Zeltfestival Ruhr

One of the largest music festivals in the Ruhr area

The Zeltfestival Ruhr is one of the largest and most influential music events in North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2008, the festival has brought top acts from the international and German-speaking music scene to the shores of Kemnader See, on the border between Bochum and Witten, for 17 days every late summer. In 2026, the festival runs from August 21st to September 6th.

25,000 m² festival world with Mediterranean piazza atmosphere

The festival grounds cover 25,000 square meters. Characteristic features include wooden floors instead of mud, a Mediterranean piazza atmosphere as a central meeting point, several event tents, an outdoor area with catering, and a dedicated children's area. This infrastructure fundamentally distinguishes Zeltfestival Ruhr from typical rock or open-air festivals: it's more like a city festival on an XL scale than a camping festival.

Lineup 2026 – Stars from Germany, UK, and international acts

The 2026 program spans 17 days and features a remarkable diversity of artists:

• August 21st — James Arthur, Deine Cousine
• August 22nd — Giant Rooks, Michael Schulte
• August 23rd — Giovanni Zarrella
• August 24th — Uriah Heep
• August 25th — Amy Macdonald, The Dead South
• August 26th — Tom Odell
• August 27th — Zaz
• further days: Santiano, Wincent Weiss, OMD, Afrob & Ferris MC, Grossstadtgeflüster, Dick Brave, Querbeat, and many more.

Children's program – a festival for families

Unlike typical adult festivals, Zeltfestival Ruhr offers a dedicated children's program. Confirmed performances include The Jungle Book, Pettersson and Findus, The NO-Horn!, and Master Eder and his Pumuckl. This makes the festival attractive for families with young children – a unique selling point in the NRW festival landscape.

140,000 visitors per season

With approximately 140,000 expected visitors, Zeltfestival Ruhr is one of NRW's largest commercial music festivals. Attendance for individual concerts varies: top acts like James Arthur or Tom Odell regularly sell out, while smaller acts offer last-minute opportunities.

Day ticket €7 – cashless on site

A day ticket costs €7 – inexpensive compared to Hamburg's Reeperbahn Festival or Berlin's Lollapalooza. It grants access to the festival grounds, including the piazza and outdoor area; concert tickets in the tents are sold separately. Cashless payment is mandatory throughout the entire grounds: for concerts, food, drinks, and souvenirs.

Opening Hours

The festival grounds open Monday to Friday from 4 PM, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 PM. Concerts usually start between 7 PM and 9 PM. Visitors arriving during the day can enjoy the "Market of Opportunities", the catering options, and the children's area.

Kemnader See – the shore between Bochum and Witten

Kemnader See is a reservoir on the Ruhr river, one of the most important recreational areas in the eastern Ruhr region. The festival grounds are located at Querenburger Straße 335, technically within Witten's city limits but on the border with Bochum. Access by car via the A43, by public transport via bus 369 or 378 from Bochum Hbf.