22nd International Pentecost Youth Meeting Gelsenkirchen

Pentecost Youth Meeting — International Solidarity at its Core

The International Pentecost Youth Meeting Gelsenkirchen is one of Germany's most important political youth festivals. Organized by the association of the same name in close connection with the MLPD (Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany), it celebrates international solidarity, anti-fascism, and friendship between peoples annually on Pentecost. From May 22nd to 24th, 2026, the 22nd edition will take place in Revierpark Nienhausen, Feldmarkstraße 201, 45883 Gelsenkirchen — easily accessible at the tram terminus.

Program — Sports, Music, Politics, Children

Friday, May 22nd, 2026 — Opening

The festival kicks off at 5 PM with the opening concert. International bands and solo artists will perform, and the day will be framed by political speeches on the situation of youth, the environment, and peace. Afterwards, the open festival camping on the grounds begins.

Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 — Main Festival Day

Several programs will run in parallel throughout the day:

• Games without Borders — inclusive sports festival with disciplines for all generations and abilities
• International Football Tournament — teams from several countries
• Song Contest — emerging musicians and singer-songwriters from the international network
• Future Demo — political march on current issues (climate, peace, social justice)
• Discussion Forums — e.g., on conscription and repression
• Artist stalls, food, bars

Sunday, May 24th, 2026 — Children's Day and Closing

• 1 PM–5 PM — Children's Day Program with games, craft stations, and child-friendly music
• Closing event with a summary and political stance

Self-Organized and Self-Financed

The festival is self-organized and self-financed. There is no commercial advertising, no branding from large corporations. Instead, the event is financed through donations, low prices for food and drinks, and volunteer work. Medical personnel are actively sought, and artists, vendors, and volunteers are invited to register. Setup and dismantling are done together by all participants — part of the solidarity concept.

Values and Self-Understanding

The Pentecost Youth Meeting sees itself as a substance-free and discrimination-free space. Alcohol is permitted, hard drugs are excluded. Equality regardless of gender, ethnicity, origin, or religion is a fundamental principle. The festival explicitly positions itself as anti-fascist and against all forms of discrimination.

Revierpark Nienhausen — The Green Heart of the Ruhr Area

Revierpark Nienhausen is a former mining area that has been transformed into a spacious recreational area. With meadows, forests, sports facilities, and water bodies, it offers ideal conditions for a multi-day open-air festival. Its central location at the tram terminus makes it easily accessible — even without a car.

Gelsenkirchen — Schalke and the Ruhr Area

The independent city of Gelsenkirchen, with around 260,000 inhabitants, is located in the center of the Ruhr area (North Rhine-Westphalia). Known primarily for FC Schalke 04, the city has a strong working-class tradition and is the scene of many political and trade union movements — a fitting location for an international anti-fascist youth festival.