International Steilshoop Neighbourhood Festival

Neighbourhood Festival with Political Agenda

Steilshoop is a Hamburg district in the Wandsbek borough, characterised by the large housing estate Steilshoop from the early 1970s — one of Hamburg's typical satellite towns, which is now home to people from over 60 nations. It is precisely this social reality that the neighbourhood festival has addressed since 1989: it is not a tourist city festival, but an intercultural occasion that celebrates the diversity of the neighbourhood and sets a sign against xenophobia.

Campus Steilshoop as the Centre

The venue is the Campus Steilshoop at Gropiusring 43 — a neighbourhood centre that combines school, cultural work, and social work under one roof. Here, AGDAZ (Working Group Diakonisches Werk im Alsterzentrum) organises the festival together with numerous local institutions. For six hours — from 1 PM to 7 PM — stage programme, stands, and activities come together.

Stage Programme and Cultural Diversity

The focus is on a diverse stage programme with live music and dance performances. Kurdish dance groups, African drum ensembles, Turkish folklore ensembles, Polish folk dance groups — Steilshoop's diversity becomes visible on stage. In addition, there are performances by children and young people from the local school and youth work.

Information Stands and Encounters

Dozens of information stands from local organisations — associations, counselling centres, religious communities, political initiatives — characterise the event. Residents can get information, make contacts, and talk to each other. The organisational concept is explicitly non-commercial: the goal is encounter, not profit.

Culinary Diversity

The culinary stands reflect the neighbourhood's diversity: Turkish Lahmacun stands, African stews, Polish pierogi, Syrian falafel, German potato pancakes. A meal typically costs EUR 3–6 — deliberately set low so that no one is deterred by the cost.

35 Years of Tradition

The festival has existed since 1989 and thus looks back on 35 volunteer-organised editions. The tradition has been consciously cultivated in Steilshoop — as an annual affirmation of the identity of a neighbourhood that is aware of its diversity and understands it as a strength.