Friedensfestival Iserlohn

Friedensfestival Iserlohn — 34 Years of Music for Peace

The Friedensfestival Iserlohn is one of the oldest political music festivals in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2026, the 34th edition will take place from July 10th to 12th at the Platz der Kulturen by the Bauernkirche in Iserlohn's old town. Completely free of charge, organized by a volunteer team and supported by around 180 helpers — a festival that is as political in its structure as it is in its message.

Three Days, Two Stages, Fourteen Bands

The 2026 program is spread across the three festival days:

Friday, July 10, 2026

• Megativ
• Onexx
• Destinova
• Human Steel

Saturday, July 11, 2026

• Rules of this Game
• Der Dritte Sektor
• Oelspur
• Mate Power
• The SixSters

Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Main Stage

• Basement Education
• Black Beauty
• All I See Is Nothing
• Tigerjunge

Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Stage 2

• Yuno
• Gunternauten
• Der Chucky
• Sinnlos Leise
• Do Don Ka Daiko

A consciously curated mix of regional Sauerland acts and all-German indie, punk, and singer-songwriter bands — bands that address political themes with their music or at least perform in a supportive environment.

Platz der Kulturen by the Bauernkirche

The Platz der Kulturen is a central venue in Iserlohn's old town, right next to the historic Bauernkirche — the city's oldest church. A deliberate choice: not a cordoned-off festival site, but public urban space that becomes a festival location for three days.

Free Entry — Deliberate Choice

Entry has been free of charge since the first edition in 1992. The festival is financed through donations, grants, and sales at bars and food stalls. A political statement: culture and the message of peace should not be hindered by the wallet.

180 Volunteers Support the Festival

Over 180 volunteers make the festival possible — setup, stages, catering, security, ticket raffles, all without a commercial organizer. The volunteer model is part of the political DNA: a festival organized by citizens for citizens.

Iserlohn — Sauerland Metropolis

Iserlohn (around 92,000 inhabitants) is the largest city in the Märkischer Kreis district in North Rhine-Westphalia — on the northern edge of the Sauerland region. Known for, among other things, the Dechenhöhle cave and the Iserlohn Roosters in the DEL ice hockey league. The Friedensfestival has been one of the city's most important cultural highlights for decades.