Weckt die Toten Festival

A Festival of Medieval and Electric Sounds

Anyone who experienced the Berlin-Kreuzberg market squares in the 1990s knows the early In Extremo: seven men with bagpipes, shawms, and medieval attire, who at some point decided that an electric guitar and a thundering drum set were truly needed. From this melting pot, medieval rock emerged — and with In Extremo, Germany became a world leader in the genre. The Weckt die Toten Festival, brought to life by them, is a declaration of love to this scene.

Peißnitzinsel — Halle's Most Beautiful Open-Air Stage

The venue is the Freilichtbühne Peißnitzinsel in the heart of Halle (Saale), nestled between the two arms of the Saale river, a short walk from the historic city center. The Peißnitz is Halle's green lung, a recreational area with theater terraces, a planetarium, and summer concerts. The open-air stage has hosted generations of concert-goers since GDR times — the festival seamlessly continues this tradition, adding another must-attend event to Halle's festival calendar.

Headliner Lineup with Top-Tier Acts

The band selection for 2026 brings together genre giants from three decades: In Extremo themselves as headliners and hosts, alongside Eisbrecher with their industrial dancefloor metal from Munich, the Italian folk-metal troupe Wind Rose, who gained popularity here with their 'Diggy Diggy Hole' anthem, and Subway To Sally from Potsdam, one of Germany's longest-standing medieval rock bands. Rounding out the bill is Manntra, Croatian folk-metal ambassadors with a Balkan flair.

Saxony-Anhalt's New Rock Date

Halle is a well-chosen festival location: centrally located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, well-connected via the ICE high-speed train route Frankfurt–Leipzig–Berlin, and boasting a vibrant student scene that energizes the festival. After a sold-out debut in 2025, the festival focuses on continuity in 2026: a day full of medieval rock, a seamlessly flowing stage change, and an audience that sings along to every word. Shawms, bagpipes, distorted guitars — and a summer night sky over the Saale.