Name: Unter dem Himmel — Festival at the Harz Mountain Theatre 2026
Start: 2026-07-31T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-01T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Harzer Bergtheater Thale

Unter dem Himmel

About Unter dem Himmel

The festival “Unter dem Himmel” transforms the spectacularly located Harz Mountain Theatre in Thale into an open-air stage for dark electro, industrial, and electronic music for two days. With VNV Nation as the figurehead, IAMX as a regular act, and a steadily growing lineup, it is one of the most atmospheric festivals in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Dates 31 Jul — 01 Aug 2026

Venue Thale (15085)

Prices 55.00€ — 110.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Unter dem Himmel — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 2026 edition of Unter dem Himmel will take place on July 31 and August 1 at the Harz Mountain Theatre in Thale. VNV Nation will perform on both evenings, joined by IAMX, Schattenmann, Twin Noir, and Isaac Howlett.

Two summer evenings, dark pop, electro, and industrial acts, the spectacular backdrop of the Hexentanzplatz: this is the formula for Unter dem Himmel 2026. For the first time, VNV Nation will be on stage on both days — on the first evening with their program „Automatic Empires”, and on the second with their regular tour set. IAMX will also be part of the program on both days, complemented by Schattenmann, Twin Noir, and Isaac Howlett.

The Mountain Theatre is particularly impressive after sunset: the rock faces are illuminated in color, and the stage stands out against the black sky. Anyone who has experienced the festival once understands why the organizer calls it Unter dem Himmel (Under the Sky).

Highlights Unter dem Himmel 2026

VNV Nation on both days with special program „Automatic Empires” — IAMX, Schattenmann, Twin Noir, Isaac Howlett — Open-air at the Hexentanzplatz — Festival particularly atmospheric after sunset

Programme Unter dem Himmel 2026

Day 1 — Friday, July 31, 2026

VNV Nation — Automatic Empires (Special Program)
IAMX
Further acts will be announced by the organizer closer to the festival date

Day 2 — Saturday, August 1, 2026

VNV Nation (Main Set)
IAMX
Schattenmann
Twin Noir
Isaac Howlett

Set times and stage order will be published on harzinfo.de as well as on the festival website.

Prices Unter dem Himmel 2026

Day tickets for July 31 and August 1 available individually, as well as weekend tickets. Advance sale via Neuwerk Music and Bodetal Tourismus.

Practical information

Practical information — Unter dem Himmel

Getting There

Train: Thale Hbf, approx. 10 min. walk from the station to the valley station of the cable car / chairlift, then 4 min. up to the Hexentanzplatz. Car: Parking available at Hexentanzplatz or in the valley (shuttle bus / chairlift).

Tickets

Day tickets for July 31 and August 1 individually, as well as weekend tickets. Advance sale via Neuwerk Music. Current prices on the festival website.

On Site

Open-air theatre with bench seating, no covered areas — weatherproof clothing recommended. Catering and drink stands on site.

Summer begins darkly on the Hexentanzplatz

The Harz Mountain Theatre in Thale is one of the most unusual venues in Central Germany: an open-air stage built in 1903 high above the Bodetal valley, nestled into a natural rock formation on the Hexentanzplatz, with a view of massive sandstone cliffs. The acoustics are legendary, and the atmosphere — especially in the evening when fog rises from the valley — is simply unique.

The festival Unter dem Himmel, curated by Neuwerk Music Tours & Events, has been using this backdrop since 2024 for two days of dark electro, industrial, and electronic music. The anchor is the Northern Irish-Irish formation VNV Nation, led by singer Ronan Harris, which regularly performs two consecutive evenings here with their program „Automatic Empires”. In addition, IAMX, the solo project of Chris Corner (Sneaker Pimps), has performed since the beginning.

Thale in the Harz — Saxony-Anhalt's Magical Mountain Town

Thale is located in the Harz district in the western part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, on the northern edge of the mountain range of the same name. The town is the endpoint of the wild and romantic Bodetal valley and a central starting point for Harz hikers. You can reach the Hexentanzplatz from the valley floor via cable car or chairlift — one of the historical sites of the Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night), embedded in a landscape rich in myths that inspired Goethe for his Faust.

Format: Two Days, One Stage, Lots of Excitement

Unter dem Himmel is not a classic large festival with camping and vast grounds, but a compact stage weekend: two concert evenings, each with three to four acts, a single main stage, no stage changes between acts. The audience stays together, and the concert remains the focus. Day tickets for individual evenings and weekend tickets are available.

Around the Festival

If you're staying longer in Thale, you should hike through the Bodetal valley during the day (Treseburg, Roßtrappe), see the Hexentanzplatz in the sunshine, or take a trip to Quedlinburg — the UNESCO World Heritage city is only a 15-minute drive away. Accommodation is available in Thale itself and in the surrounding Harz towns.