Slam Dunk Festival Germany 2026 — Oberhausen

Slam Dunk is Back — After a 20-Year Hiatus

The British Slam Dunk Festival has been one of Europe's most important Pop-Punk, Emo, and Hardcore events since the 2000s. The editions in Leeds and Hatfield attract tens of thousands annually. On Friday, May 29, 2026, the festival kicks off with a German premiere at Turbinenhalle 1 in Oberhausen — 20 years after its last Slam Dunk appearance in Germany. The organizers deliberately chose the Ruhr area: the industrial architecture of the Turbinenhalle, the region's DIY hardcore tradition, and the loud audience are intended to make the festival a "more aggressive edition".

More Aggressive Focus — Knocked Loose as Headliner

The German edition leans significantly heavier than the British parent editions. The headliner is Knocked Loose — the band from Louisville, Kentucky, is, according to the festival announcement, "the most influential force in modern hardcore right now". Their 2024 album "You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To" was Grammy-nominated, and their live shows are among the most intense hardcore experiences today.

The 2026 Line-up

The lineup features a cross-section of the modern Pop-Punk, Post-Hardcore, and Emo scene:

• Knocked Loose (USA) — Headliner, Hardcore
• Paleface Swiss (Switzerland) — Deathcore/Hardcore
• Stand Atlantic (Australia) — Pop-Punk
• Boston Manor (UK) — Alternative Rock
• Hawthorne Heights (USA) — Emo Classics
• Static Dress (UK) — Post-Hardcore
• Holywatr — Newcomers
• Sweet Pill (USA) — Emo-Punk
• + more acts to be confirmed in the coming weeks

Why Oberhausen?

The choice of the Turbinenhalle Oberhausen was deliberate, according to the organizers: The Ruhr area has deep roots in hardcore and alternative music. Bands from Bochum, Essen, Duisburg, and Dortmund have shaped the scene since the 90s, and the Turbinenhalle, with its former industrial architecture (steel beams, brick hall), offers the ideal backdrop for "intense and physically demanding shows." Despite its growth, the festival aims to "preserve its subculture roots".

One-Day Indoor Festival

Unlike the British open-air editions, the German premiere is a one-day indoor festival. Doors open 5:00 PM, start 5:30 PM, with quick changeovers between the main stage and the side stage. Turbinenhalle 1 is one of the largest indoor concert venues in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The Pop-Punk Renaissance

Slam Dunk Germany arrives at a perfect time: Pop-Punk and Emo have been experiencing a renaissance since 2021 — bands like Knocked Loose and Stand Atlantic attract young fans, while bands like Hawthorne Heights represent the original Emo wave of the 2000s. For over 15 years, the Slam Dunk Festival has been a tastemaker in the scene.

Oberhausen as a Concert City

The Turbinenhalle, Druckluft, and Rudolf Weber-ARENA make Oberhausen one of the most important concert cities in western NRW. Visitors to Slam Dunk are centrally located between Düsseldorf, Cologne, Dortmund, and Essen — making travel easy from anywhere.