DiS# – Dortmund Inclusive Sound Festival
Inclusive music festival in Dortmund's Nordstadt – Anniversary Edition 2026
About DiS# Festival
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When Inclusion Becomes an Artistic Device
The DiS# – Dortmund Inclusive Sound Festival is more than a well-intentioned charity concert. Since 2008, the festival, developed by gesamtkunstwerk e.V. in Dortmund's Nordstadt, has become a serious player in the inclusive culture scene in North Rhine-Westphalia. Bands perform on stage where musicians with and without cognitive or physical disabilities operate as equals — as co-composers, soloists, singers, drummers. Inclusion here is not an add-on, but an artistic concept.
A Format That Grows
2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the event. The festival opens on August 29, 2026, at FZW (Freizeitzentrum West) — one of the city's most important concert venues — and will subsequently run until November across several performance spaces in Dortmund and the surrounding district: concerts, theatre performances, workshops, discussion events, and performances. The spectrum ranges from jazz and pop to rock and electronic music, as well as experimental spoken word and dance formats.
The Artists
Previous editions featured acts such as Collective One, NIA, Sebastian 23, das Tanzorchester Paschulke, and Piano Plus — ensembles that come from the inclusive music context themselves or are explicitly designed for it. The festival works closely with workshops, special schools, and independent art initiatives in NRW and produces its own commissioned formats.
Accessibility That Is Self-Evident
The organisers view accessibility not as a mere obligation, but as a design task: programme information in Easy Language, detailed information on wheelchair spaces, sign language interpretation at selected events, inclusion assistants on call. The website dis-festival.com offers all content in Easy Reading versions as well.
Funding and Significance
The festival is supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the cultural office of the City of Dortmund, and several regional cultural funders. In the nationwide discussion about inclusive cultural work, DiS# is considered a benchmark project — precisely because it never compromises artistic quality for social aims, but rather integrates both.
DiS# Festival — edition 2026
In 2026, the DiS# Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with an extensive programme season running from late August to late November. The opening takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at FZW Dortmund — one of the Ruhr area's central concert venues.
Concept for the Anniversary Edition
Instead of a compact festival weekend, the 2026 programme is deliberately spread over several months to allow events sufficient space, attention, and interaction. Concerts, theatre productions, workshops, and performances alternate; venues include FZW, Theater im Depot, and several neighbourhood locations in Nordstadt.
Confirmed for the Opening
The first programme information confirms that the band Just Fun will perform at the opening at FZW. Further acts will be announced gradually by the organiser gesamtkunstwerk e.V. in early summer 2026.
Programme DiS# Festival 2026
2026 Programme Structure — Three Months, Multiple Venues
The complete programme for the anniversary edition will be announced successively by the organiser gesamtkunstwerk e.V. from early summer 2026 onwards on dis-festival.com. The following key points are already set:
Opening Weekend
- Saturday, August 29, 2026 — FZW Dortmund
Festive opening of the 10th edition. Concert with Just Fun and guests. Admission and start times will be announced on the festival website.
September to November 2026 — Main Programme
- Concerts by inclusive bands and ensembles (typically Collective One, NIA, Tanzorchester Paschulke, Piano Plus, and new formats)
- Theatre and performance productions with mixed ensembles
- Spoken word and poetry slam evenings (previous editions featured, among others, Sebastian 23)
- Workshops and networking events for audiences and artists
- Discussion events and panels on inclusive cultural work
Venues (Selection)
- FZW Dortmund (Main Stage)
- Theater im Depot
- Neighbourhood locations in Dortmund's Nordstadt
As of May 2026: Just Fun confirmed for the opening. Other acts and dates will be added continuously — the newsletter and social media (Instagram/Facebook @dis_festival) are the fastest sources.
Highlights DiS# Festival 2026
- 10th anniversary of the DiS# Festival
- Opening on August 29, 2026, at FZW Dortmund with Just Fun
- Three months of programming until November 2026
- Concerts, theatre, workshops, performances with inclusive ensembles
Prices DiS# Festival 2026
Individual events have varying prices: some concerts and performances require tickets (in previous editions €8–€18, reduced rates available), many workshops and neighbourhood events are free. Tickets are sold via the festival website and the respective venues.
Practical information — DiS# Festival
Getting There
Main venue FZW: Ritterstraße 20, 44137 Dortmund. Take the U-Bahn lines U43/U44 to the 'Insterburger Straße' stop, then a 5-minute walk. By car: several multi-storey car parks in the city centre within an 800m radius.
Accessibility
All main venues are wheelchair accessible. For companions, sign language interpretation, or other needs, please contact: [email protected].
Tickets
Individual events require tickets; many are free. An overview will be available in summer 2026 on dis-festival.com.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place DiS# Festival
FZW Dortmund (Eröffnung) und weitere Spielstätten
Althoffstraße 25, 44137 Dortmund