European Elvis Festival Bad Nauheim

Bad Nauheim – Elvis' "European Home"

Following his conscription into the US Army, Elvis Presley was stationed at the Ray Barracks in neighboring Friedberg from 1958 to 1960. During this time, he lived in Bad Nauheim – initially at the Hotel Grunewald, then at Goethestraße 14 – leaving a lasting impression on the Wetterau spa town. To this day, the square in front of the Hotel Dolce bears his name: Elvis-Presley-Platz. The European Elvis Festival is the official tribute to this unusual connection – and is considered Europe's largest Elvis festival.

24th Edition 2026

In 2026, the 24th edition runs from August 14th to 16th. The main venues are the Hotel Dolce Bad Nauheim and the Trinkkuranlage (Spa Pump Room) in the Kurpark. On August 15th, Dick Brave – Sasha's rockabilly alter ego – will give an open-air concert at the Trinkkuranlage's concert shell, featuring his new album "Back for Good," aiming for an authentic 1950s and 60s atmosphere. New to the program: the Late Night Show "Memories of Elvis" in the Grand Ballroom with Bobby Ogdin, a long-time member of Elvis's Las Vegas backing band, the TCB Band.

Program Beyond the Stages

The festival is much more than just a concert. At the Hotel Dolce, there will be talk rounds with eyewitnesses, a fashion show, a classic car exhibition, and the fan market. A dedicated music competition brings emerging tribute artists to the stage; last year's winners ("Teddy und die Lollipops" in 2025) will open the Celebration Night on Friday in 2026. The Elvis memorial ceremony at Elvis-Presley-Platz with a wreath-laying and the vintage car parade through the city center are among the emotional highlights.

Organization by the City

Unlike many music festivals, the European Elvis Festival is organized entirely by the city through Bad Nauheim Stadtmarketing und Tourismus GmbH – an in-house production that now has international reach, attracting fans from all over Europe, the USA, and Japan to Bad Nauheim.