Havelfest Brandenburg

The biggest city festival in the Havel region

When stages are set up at Jahrtausendbrücke, Salzhofufer, and Heineufer in June, everyone in West Brandenburg knows: it's Havelfest. For over six decades, the festival has filled the historic old town of Brandenburg an der Havel with music, dance, sports, and festivities. In 2026, the organizers will celebrate the 61st edition — and thus one of the oldest and most visited city festivals in all of Brandenburg.

Three days, four stages, one city

The Havelfest is spread across four stages along the Havel: the Stadtwerke stage at Heinrich-Heine-Ufer, the festival grounds at Salzhofufer, a stage at the harbor, and the performance area at Jahrtausendbrücke. Each location has its own profile — from pop and Schlager (popular music) to classical and DJ sets. Over the weekend, more than 100,000 visitors are expected from all over Brandenburg, Berlin, and Saxony-Anhalt.

The Headliners 2026

• Friday, June 19: Concert Die Prinzen & No Angels on the Stadtwerke stage (Ticket €50 / €25 for StWB customers) — the musical highlight of the entire weekend
• Saturday, June 20: Family program with mascot parade, dragon boat races, several live bands
• Sunday, June 21: Classical closing concert by the Brandenburger Symphoniker

Sporty, culinary, playful

In addition to the concerts, the Havelfest includes typical Volksfest elements:

• Dragon boat races on the Havel — highlight on Saturday
• Duck race with over 10,000 yellow plastic ducks — a classic for the whole family
• Mascot parade through the old town
• Volksfest area with amusement rides, carousels, Ferris wheel
• Street food, Brandenburg specialties, beer gardens

A special bonus: Ticket = Travel pass

The Friday evening concert ticket — a tradition unique in Brandenburg — also serves as a VBBr travel pass for round trips with the Berlin-Brandenburg transport association. This makes the festival environmentally sensible too.

Brandenburg an der Havel — the cradle of the March

Brandenburg an der Havel is the namesake of the entire federal state — the March of Brandenburg originated here in the Middle Ages around the cathedral island. Today, the city with its approximately 70,000 inhabitants is an independent city in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district with a distinct waterside location. Three city islands, kilometers of Havel riverbanks, Lake Beetz, and Lake Plauer surround the old town. The Havelfest utilizes this waterside location like no other festival in Brandenburg.