Kessel Festival Stuttgart
Stuttgart's Jedermann Festival on 170,000 m² Cannstatter Wasen — Music, Sport, Culture, and Sustainability
About Kessel Festival
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Stuttgart's Festival for Everyone
The Kessel Festival is Stuttgart's own creation — launched in 2022 with the clear aim of creating a festival where families, sports enthusiasts, concert fans, and activists from the sustainable consumption scene can find space simultaneously. The organizer is Kessel Festival GmbH, with Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg as the main partner. Even after its first edition, the concept proved convincing, and the festival has since become one of the largest city festivals in Southern Germany.
170,000 m² of Festival Grounds
The venue is the Cannstatter Wasen and the adjacent Reitstadion in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt (postal code 70372) — the same area that hosts the Cannstatter Volksfest in the autumn. 170,000 m² of event space are divided by the organizer for stages, sports areas, a food truck boulevard, a children's area, and the Übermorgen Market. The Kessel Festival 2025 attracted around 50,000 visitors — a similar or higher attendance is expected for 2026.
Multiple Stages, Many Genres
Music forms the backbone of the festival and is spread across several stages:
- Main Stage — Headliners from 5 PM on both days. In 2026, featuring Nina Chuba and SDP as the first confirmed top acts, plus other pop, indie, and hip-hop stars (program to be released in stages).
- Kulturbühne (Culture Stage) — Performance space for the band contest “ROCK DEN KESSEL”: Newcomer bands from German-speaking countries compete, with the 2026 winner playing as the opening act on the main stage in 2027.
- Street Music Festival Stage — presented by Sparda-Bank BW. Acoustic and street musician acts, often newcomers from the region.
- Karle Kontainer Klub — DJ platform for regional DJs of all styles (House, Techno, Drum-and-Bass, Hip-Hop). Designed like a shipping container outdoor club.
Sparda Sports Park — Sport as Part of the Festival
One of the unique features of the Kessel Festival is the Sparda Sports Park — a large open space hosting professional competitions and participatory sports. In 2026, highlights include: Breaking Battle Series (German finals for B-Boys and B-Girls on June 27), beach volleyball show, basketball streetball tournament, wheelchair rugby demonstration, and skateboard sessions. Additionally, stand-up paddling is available on the adjacent Neckar river.
Übermorgen Market — Sustainability in Practice
Across 3,500 m², the Übermorgen Market brings together around 100 exhibitors in areas such as sustainable mobility (e-bikes, cargo bikes), slow fashion, natural cosmetics, vegan and regional food, social initiatives, and educational projects. Stuttgart start-ups and regional manufacturers exhibit — the market is explicitly commercially curated, not just a showcase.
Family Area and Food Trucks
A dedicated family zone offers changing and nursing facilities, craft stations, a face-painting stand, creative workshops, and a carousel — explicitly designed for children up to 12 years old. Spread across the entire grounds: food trucks offering cuisines from around the world — vegan burgers, Korean bao buns, Indian curries, Swabian classics. A special feature is the Weindorf (Wine Village) with 16 vintners from the Stuttgart region and Remstal.
