Name: WATER & SOUND Festival Augsburg 2026
Start: 2026-07-23T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-01T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Annahof, Parktheater, St. Magdalena, Kuhsee

WATER & SOUND

About WATER & SOUND

The WATER & SOUND Festival combines contemporary world music with art, water projects, and dialogue formats centered around the global resource of water. The venue is the UNESCO World Heritage city of Augsburg, whose historic water system provides the festival's framework. International bands from Brazil to Nigeria perform at the Annahof, while installations, performances at Kuhsee, and discussion rounds delve deeper into the themes. The festival evolved from the Augsburg Festival of Cultures and focuses on a unique guiding theme each year.

Dates 23 Jul — 01 Aug 2026

Venue Augsburg (09761)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

WATER & SOUND — edition 2026

The 2026 edition of the WATER & SOUND Festival will take place from July 23 to August 1 under the guiding theme "Waterways." International world music at the Annahof, an in-house production at the Parktheater on July 30th, an art installation at St. Magdalena, and performances at Kuhsee form the framework.

The 2026 WATER & SOUND Festival is themed "Waterways" and explores how canals, rivers, and sea routes have shaped cities, history, and global interconnections. International acts and bands from around the world, from Brazil to Nigeria, will perform at the Annahof. A highlight is an exclusive in-house production on July 30th at the Parktheater. An art installation in the former Dominican church of St. Magdalena, performances at Kuhsee and in the Siebentischwald forest, as well as panels, workshops, and guided tours at the World Heritage sites, delve deeper into the theme. The exact program will be announced in spring 2026.

Highlights WATER & SOUND 2026

Guiding theme "Waterways"
Bands from around the world – from Brazil to Nigeria
Venues within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Augsburg

Programme WATER & SOUND 2026

2026 Highlights

International world music concerts at the Annahof
Exclusive in-house production on July 30th at the Parktheater
Art installation in the former Dominican church St. Magdalena
Performances at Kuhsee and in the Siebentischwald forest
Panels, workshops, and World Heritage tours

Prices WATER & SOUND 2026

Many program points are free or donation-based. The detailed program and any ticket information will be published in spring 2026.

Practical information

Practical information — WATER & SOUND

Getting There

Augsburg is easily accessible by ICE/EC and regional trains; from the main station, the venues can be reached by tram or on foot. By car, take the A8 (Munich–Stuttgart).

Admission

Many program points are free or donation-based. The detailed program will be published in spring.

Venues

Annahof, Parktheater, former Dominican church St. Magdalena, Kuhsee, and Siebentischwald.

A Festival Centered on Water, Sound, and World Heritage

The WATER & SOUND Festival in Augsburg is a cultural event that combines contemporary world music with visual arts, water projects, and social dialogue formats. It evolved from the former Augsburg Festival of Cultures and focuses on water as a global resource. Augsburg has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019 for its historic water management system – the festival uses this identity as a common thread.

2026 Program: "Waterways"

Under the guiding theme "Waterways," the 2026 edition explores how canals, rivers, and sea routes have shaped cities, history, and today's global interconnections. International acts and bands from around the world, from Brazil to Nigeria, will perform at the Annahof. An exclusive in-house production on July 30th in the Parktheater is one of the program's highlights.

Art, Performances, and World Heritage Sites

The festival's themes are explored further through an art installation in the former Dominican church of St. Magdalena, performances at Kuhsee and in the Siebentischwald forest, as well as panels, workshops, and guided tours at the World Heritage sites. This creates a multi-layered program that interweaves concerts, art, and knowledge transfer.

Significance in Bavaria

Augsburg is located in the Swabia administrative region of Bavaria, an independent city and the third-largest city in the Free State. The WATER & SOUND Festival is part of the Augsburg City Summer and positions the city as a place where the World Heritage theme of water is discussed culturally and internationally. Admission to many program points is free or donation-based.