Flugplatzfest NEU START – Inauguration of Cottbus/Neuhausen Airfield

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.