40th Gießen City Festival 2026
One of the largest folk festivals in Central Hesse – Anniversary edition
About Gießen City Festival
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40 Years of Gießen City Festival
The Gießen City Festival is one of the largest and most visited folk festivals in Central Hesse. Every year on the third weekend in August, the city center of the university town transforms into a large open-air stage with 130,000 to 150,000 visitors. In 2026, the 40th anniversary edition will be celebrated – from August 14th to 16th. The organizer is Gießen Marketing GmbH.
Eight Stages, Multifaceted Program
The program is spread across eight stages around Berliner Platz – the central city center area – as well as on surrounding squares and streets: Seltersweg, Plockstraße, Neuenweg, Katharinengasse, and Kirchenplatz. The musical spectrum is broad: folk, rock, pop, jazz, and much in between. Local bands from the Gießen area perform alongside national acts.
Day of Cultures
The „Day of Cultures“, organized by the Gießen Immigrant Council, offers its own program: stalls, performances, and culinary specialties from the many nationalities represented in Gießen. The university town is one of the most internationally diverse cities in Hesse, which is particularly evident at the City Festival.
Ecumenical Service and City Run
On Sunday morning, an ecumenical service takes place on Kirchenplatz – a bridge between the city and the churches, embedding the City Festival in religious tradition. Additionally, the city run „Run & Roll For Help“ is part of the program – a charity run for regional aid projects with numerous participants.
Hesse's City Festival in a University Town Atmosphere
With around 88,000 inhabitants, Gießen is a university town of Justus Liebig University (founded 1607) and one of Hesse's most important academic locations. The university library, the Mathematikum exhibition (with hands-on mathematics for the whole family), and the city center with its town church form the urban backdrop. At the City Festival, students, families from the Gießen district, cider fans from Hesse, and tourists from all over the state come together.
Dog Zone and Family Program
Special attention is paid to dog-friendliness: A dedicated dog food stand with canine nutrition advice is part of the program. Families benefit from carousels, hands-on activities, and a packed children's program.
Gießen City Festival — edition 2026
For the 40th anniversary edition, Gießen Marketing is upgrading the entire city center ensemble. Berliner Platz is the musical center, and the eight stages are spread across Seltersweg, Plockstraße, Neuenweg, Katharinengasse, and Kirchenplatz. The detailed lineup will be published on giessen-entdecken.de before the festival.
Programme Gießen City Festival 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026 — Opening
- Official opening at Berliner Platz with keg tapping
- First concerts on several stages
- Live music until midnight
Saturday, August 15, 2026 — Main Festival Day
- Daytime family program with carousels and children's stage
- City run „Run & Roll For Help“ – Charity run through the city center
- Full stage program at all 8 venues
- Main concerts at Berliner Platz in the evening
- Live music late into the night
Sunday, August 16, 2026 — Family Day & Closing
- Morning ecumenical service on Kirchenplatz
- „Day of Cultures“ – Stalls and performances by the Immigrant Council
- Family program throughout the city center
- Evening closing concerts
Highlights Gießen City Festival 2026
- 40th anniversary edition
- 8 stages with live music (Folk, Rock, Pop, Jazz)
- Day of Cultures with the Immigrant Council
- Ecumenical service on Kirchenplatz
- City run „Run & Roll For Help“
- Free public transport within the city area on the weekend
- Free admission
Prices Gießen City Festival 2026
Free admission. Costs only for food, drinks, and purchases at the stalls.
Practical information — Gießen City Festival
Getting There
By car: A485 exit Gießen-Mitte. Parking garages at the train station (Parkhaus Am Kino, 387 spaces; Parkhaus Karstadt, 860 spaces) as well as supermarket parking lots (Rewe, Lidl, Edeka nearby). By public transport: Gießen main station, then approx. 5 minutes walk to the city center. During the festival, free public transport within the city area on Saturdays and Sundays, night bus service until 4:30 AM.
Admission
Free admission.
Tips
The eight stages allow for individual routes through the city center. Berliner Platz is the musical center, while Kirchenplatz is quieter. Dogs are welcome – but it's better to leave them at home during large crowds.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Gießen City Festival al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Gießen City Festival
Innenstadt Gießen (Berliner Platz und Umgebung)
Berliner Platz / Seltersweg / Plockstraße / Kirchenplatz, 35390 Gießen