Fairstival – Setting the Tone

Music, Education, and Fairness in the Park

Fairstival is one of Bielefeld's most politically and socially prominent festivals: a one-day event in the beautiful grounds of the historic Ravensberger Spinnerei, combining four pillars — Music, Education, Community, and Sustainability. The organizers are Fairstival e.V. together with Welthaus Bielefeld e.V. and VHS Bielefeld.

Date and Motto 2026

Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 3:00 PM until late in the evening. Venue: the entire area of Ravensberger Spinnerei and the adjacent Ravensberger Park (Address: Ravensberger Park 1, 33607 Bielefeld). Motto 2026: 'Setting the Tone — Sustainability & Subculture' — the connection between ecological awareness and musical subculture.

FLINTA* — The Stage Belongs to Women, Lesbians, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans*, and Agender People

A conscious programming decision: the 2026 lineup exclusively features FLINTA* artists. The abbreviation stands for Women, Lesbians, Inter*, Non-binary, Trans*, and Agender — a categorization that makes marginalized identities visible and gives them stage space. Male acts dominate the mainstream music business; Fairstival counters with a clear statement.

Two Stages, Diverse Genres

The musical spectrum on the two stages is deliberately broad:

• Indie — Singer-songwriters, Indie-pop bands
• Reggae and Dub
• Klezmer and Eastern European folk music
• Hip-Hop and Spoken Word
• Electronic — DJ sets, Live Electronica, House

The detailed lineup will be announced shortly before the festival at fairstival.de.

Workshops and Educational Programs

Parallel to the music, there will be workshops and talks on topics such as sustainable economics, fair trade, climate activism, repair cafés, upcycling, vegan cuisine, feminism, and anti-racism. The combination of festival and educational format is Fairstival's hallmark — VHS Bielefeld contributes its pedagogical experience here.

Stalls for Sustainable Living

Spread across the grounds: stalls from initiatives, NGOs, fair-trade vendors, organic products, and local manufacturers. From second-hand fashion to organic natural cosmetics and fairly traded snacks and drinks — a marketplace of the alternative economy.

Children's Program and Families

Children under 13 have free admission. With craft and activity stations, small concerts, and games, the festival is explicitly intended for families. Food trucks will provide culinary catering — predominantly vegetarian and vegan, with options for allergy sufferers.

Tickets

Affordable price tiers as a socio-political statement:

• Advance sale €22 regular / €16 reduced
• Box office €28 / €22 reduced
• Children under 13: free
• Bi-Pass €1 — for holders of the Bielefeld social pass

Ravensberger Spinnerei — The Venue

The former 19th-century spinning mill is now Bielefeld's most important cultural center — housing the VHS, Historical Museum, café, gallery, and various event spaces. The adjacent park area offers open-air space for the two stages, workshops, and stalls.