summer Festival is Europe's largest festival for lovers of the Volkswagen Bulli — from the historic T1 Samba (1950–1967) through T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 to the modern electric ID. Buzz. From September 3rd to 6th, 2026, the next edition will again take place at the Auesee Beach in Wesel — a 165-hectare lake in the Rheinauepark, offering the ideal festival location. Up to 50,000 visitors and thousands of Bullis from all over Europe are expected. Festival entry is free.

The Program

Show & Shine — The Bulli Competition

The heart of the festival: Show & Shine — the Bulli competition. Here, owners present their lovingly restored Bullis in various categories: Best of Show, Best Original, Best Custom, Best T1, Best T3, Best ID. Buzz. A panel of experts judges, and the audience can vote via app. The rows of polished Bullis along the lake shore are the ultimate festival photo opportunity.

Live Music on Several Stages

Various stages will host live music at the festival — from reggae and indie to surf rock and folk, as well as DJ sets on the beach. The program will be gradually announced on the festival website during summer 2026.

Talks on Bulli History

In the lecture tent, Bulli experts will talk about the model's history: the development of the T1, technical details, restoration tips, the history of the "Hippie Bulli" in the 1960s and 70s, and the ID. Buzz as a turning point for electric mobility at Volkswagen.

DIY & Workshops

Practical workshops for Bulli owners: DIY restoration, upholstery cleaning, Westfalia pop-top roof maintenance, solar panel installation on the roof. The DIY area is a meeting point for the tinkering community.

Smaland — Kids' Area

For Bulli kids: Smaland with a bouncy castle, craft activities, mini-Bullis for kids to climb into, and a crafting area. Family-friendliness is a core aspect of the festival.

Exhibition Area

In the exhibition area, exhibitors will showcase Bulli accessories: camper conversions, awnings, solar modules, camping equipment, spare parts, and Bulli lifestyle products (shirts, stickers, models, books).

Water Sports at Auesee

The Auesee serves as both a festival site and a recreational area: stand-up paddleboard rentals, canoe tours, swimming in the clean beach area water, and lakeside paths for walking.

Opening Hours and Camping

Free Festival Entry

The festival itself costs nothing to enter — you can simply come, park your Bulli, look around, and enjoy. Thursday 10 AM–11 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM–12 AM, Sunday 10 AM–4 PM.

Summer Camp and Grav-Insel

Those wishing to stay overnight have two options: the Summer Camp directly at the festival grounds (tickets €15–€104 depending on comfort level and duration) or Grav-Insel — Europe's second-largest campsite, 8 minutes away by car.

Wesel and the Lower Rhine

Wesel, in the Wesel district (North Rhine-Westphalia), is located directly on the Rhine, where the Lippe and Rhine rivers meet. The Auesee Beach in Rheinauepark, with its 165 hectares of water surface, is one of the largest natural swimming lakes in North Rhine-Westphalia. The choice of Wesel as the festival location is scenically brilliant: vast lake areas, a closed park, good access to the A3 motorway, and numerous camping opportunities in the surrounding area.

Rules

Important festival rules: no private drinks (concern about broken glass), dogs on a leash are allowed, private recordings only for personal use, drones are prohibited.