Hexentanz Open Air Festival

The Hexentanz Open Air Festival is one of the largest and most established Medieval, Metal, and Gothic festivals in Germany. For many fans of the darker genres, it marks the season opener – the first major open-air event of the year, heralding the start of the festival season. In 2026, the 18th edition will take place from April 24th to 26th at Lichtenberg Castle in Thallichtenberg, Kusel district.

Lichtenberg Castle as a Festival Backdrop

Lichtenberg Castle is one of the largest castle ruins in Southern Germany, perched on a hill above the West Palatinate uplands. The historic site, with its walls, towers, and expansive courtyards, provides a unique backdrop for a festival focused on Medieval and Dark Wave music. For three days, the castle transforms into a stage for Metal, Folk, Gothic, and Medieval music.

Headliners 2026

Three headliners shape the 2026 lineup:

• Lord of the Lost – the dark rock band from Hamburg, international ambassadors for Germany in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, and one of the most successful bands in their genre for years.
• Schandmaul – the Bavarian medieval rock band, whose performance with their new singer in 2026 is eagerly anticipated.
• Mr. Hurley & die Pulveraffen – the Lower Saxony folk/pirate rock band known for their exuberant stage shows.

Diverse Lineup

The festival offers a broad spectrum of genres: Fiddler's Green with their acoustic set, Varg as a pagan metal magnet, Asenblut with death metal power, All For Metal as a rising heavy metal hope, Manntra from Croatia with folk metal, Lacrimas Profundere as a gothic rock heavyweight, Vlad in Tears with dark rock, League of Distortion with modern metal, Ragnaröek as medieval metal, and Sagenbringer. A special mix that makes the festival attractive to a wide audience within these genres.

Camping and Festival Lifestyle

Those who wish to stay for multiple days can spend the night at the festival campsite – a crucial component of the festival atmosphere. Mini-communities form in the camping area, preparing meals together, playing games, and partying through the night. For many, the camping experience is almost as important as the concerts themselves.

Three Days of Festival

With three festival days and a densely packed lineup, the Hexentanz Festival is a true festival marathon. Those who want to catch multiple stage sessions per day should plan carefully. Tickets are available via hexentanz-festival.de and Eventim; advance sales for 2027 have already been announced.