Yellow Jockey Open Airs Bad Harzburg
Four concert evenings on the racecourse in the heart of the Harz mountains
About Yellow Jockey Open Airs
A Racecourse Becomes a Concert Stage
The Bad Harzburg racecourse has been one of Lower Saxony's most traditional gallop facilities for decades. With the Yellow Jockey Open Airs, the Harzburger Rennverein has opened a second narrative thread: for four consecutive evenings in August, the vast turf is transformed into a concert venue with a main stage, grandstand views, and a spacious interior.
The concept follows a clear principle: each evening belongs to its own genre and its own headliner. This creates mini-festivals within a large festival weekend, appealing to different audiences while benefiting from the same infrastructure, stalls, and logistics. The proximity to the town center of Bad Harzburg, hotels, guesthouses, and the spa park also makes the series a reason to travel for guests from all over Northern Germany.
Four Worlds, One Location
Thursday's opening is dedicated to rock 'n' roll and the pop memories of the nineties. A live band bridges the gap between Elvis tributes and Eurodance classics, while sing-along hits from the charts of the turn of the millennium get the audience on the grandstand moving. The second evening focuses on contemporary German pop, highlighting the songwriter scene that has conquered stages from Hamburg to Munich in recent years. The focus shifts on the weekend: Schlager and discofox programs meet modern pop productions, and Sunday concludes with a major headliner concert that brings together several decades of German music history.
Racecourse Flair and Festival Comfort
The Yellow Jockey Open Airs leverage the natural advantages of the grounds: covered grandstands for seated tickets, a wide open area for standing tickets, and several catering zones along the track. Food trucks, regional breweries, and cocktail stands provide culinary accompaniments, while sanitary facilities, cloakrooms, and security services operate at a large event standard. Arriving early allows you to experience the sunset over the Burgberg before the light show on the main stage heralds the evening.
Bad Harzburg as a Stage
The choice of the racecourse as a venue is no coincidence. Bad Harzburg, nestled between the Harz National Park and the foothills of the Harz, has been a spa town with a well-developed tourism infrastructure since the 19th century. The open-air series capitalizes on this strength, extending the high season well into August. Accommodation options, the mountain railway, thermal baths, and the treetop walk provide the setting for a concert weekend that can easily be extended into a multi-day spa break.
Yellow Jockey Open Airs — edition 2026
Four Evenings, Four Worlds
The 2026 edition takes full advantage of the summer holiday weeks, offering four programs on four consecutive days. Each evening is designed as a separate concert event, can be booked individually, and targets its own audience.
Thursday: 90s Super Show
The opening on August 13th brings Dick Brave to the stage as headliner, combining his rock 'n' roll program with a grand 90s revue. The lineup includes Whigfield, Loona, Oli.P, East 17, Culture Beat, Fun Factory, Bellini, DJ Quicksilver, and Aquagen.
Friday: Johannes Oerding
The second evening, on August 14th, belongs to Johannes Oerding and his band. The Northern German songwriter presents a German-language pop program ranging from stadium anthems to intimate ballads.
Saturday and Sunday
The third evening is under development and will be supplemented by the organizer in spring 2026. The finale on Sunday, August 16th, will be performed by Matthias Reim and Lea Schauzu with a program spanning from classic Schlager to current pop productions.
Programme Yellow Jockey Open Airs 2026
Program Overview 2026
Thursday, August 13th — 90s Super Show
- Dick Brave
- Whigfield
- Loona
- Oli.P
- East 17
- Culture Beat
- Fun Factory
- Bellini
- DJ Quicksilver
- Aquagen
Friday, August 14th
- Johannes Oerding
Saturday, August 15th
Program in preparation — Announcement by the organizer in spring 2026.
Sunday, August 16th
- Matthias Reim
- Special Guest: Lea Schauzu
Entry from late afternoon, concerts start in the early evening. Current times and updates at yellow-jockey.de.
Highlights Yellow Jockey Open Airs 2026
- Four concert evenings, each with its own genre focus
- Up to 20,000 spectators at the Bad Harzburg racecourse
- 90s Eurodance revue to open with Whigfield, Loona, Culture Beat, and Fun Factory
- Johannes Oerding as pop headliner on Friday
- Matthias Reim and Lea Schauzu to close on Sunday
- Grandstand seats and spacious standing area in front of the stage
Prices Yellow Jockey Open Airs 2026
Practical information — Yellow Jockey Open Airs
Getting There
- By Car: Take the A 395 to the Bad Harzburg exit, follow signs for parking areas at the racecourse.
- By Train: Bad Harzburg station, from there shuttle service or a walk of approx. 15 minutes.
Tickets
- Advance sales via harzburger-rennverein.de and usual ticket portals.
- Day tickets and festival passes for multiple evenings available.
- Standing room, seated grandstand, and VIP areas available.
On Site
- Entry from late afternoon, concerts usually start from 7 PM.
- Catering with hot meals, draft beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Own drinks and glass bottles are not permitted.
- Seating in the covered grandstand, standing area in front of the stage.
Accommodation
Hotels, guesthouses, and holiday apartments in Bad Harzburg and surrounding Harz towns. Early booking is strongly recommended as the festival coincides with peak summer tourism.
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