Name: Saaleauen Festival Hof 2026
Start: 2026-08-06T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-09T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Saaleauen unterhalb der Altstadt Hof

Saaleauen Festival

About Saaleauen Festival

The Saaleauen Festival transforms the Saale meadows below Hof's old town into a multi-day open-air experience on the second weekend of August. With an expanded main stage, DJ area, beach bar, a beach on the riverbank, and a bridge connecting the festival grounds on both sides of the Saale, the former city event in Upper Franconia has developed into a true festival. Organized by Stadtmarketing Hof e.V. with support from the city and region.

Dates 06 Aug — 09 Aug 2026

Venue Hof (09464)

Prices —

Status —

Edition 2026

Saaleauen Festival — edition 2026

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The Saaleauen Festival 2026 is traditionally planned for the second weekend of August; the exact dates will be announced by Stadtmarketing Hof e.V. in spring/summer 2026. Open Air on the Saale with main stage, DJ area, beach bar, beach, and family day on Sunday.

The Saaleauen Festival will return to the Saale riverbank below Hof's old town in 2026. As in previous years, the second weekend of August is expected; the exact date will be communicated in due course by Stadtmarketing Hof e.V.

On the festival days, visitors can expect the proven concept: main stage with live acts from indie, pop, and crossover, separate DJ area with electronic sound, beach bar with a beach on the riverbank, a bridge over the Saale connecting the grounds on both sides, and the traditional free family Sunday with children's program.

Highlights Saaleauen Festival 2026

Open Air on the Saale riverbank in Hof, main stage and DJ area with modern stage technology, beach and beach bar, bridge connects both banks, free family Sunday.

Programme Saaleauen Festival 2026

Saaleauen Festival 2026 — Program

The complete lineup and detailed schedule for 2026 will be published in advance on saaleauenfestival.de and stadtmarketing-hof.de. The following program structure is expected, based on the model of recent editions:

Thursday — Opening evening with DJ Area (in 2025: André Schnura & DJ MOKABY with Ravers Nature)
Friday & Saturday — Main stage with national and regional acts, parallel DJ Area, beach bar open late into the night
Sunday — free Family Day with children's program: music tournament, puppeteers, pirate party, play bus, Zumba workshop

As of May 2026, the final headliners for 2026 have not yet been officially confirmed. Current information at saaleauenfestival.de.

Prices Saaleauen Festival 2026

Day tickets and festival passes on sale, early bird recommended. Sunday is free to enter as a family day. Current prices at saaleauenfestival.de.

Practical information

Practical information — Saaleauen Festival

Getting There

Hof can be reached via the A9 (Berlin–Munich, exits Hof/West and Hof/Süd) and via the A72 from Saxony. By train, there are IC and ICE connections at Hof main station. The festival grounds in the Saaleauen are within walking distance of the city center (approx. 15 min.). Recommended during the festival: Park-and-Ride with shuttle.

Tickets and Admission

Day tickets and festival passes are sold in advance via stadtmarketing-hof.de. Sunday is traditionally free to enter as a family day. Current prices and ticket categories (early bird, box office, reduced) are available on the official website.

Tips

Those who want to fully enjoy the spectacle on the Saale riverbank should arrive in the late afternoon – as the sun begins to set and the light installations start. Pack a picnic blanket and a light jacket, as it gets cool by the river in the evening.

From City Festival to a True Festival

The Saale meadows have long been a popular local recreation area for the people of Hof. With the Saaleauenfest, the stretch of river below the old town became the summer backdrop for a cozy city riverside festival. It has since evolved into a multi-day open-air festival: new, larger stages with modern lighting and sound technology, a bridge over the Saale connecting the grounds on both sides, and a significantly expanded program have turned the city festival into the Saaleauen Festival – as desired by the organizing Stadtmarketing Hof e.V.

Beach, Beach Bar, Live Music

Every year, a sandy beach and a beach bar are created directly on the riverbank, along with light installations and water attractions that are particularly impressive in the evening. The grounds are divided into several zones – the main stage for live acts, a DJ area with its own electronic program, a family area, and a food court with the regional brewery Scherdel and local food trucks.

Musical Spectrum

The lineup of past editions ranged from indie pop, brass crossover, house, and Schlager hits: KAMRAD, WANKELMUT, MOOP MAMA x ÄLICE, AGATINO ROMERO, THE HEIMATDAMISCH, GRETA, LIQUIDFIVE, and many more performed on Hof's stages in 2025. The mix of regional newcomers and national acts is a hallmark of the festival.

Family-Friendly Sunday

Sunday is traditionally dedicated to families – with free admission. Program items such as a music tournament, puppeteers, a pirate party, a play bus, and Zumba workshops make the day a family event. With this hybrid formula (commercial festival on the weekend, free family day on Sunday), Stadtmarketing succeeds in anchoring the festival within the entire Hof population.

Hof in Upper Franconia

Hof is an independent city in northeastern Bavaria, on the border with Saxony and Thuringia. The Saale river flows through the middle of the city, making the meadows below the old town a green lung with a special character. The Saaleauen Festival utilizes this natural backdrop – anyone who has sat on the meadow with a beer in hand on a summer evening, while the lights reflect in the river, understands the special charm of this Upper Franconian festival.

Upper Franconian Summer Institution

For the Upper Franconia region (Hof, Wunsiedel, Kulmbach), the Saaleauen Festival is now one of the most important summer dates. Partners such as Stadtwerke Hof, Radio Euroherz, and the Scherdel brewery give it strong regional roots.