Kessel Festival — edition 2026
Program Highlights 2026
The Kessel Festival 2026 is spread over two days with a clear structure:
Friday, June 26, 2026 — 2 PM to 11 PM
- 2:00 PM — Festival Opening — all areas open (Übermorgen Market, Sparda Sports Park, Food Trucks)
- 2:30 PM–4:30 PM — Street Music Festival Stage and Karle Kontainer Klub programming
- 3:45 PM — VIP Entry
- 5:00 PM — Main Stage program begins with opening acts
- 8:00 PM–10:30 PM — Friday Headliner (first confirmed headliner: Nina Chuba)
- 11:00 PM — Festival End
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — 11 AM to 11 PM
- 11:00 AM — Day 2 Festival Opening (earlier opening than Friday)
- 12:00 PM — Sparda Sports Park competitions (incl. beach volleyball show, basketball)
- 12:45 PM — VIP Entry
- 2:00 PM–4:30 PM — Kulturbühne ROCK DEN KESSEL Finals, Street Music Stage
- 3:00 PM — Breaking Battle Series German Finals (B-Boys / B-Girls)
- 5:00 PM — Main Stage with opening program
- 8:00 PM–10:30 PM — Saturday Headliner (confirmed: SDP, more acts to be announced)
- 11:00 PM — Festival End
Confirmed Acts 2026 (As of Spring)
- Nina Chuba (Main Stage — Hamburg, Pop/Hip-Hop)
- SDP (Main Stage — Berlin, Pop-Punk/Hip-Hop)
- SOKAE (Newcomer Stage — Winner ROCK DEN KESSEL 2025)
- Further acts will be announced on kesselfestival.de
Programme Kessel Festival 2026
Kessel Festival 2026 — Program
Friday, June 26, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Festival Opening, all areas open
- 2:30 PM–4:30 PM — Street Music Festival Stage (acoustic acts)
- 2:30 PM–10:30 PM — Karle Kontainer Klub (DJ sets, rotating)
- 3:45 PM — VIP Entry
- 5:00 PM — Main Stage: Opening acts
- 8:00 PM–10:30 PM — Headliner Nina Chuba + other top acts
- 11:00 PM — End of day
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Day 2 Opening
- 12:00 PM–5:00 PM — Sparda Sports Park: Beach volleyball, basketball, skateboard, wheelchair rugby
- 12:45 PM — VIP Entry
- 2:00 PM–4:30 PM — Kulturbühne: ROCK DEN KESSEL Band Finals
- 3:00 PM–6:00 PM — Breaking Battle Series German Finals
- 5:00 PM — Main Stage: Opening program
- 7:00 PM — Newcomer Slot SOKAE
- 8:00 PM–10:30 PM — Headliner SDP + others
- 11:00 PM — Festival End
Permanent throughout both days
- Übermorgen Market (3,500 m², 100 exhibitors, sustainability)
- Sparda Sports Park
- Family Zone with children's program
- Food Truck Boulevard (vegan, international, Swabian)
- Weindorf (Wine Village) with 16 vintners from Remstal and Stuttgart
Latest lineup updates at kesselfestival.de.
Highlights Kessel Festival 2026
- Nina Chuba and SDP confirmed as headliners
- SOKAE (Winner ROCK DEN KESSEL 2025) as newcomer act
- Breaking Battle Series German Finals
- Sparda Sports Park with wheelchair rugby and beach volleyball
- Übermorgen Market with 100 sustainable exhibitors
- 16 vintners from the Stuttgart region and Remstal
- New Fastlane add-on for quicker entry
- Stand-up paddling on the Neckar (Day 2)
Prices Kessel Festival 2026
Day Ticket Friday or Saturday: €79.90 + fees (via Eventim and easyticket.de).
2-Day Ticket: approx. €139 (combo ticket).
VIP Ticket: upon request — includes earlier entry (3:45 PM Fri / 12:45 PM Sat), VIP lounge with dedicated catering and exclusive view of the main stage.
Fastlane Add-On (new for 2026): Surcharge for fast entry and access to the first barrier directly in front of the main stage.
Children's prices: available on the website (kesselfestival.de).
Practical information — Kessel Festival
Getting There
Subway: U11/U13/U19 from Stuttgart Hbf to Cannstatter Wasen (5 minutes). VVS public transport ticket included. Car: limited parking — P+R via Bad Cannstatt station recommended. Bicycle parking available on site.
Opening Hours 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026: 2 PM–11 PM (VIP entry 3:45 PM). Saturday, June 27, 2026: 11 AM–11 PM (VIP entry 12:45 PM). Main stage headliners on both days from approx. 5 PM.
Tickets 2026
Day ticket Friday or Saturday: €79.90. 2-day ticket: approx. €139. VIP ticket: higher (includes lounge access and premium catering). New Fastlane add-on: faster entry and access to the first barrier directly in front of the main stage. Children's rates available on the website.
Ticket Sales
Eventim, easyticket.de, MyTicket.de.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Kessel Festival
Cannstatter Wasen & Reitstadion Stuttgart
Mercedesstraße 50, 70372 Stuttgart