45th Internationales Frühlingsfest Kassel

One of Germany's oldest intercultural city festivals

The Internationales Frühlingsfest Kassel is the largest intercultural neighborhood festival in the North Hessian metropolis – and one of the oldest of its kind nationwide. It began in 1979 as a modest street festival on Mombachstraße and has developed over four decades into one of Kassel's most important cultural events. 2026 will celebrate the 45th anniversary edition – on May 29th and 30th.

Schlachthof as a cultural center

The venue is the Kulturzentrum Schlachthof (Schlachthof Cultural Center) at Mombachstraße 10-12 – a former slaughterhouse that has been operated as a self-governing cultural center since the 1980s and is one of the most important venues for Kassel's independent cultural scene. The adjacent Kemal-Altun-Platz in the Nordstadt commemorates the Kurdish asylum seeker Kemal Altun, who died in 1983, and symbolically represents the festival's intercultural identity.

Two days, multiple stages

The festival runs for two days with multiple stages, a rich family program, and a variety of culinary offerings from around the world. Admission is free; donations are requested to help maintain the festival amidst rising security and infrastructure costs. For the 45th edition, the Schlachthof team has launched its own crowdfunding campaign (goal: €30,000) – a testament to how much the festival relies on the volunteer engagement of Kassel's community.

Up to 10,000 visitors

Over the two days, up to 10,000 people celebrate Kassel's diversity on the Schlachthof grounds. The audience is incredibly diverse: students from the University of Kassel, long-time Nordstadt residents, families with migration backgrounds from all over the world, cultural creators. The program includes reggae, world music, indie, electronic music, live bands from the region, and international acts.

Nordstadt – Kassel's multicultural neighborhood

The Nordstadt (Nord-Holland district) is traditionally Kassel's most diverse district, with a high proportion of residents with migrant backgrounds, an active independent scene, and left-wing alternative initiatives. The Frühlingsfest is an expression of this identity – it's no coincidence that it takes place at the Schlachthof, which has served as a cultural hub for decades.

Kassel, documenta city

With around 200,000 inhabitants, Kassel is the major city in North Hesse and has been the venue for the documenta, the world's most important exhibition of contemporary art, since 1955. In the years without the documenta, the Frühlingsfest is one of the biggest events in Kassel's summer calendar.