Open Air Gößnitz

Small, fine, individualistic — since 1993

Open Air Gößnitz is not a festival for the masses, but for a generation that has been coming together for decades. Founded in 1993, it has consciously opted against growth: a maximum of 2,000 visitors, a single stage location, no separation between the concert area and camping, bringing your own food and drinks expressly permitted. The result: an unusually relaxed atmosphere where 16-year-old crossover fans stand in line with 60-year-old regulars. The festival is located in Gößnitz, a town of 2,600 inhabitants in the Altenburger Land district in the far east of Thuringia, on the border with Saxony.

Rock, Metal, Folk-Rock — and no genre boundaries

Open Air Gößnitz sees itself as genre-breaking. On the single stage, harder Rock, Metal, and Punk acts alternate with Folk-Rock, Ska-Punk, Crossover, and acoustic sets. The 2026 lineup exemplifies this breadth: Dritte Wahl (Punk-Rock from Rostock), Fiddler's Green (Speedfolk from Erlangen), Versengold (Medieval Folk-Rock from Bremen), and Knorkator (Comedy Metal from Berlin). In addition, smaller regional bands from Thuringia and Saxony perform — many of them had their first stage experiences here.

Gerth's Wiese — no separation of stage and camping

The festival grounds are unusually laid out. Gerth's Wiese at the Gößnitz sports field is an open meadow where the stage, catering, and camping areas merge. You can pitch your tent 50 meters from the stage or further back by the embankment — both are possible. There are no security checkpoints, no area divisions, no premium boxes. Catering is affordable, but you can also grill your own sausage on a brought-along grill.

Three days of festival, one weekend of memories

The festival runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, with concerts from late afternoon until well after midnight. Those who arrive early set up camp, meet acquaintances from previous years, and catch the soundcheck. From the late evening, the meadow in front of the stage fills up; after the headliner concert, people often stay until sunrise around the campfire — a festival tradition that has disappeared elsewhere.