ExtraSchicht — Night of Industrial Culture (Nordsternpark Gelsenkirchen)

The Night of Industrial Culture

ExtraSchicht is more than an event — it's the most important cultural night in the Ruhr area. Since 2001, on a Saturday evening in June, it transforms collieries, industrial monuments, blast furnaces, gasometers, and factory halls into stages, galleries, and performance spaces. 50 venues between Duisburg, Hamm, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, and Dortmund are activated simultaneously, connected by shuttle buses and a ring railway. The focus: the industrial heritage of the Ruhr area as a cultural stage.

Nordsternpark as Main Site 2026

Nordsternpark in Gelsenkirchen-Horst, the former Nordstern colliery, has been a 60-hectare park since the 1997 International Garden Exhibition, featuring industrial architecture, sculpture trails (Markus Lüpertz's Hercules on the winding tower), and the Nordsternturm. For ExtraSchicht 2026, it is one of the main locations: galleries, towers, and paths become open-air stages.

Nordsternpark Program — 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM

• 6:00 PM–12:00 AM: Galleries of the former colliery, industrial exhibitions, concerts
• 6:00 PM–2:00 AM: Nordsternturm panoramic terrace with views over the nocturnal Ruhr area
• 10:30 PM–1:30 AM: Spectacular laser and pyrotechnics show in the amphitheater — highlight of the Gelsenkirchen program

New Venues 2026 — Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche & Quartier Bochumer Straße

In 2026, Gelsenkirchen is expanding its ExtraSchicht program with two new locations: the former Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche will become a performance stage, and the Quartier Bochumer Straße will open its studios, workshops, and backyards. This makes ExtraSchicht in Gelsenkirchen more neighborhood-connected — industrial culture meets local history.

Ruhr Area Ticket — One Night, 50 Locations

With a single ticket, you can visit as many venues as possible. Shuttle buses run between the sites, and public transport is included in the ticket. Those who plan can manage 4–6 locations per night; those who stroll can immerse themselves deeply in one location. Tickets are available online and at advance booking offices.

Organized by Ruhr Tourismus

Ruhr Tourismus GmbH coordinates ExtraSchicht on behalf of the Ruhr region. Industrial culture as the brand identity of the Ruhr area has been internationally recognized since the 2010 European Capital of Culture — ExtraSchicht is its largest annual manifestation.