Over 150 acts on 5 stages and 800,000 visitors – one of the largest open-air city festivals in Northwest Germany
Since 1974, the Maiwoche has been a firm fixture in Osnabrück's city calendar and is one of the largest independent open-air city festivals in northwestern Germany. Over the decades, it has evolved from a local spring festival into a festival with supra-regional appeal, shaping the city center for ten days.
On five stages in the city center, over 150 acts present a broad musical spectrum – from indie rock, folk, and singer-songwriter to punk, hardcore, electronic, and pop. This diversity allows it to appeal to a heterogeneous audience, comprising both Osnabrück residents and day-trippers from the wider region.
The 2026 lineup includes Betterov, whose indie pop has gained supra-regional recognition in recent years, metalcore pioneers Callejon, and the rock band Van Holzen as headliners. The program is complemented by other well-known acts such as Blackout Problems, RAUM27, Versengold, and ZSK – a mix that embraces both established and new voices in the German music scene.
As in previous years, the Maiwoche is free to attend – a remarkable feature for an event of this scale. This is made possible by funding from the City of Osnabrück, sponsors, and the commitment of Marketing Osnabrück. The street carousel in front of the cathedral adds a classic attraction for families to the program.
The exact program for 2026 has been published by the organizer in the 2026 program guide. The structure follows the established cornerstones of previous years: opening evening on the first Friday, continuous stage program on all ten days, peak activity on the two weekends, and more relaxed weekdays focusing on singer-songwriter and indie programs.
With its size, the Maiwoche is one of the most significant independent city festivals in Northern Germany and is an economically and culturally defining factor for Osnabrück's city center.
Detailed stage and time program in the official 2026 program guide and on erleben.osnabrueck.de.
Friday, May 8th, to Sunday, May 17th, 2026.
Osnabrück city center, 5 stages spread across the Market Square, Peace Square (Platz des Westfälischen Friedens), Cathedral Forecourt (Domvorplatz), and other central squares.
By public transport: numerous bus lines stop in the city center. By car: parking garages in the city center; expect crowds on weekends. Osnabrück main train station is a 15-minute walk away.
Admission is free. Food and drinks available at stalls at event prices.
The current program guide and detailed information will be published on erleben.osnabrueck.de/maiwoche.
No photos yet. Share yours!
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Share your experience with the community.