Schlagerstern Willingen – 9. Sauerland Open Air
9th Edition – approx. 15,000 Schlager fans in the Sauerland with Kerstin Ott, Giovanni Zarrella, Johnny Logan
About Schlagerstern Willingen
Schlager in the Sauerland
The Schlagerstern Willingen is one of Germany's largest open-air Schlager festivals – a one-day event that attracts around 15,000 Schlager fans to Willingen in the Hessian Sauerland every year in mid-August. The 9th edition in 2026 will take place on Saturday, August 15, starting at 1 PM on the festival grounds at the Sauerland Stern Hotel, right at the foot of the Ettelsberg.
Lineup 2026: The Schlager A-List
The 2026 lineup brings together the Schlager scene in its full breadth:
- Kerstin Ott – Schlager-pop star, known for “Die immer lacht”
- Giovanni Zarrella – Italo-Schlager star
- Johnny Logan – Mr. Eurovision (Winner 1980 + 1987)
- Vincent Gross – Swiss Schlager newcomer
- Sonia Liebing – Schlager singer
- Oli.P – Pop/Schlager crossover
- Anna-Maria Zimmermann – Schlager-pop
- Peter Wackel – Mallorca Schlager classic
Plus other acts – each headliner plays between 30 and 45 minutes, a dense setlist.
Ettelsberg Scenery
The festival grounds are located at the foot of the Ettelsberg (838 m), Willingen's local mountain and winter sports center. Green in August instead of snow-covered – an unusually beautiful backdrop for a Schlager open-air. The neighboring Sauerland Stern Hotel serves as the logistics hub.
Schlager as a Lifestyle
Schlagerstern is not just a concert, but a Schlager lifestyle: festival outfits (preferably flashy and glittery), cocktails (Aperol Spritz, Hugo, beach bar classics), fan groups with T-shirt prints, selfies with the stars in the Meet & Greet zone. The audience is diverse in age – students enjoying retro Schlager, loyal Schlager generations, families.
Willingen – Hesse's Schlager Capital in August
Willingen positions itself as an event city: In July, the Harley Days; in mid-August, the Schlagerstern – both festivals at the same festival grounds. With just under 6,000 inhabitants, Willingen is small but well-prepared for major events as a ski and hiking tourism destination. Hotels and guesthouses around the venue are booked up weeks in advance.
Schlagerstern Willingen — edition 2026
Sale via goeticket.de and the official festival website. Start at 1:00 PM, festival end usually around 11 PM.
Programme Schlagerstern Willingen 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026 — Festival Day
- 1:00 PM — Admission and opening of the festival grounds
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — First sets by opening acts (Anna-Maria Zimmermann, Peter Wackel, Oli.P)
- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM — Mid-tier sets by A-list artists (Vincent Gross, Sonia Liebing)
- 8:00 PM–10:00 PM — Headliner Phase:
- Kerstin Ott
- Giovanni Zarrella
- Johnny Logan – Mr. Eurovision
- 10:00 PM–11:00 PM — Schlager Finale with all stars on stage
Confirmed Stars 2026
- Kerstin Ott – Schlager-pop star
- Giovanni Zarrella – Italo-Schlager
- Johnny Logan – Eurovision winner 1980 + 1987
- Vincent Gross – Swiss Schlager
- Sonia Liebing – Schlager singer
- Oli.P – Pop/Schlager crossover
- Anna-Maria Zimmermann – Schlager-pop
- Peter Wackel – Mallorca Schlager
Festival Infrastructure
- Several bars and cocktail stands
- Schlager lifestyle area
- Meet & Greet zone (advance booking required)
- Catering: Grill, fries, burgers, vegetarian options
- Festival grounds directly at the Sauerland Stern Hotel
Highlights Schlagerstern Willingen 2026
- 9th edition since 2018
- Around 15,000 Schlager fans
- Kerstin Ott and Giovanni Zarrella as top German stars
- Johnny Logan – Mr. Eurovision
- Ettelsberg scenery in the Sauerland
- On-site at the Sauerland Stern Hotel
Prices Schlagerstern Willingen 2026
Tickets from €61.50 per person. Group rate for 7+ people: €53.30 (with prior registration). Sale via goeticket.de and festival website.
Practical information — Schlagerstern Willingen
Getting There
By Car: Take the A44 or A45, then the B251 to Willingen. Arriving early means better parking. By Train: To Brilon Stadt or Korbach, then take a bus or shuttle to Willingen.
Tickets
Tickets from €61.50 per person. Group rate for 7+ people: €53.30 (with prior registration). Sale via goeticket.de and the festival website.
Date/Time
Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 1:00 PM. Festival usually ends around 11 PM.
Tip
Book early – hotels in Willingen are often fully booked in August. Bring comfortable shoes, sun and rain protection (open air in all weather).
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Where it takes place Schlagerstern Willingen
Festivalgelände am Sauerland Stern Hotel (Ettelsberg)
Festivalgelände am Sauerland Stern Hotel, Vor den Weiden, 34508 Willingen (Upland)