Name: Flugplatzfest NEU START – Inauguration of Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield 2026
Start: 2026-05-21T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-24T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Verkehrslandeplatz Cottbus/Neuhausen

NEU START Airfield Festival

About NEU START Airfield Festival

From May 21st to 24th, 2026, the new Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield in Neuhausen/Spree will be ceremonially opened – over four days with the festival 'NEU START'. The program combines structural policy, sports, and spectacle: A Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) conference will kick off on Thursday, a cycling event will take place on the runway from 6 PM to 10 PM on Friday evening, and on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM each day, you can experience a grand air show with sightseeing flights, drone races, and a children's program. The airfield is part of the Lusatian structural change program following the phase-out of coal mining and aims to connect Cottbus to national air traffic – the inauguration festival turns this political milestone into a four-day public festival for the entire region.

Dates 21 May — 24 May 2026

Venue Neuhausen/Spree (12071)

Prices 5.00€ — 10.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

NEU START Airfield Festival — edition 2026

From May 21st to 24th, 2026, the new Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield will be ceremonially opened with the four-day NEU START festival. Thursday: IHK conference, Friday 6 PM–10 PM: cycling event on runway 18-22, Saturday and Sunday 10 AM–6 PM: air show, sightseeing flights, drone races, children's activities. Admission: €10 / reduced €5 / children free.

The opening festival of the Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield will take place from Thursday, May 21st to Sunday, May 24th, 2026. The organizer is the Cottbus/Neuhausen Airport Company; the state of Brandenburg is the patron.

Daily Program:

Thu 21.05: IHK conference on structural change and the new location
Fri 22.05: Cycling event on runway 18-22, 6 PM to 10 PM under floodlights
Sat 23.05 + Sun 24.05: Air show, sightseeing flights, drone races, children's program, daily 10 AM to 6 PM

With this festival, the Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield will be officially put into operation for national air traffic and is part of the Lusatian structural change program following the phase-out of coal mining.

Highlights NEU START Airfield Festival 2026

Inauguration of the Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield
Four-day NEU START festival
Air show with historic and modern aircraft
Cycling on the runway under floodlights
Drone races and drone workshops
Family Day on Sunday
Symbol of Lusatia's structural transformation

Programme NEU START Airfield Festival 2026

Thursday, May 21st, 2026

IHK Conference (Business + Aviation + Structural Change)

Friday, May 22nd, 2026 (6 PM–10 PM)

Cycling event on runway 18-22
Sprint and demonstration races under floodlights

Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 (10 AM–6 PM)

Air show with historic and modern aircraft
Sightseeing flights over Lusatia
Drone races with live broadcast
Children's and family program

Sunday, May 24th, 2026 (10 AM–6 PM)

Repeated air show program — Family Day
Interactive stations, drone workshops

Prices NEU START Airfield Festival 2026

Adults €10, reduced €5, children up to 14 years free. Tickets valid per day.

Practical information

Practical information — NEU START Airfield Festival

Getting There

Neuhausen/Spree is located about 15 km southeast of Cottbus. Accessible by car via the B97/B169; park-and-ride facilities and a shuttle service from Cottbus main station are available.

Admission

Adults €10, reduced €5, children up to 14 years free. Day tickets valid for the respective event day.

Safety

Maintain a safe distance from the runway during flight operations. Strictly follow instructions from stewards and security personnel.

Getting There by Public Transport

Special shuttle buses from Cottbus station to the airfield on event days.

NEU START — Four Days of Opening Festival on the Runway

On the edge of the Lusatian lignite mining region, where brown coal excavators shaped the landscape until just a few years ago, the Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield is emerging as a new gateway to Lower Lusatia. From May 21st to 24th, 2026, the airfield will be officially inaugurated with the four-day festival 'NEU START' – one of the largest event formats the Spree-Neiße district will experience in 2026.

Program Day by Day

Thursday, May 21st, 2026 — Conference

The event begins with a conference by the IHK Cottbus featuring representatives from business, politics, and aviation. The focus: the importance of the new airfield for structural change in Lusatia and the region's connection to national air traffic.

Friday, May 22nd, 2026 — Cycling on the Runway

From 6 PM to 10 PM, the runway 18-22 transforms into a race track. What usually serves aircraft becomes a playground for cyclists this evening: sprint formats and demonstration races under floodlights in a setting unlike any other cycling event in Brandenburg.

Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 — Air Show & Sightseeing Flights (10 AM–6 PM)

The public festival opens its gates on Saturday. The program includes:

Air show with historic and modern aircraft
Sightseeing flights over Lusatia and the Lusatian Lake District
Drone races with live broadcast on large screens
Children's and family activities focusing on aviation and technology
Food and drink stands along the apron

Sunday, May 24th, 2026 — Family Day (10 AM–6 PM)

On Sunday, the air show program will be repeated in a slightly modified format, with a special focus on families – interactive stations, drone workshops, and stage presentations.

Structural Change You Can Experience

The Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield is more than just an airfield: It is a symbol of Lusatia's structural transformation after the phase-out of coal mining and a key infrastructure project for the federal government and the state of Brandenburg. The inauguration festival aims to introduce citizens to the new location – and at the same time, show how the region is reinventing itself after decades of opencast mining.