Festival of Cultures — Guest Country Greece

Festival of Cultures — Leverkusen's Integration Festival

If you want to know who lives in Leverkusen, go to the Festival of Cultures. With over 30 nationalities represented, hundreds of participants, and several thousand visitors, the one-day festival in Neuland-Park is the largest visible manifestation of Leverkusen's diversity. The organizer is Inter-Lev e.V., an association of migrant communities and integration providers, together with the city's Municipal Integration Center.

Leverkusen — Industrial City with a History of Migration

Leverkusen, with almost 165,000 inhabitants and home to the Bayer Group, has a distinct industrial migration history. Turkish, Italian, Greek, Polish, and Vietnamese guest worker communities have shaped the city since the 1960s. In the 1990s, refugees from the Balkans arrived, followed by Syrian and Afghan families from 2015 onwards, and more recently Ukrainian refugees. Over 30 percent of Leverkusen's residents have a migration background — the Festival of Cultures is their annual public showcase.

Guest Country Greece 2026

Each year, the festival selects a guest country, which receives a special program focus. 2026: Greece. Greek dance groups, music ensembles (Sirtaki bands, Rembetiko singers), a special presentation by Leverkusen's Greek community, and food stalls with traditional specialties — Souvlaki, Tzatziki, Pita, Gyros, Bougatsa, Loukoumades — are expected. In addition, communities from Senegal (drum groups), Turkey (folklore), Brazil (Capoeira, Samba), Italy (Tarantella, Pizza), and many other countries will be represented.

Dance, Music, Gastronomy as the Three Pillars

The festival is built on three pillars: Dance, Music, and Gastronomy. The main stage features alternating performances by dance groups and music ensembles — from African drummers and Latin American salsa acts to Eastern European folklore groups. Around 30 food stalls offer international cuisine to sample — a culinary world tour in a compact space. Accompanying the program are workshops, children's activities, information booths from migrant associations, and hands-on activities.

Inter-Lev e.V. and the Integration Center

The organizer is the association Inter-Lev e.V., supported by migrant organizations from Leverkusen, in close cooperation with the city's Municipal Integration Center (KI Leverkusen). This dual sponsorship ensures community proximity (Inter-Lev) and institutional stability (city). Over the years, the festival has become a fixed date in Leverkusen's event calendar.

In the NRW Diversity Context

Festivals of Cultures are held in many NRW cities — from Cologne (Birlikte) and Düsseldorf (Tag der Kulturen) to Essen (Kunst & Kohle). Compared to these large-scale events, Leverkusen's festival is more compact, closer to the community, and more strongly supported by local associations. This is its charm: you meet neighbors and colleagues — not tourists.