ZELTIVAL
Summer festival of TOLLHAUS Karlsruhe — six weeks of open-air programming at the Alter Schlachthof
About ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Karlsruhe Cultural Center Since 1982
The TOLLHAUS cultural center was founded in 1982 by Bernd Belschner and Britta Vehagen as a socio-cultural center on the disused slaughterhouse grounds. Today, it is one of the most important independent cultural venues in Southern Germany: two stages, workshop and forum rooms, a broad multi-genre program of concerts, dance, theater, comedy, and circus arts. TOLLHAUS organizes three festivals annually: ZELTIVAL in summer, "Platz da!" in May (street theater), and ATOLL in September (contemporary circus).
Six Weeks of Open-Air Programming
In 2026, ZELTIVAL runs from June 26 to August 9 — over six weeks of open-air programming on the grounds of the Alter Schlachthof. Concerts and performances take place in the large tent, while the open-air area offers a relaxed atmosphere with catering, a beer garden, and lawns for lounging. The program is multi-genre: from singer-songwriters like Faber (confirmed for August 2, 2026) to indie pop and world music, to major international artists on tour.
2026 Program
The complete 2026 program is published on zeltival.de. Based on experience from previous years: indie pop stars, singer-songwriters, jazz greats, comedians, and cabaret artists, world music acts from Latin America, Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Faber will be performing on August 2, 2026, with his "Addio Live" tour. Further confirmed acts will be announced gradually in spring 2026.
Tollhaus Area as Festival Grounds
The festival grounds at Alter Schlachthof 35 are located in the Oststadt district of Karlsruhe, east of the city center. You can reach Tollhaus directly in 8 minutes from Marktplatz Karlsruhe via tram S5 or Stadtbahn S52. The area has been developed into a creative district in recent years — in addition to TOLLHAUS, you'll find co-working spaces, designer workshops, cafés, and a Saturday weekly market.
Karlsruhe as a City of Culture
Karlsruhe is home to the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice, but it is also one of the most vibrant cultural cities in Southern Germany. With the ZKM Center for Art and Media, the Staatliche Kunsthalle, the Badisches Staatstheater, and numerous independent venues like TOLLHAUS, Karlsruhe forms a dense cultural network. ZELTIVAL is one of the fixed summer highlights.
ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe — edition 2026
Six Weeks of Summer Culture
ZELTIVAL 2026 offers six weeks of open-air cultural programming — Karlsruhe's longest festival run and one of the most extensive summer festivals in Southern Germany. The 2026 program includes over 40 events on two stages: the large tent for bigger concerts and the open-air stage for more intimate acts and cabaret evenings.
Faber, the Swiss-Italian singer-songwriter, will perform on August 2, 2026, with his "Addio Live" tour — one of the musical highlights of the festival. The entire 2026 program can be viewed at zeltival.de.
Programme ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe 2026
Confirmed Highlights 2026
- August 2, 2026 — Faber "Addio Live" Tour
- 40+ additional events — full program on zeltival.de
Program Genres (Typical ZELTIVAL Mix)
- Indie and Pop: Singer-songwriters, indie bands, sophisticated pop acts
- World Music: Acts from Latin America, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean
- Jazz and Folk: Jazz quartets, acoustic sessions, folk musicians
- Comedy and Cabaret: Renowned German-speaking cabaret artists, stand-up comedy
- Dance and Performance: Contemporary dance companies
- Special Programs: Family days, workshops, street food sessions
Venues
- Large Tent — Capacity up to approx. 1,000 seats/standing room, for larger acts
- Open-Air Stage — Intimate setting for cabaret, singer-songwriters, smaller acts
- Beer Garden and Catering — Throughout the festival grounds
Highlights ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe 2026
- Faber "Addio Live" on August 2, 2026
- Six weeks of open-air programming
- Over 40 events featuring pop, indie, jazz, world music, comedy
- Two stages (large tent + open-air stage)
- Beer garden and catering by TOLLHAUS Cuisine
- One of the most important cultural summer festivals in Southern Germany
Prices ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe 2026
Tickets range from 25–80 EUR per show. Larger pop acts (Faber) are in the upper price range, cabaret and singer-songwriters are cheaper (25–35 EUR). Advance booking via zeltival.de is recommended — many shows sell out in advance. Festival passes are not offered; each show is booked individually.
Practical information — ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe
Getting There
Take tram S5, S51, or S52 from Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof / Marktplatz to the "Tivoli / Schlachthof" stop. By car, take the A 5 (exit Karlsruhe-Mitte) or the B 10. Parking on site is limited; P+R at the main train station is recommended.
Admission and Tickets
Tickets range from 25–80 EUR depending on the event (pop acts are higher, cabaret/smaller performances are cheaper). Advance sales via zeltival.de, Reservix, or Nordwest-Ticket. Festival passes and subscriptions for regular visitors are available.
Catering
Catering by TOLLHAUS Cuisine is available on the festival grounds, offering local and international dishes, a beer garden, and a cocktail bar. Bringing your own food or drinks is not permitted.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place ZELTIVAL Karlsruhe
Kulturzentrum TOLLHAUS, Alter Schlachthof
Alter Schlachthof 35, 76131 Karlsruhe