Kein Bock auf Nazis Festival

A Festival with Conviction

The Kein Bock auf Nazis Festival — KBAN for short — is a special case in the German festival landscape. It is not a classic music festival that occasionally places political messages on the sidelines, but an explicitly political cultural project that programmatically combines music, education, and civil engagement. The festival is the largest regular event of its kind in the West Palatinate region and one of the most important dates for democratic education in rural Rhineland-Palatinate.

An Extraordinary Setting

The venue is Lichtenberg Castle, the largest castle ruin in the Palatinate. Several stages will be set up in the spacious courtyards, terraces, and meadows around the castle complex, along with workshop areas, lecture tents, and a "Marketplace of Opportunities" with information booths from local and supra-regional anti-racist, anti-fascist, and pro-democracy initiatives. The castle setting lends the festival a special atmosphere.

Music Program 2026

The 2026 music program, in keeping with the festival's tradition, will feature politically positioned bands from German punk, indie rock, and singer-songwriter genres. Confirmed acts include: The Sensitives (Swedish punk rock), Wick Bambix (Dutch punk rock classic with singer Wick Bird), Manuel Sattler (singer-songwriter), Dödelhaie (German fun-punk), Love A (Trier, indie rock), and Matze Rossi (political singer-songwriter). Further acts will be announced by the organizer in spring 2026.

Education and Engagement

In addition to the concerts, an extensive education and workshop program forms the second pillar of the festival. Topics such as remembrance culture, strategies against right-wing extremism in rural areas, anti-Muslim racism, gender equality, and climate justice will be addressed in lectures, discussion rounds, and workshops. Representatives of civil society initiatives, scientists, journalists, and activists will have their say.

Awards and Funding

The KBAN Festival was recognized by the Amadeu Antonio Foundation and is funded by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Women, Culture and Integration of Rhineland-Palatinate. This recognition underscores the importance of the volunteer-driven initiative for democratic culture in rural Rhineland-Palatinate.