DAS FEST AM SEE 2026

Seven Days of Regional Music at Karlsruhe's Lake

DAS FEST AM SEE is the seven-day pre-event to the major Karlsruhe city festival, DAS FEST. From July 15th to 21st, 2026, the Café Stage will be set up in the Günther-Klotz-Anlage — the central park of Karlsruhe's city center. For a week, regional bands will perform there, musically preparing for the main DAS FEST (from July 23rd to 26th, 2026) and providing a free platform for Karlsruhe's music scene.

Café Stage in the Günther-Klotz-Anlage

The Café Stage is part of the DAS FEST festival grounds and hosts the pre-week as a compact concert format. It is located near Karlsruhe's lake within the Günther-Klotz-Anlage — one of the city's most well-known parks. The lakeside location gives the format its name and flair: summer evenings on the lawn, swimmers in the lake, music under the open sky, a relaxed atmosphere.

Regional Bands in Focus

While the main FEST (Main Stage, Field Stage) will feature international headliners and major German acts from July 23rd onwards, DAS FEST AM SEE serves as the platform for local and regional bands. Bands from Karlsruhe, the Technology Region of Karlsruhe, Kraichgau, the Black Forest, and Alsace will have their say. It's an important function for the visibility of the regional music scene.

Program Times — Late Afternoon to Midnight

On weekdays (Wednesday to Saturday, Monday, Tuesday), the program runs from 5:30 PM to midnight — functioning as an after-work program for professionals and a summer evening event. Sunday, July 19th, 2026, is the only day with a morning program starting at 11 AM — a family brunch with relaxed music and coffee. Admission to the entire DAS FEST AM SEE is free.

Günther-Klotz-Anlage and the Main DAS FEST

The Günther-Klotz-Anlage in Karlsruhe-Süd has been the home of the main DAS FEST since the 1980s, one of the largest open-air festivals in Southern Germany with well over 400,000 visitors over a long weekend. DAS FEST AM SEE is its smaller, quieter sister — serving as a pre-week event with a regional focus, one stage, and a cozy park atmosphere. Both formats are organized by DAS FEST gGmbH.

Karlsruhe — the Fan City with a Youth Scene

Karlsruhe, with around 308,000 inhabitants, is one of Baden-Württemberg's largest cities. It hosts the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice, but is also a university city with an active music scene. The regional music scene, spanning indie-pop, hip-hop, singer-songwriter, and electronic music, is visible — DAS FEST AM SEE gives it a stage and an audience.