Moers Festival 2027 – Jazz & Experimental Music Germany

What to expect in 2027

Moers Festival 2027 will bring the internationally known Moers jazz and experimental music tradition back to Moers, Germany, from 14 to 17 May 2027. The festival is traditionally held around Whitsun and has developed from a New Jazz event into a broad platform for improvised music, avant-garde jazz, experimental sound, contemporary composition, global music and interdisciplinary artistic projects. The festival has taken place annually since 1972.

The 2027 edition is expected to continue the festival’s distinctive approach of combining established international musicians with emerging artists, commissioned works, spontaneous collaborations and experimental projects. Rather than following a conventional commercial festival format, Moers places strong emphasis on artistic freedom, improvisation and musical discovery.

The 2026 edition introduced a major change by moving the main festival centre back into Moers city centre. The main outdoor stage was installed at Kastellplatz, surrounded by the festival village, while additional performances took place at nearby churches, the castle, park areas, Peschkenhaus and the Landratsamt. The organisers also expanded the 2026 edition to five days for the 55th anniversary.

For 2027, visitors should expect the festival to retain the atmosphere created by its combination of central Moers locations, indoor venues, outdoor concerts, workshops, discussions and spontaneous performance formats. The exact 2027 programme has not yet been published, so individual artists and performance times should not be treated as confirmed until the official festival programme is released.

Event dates

Moers Festival 2027 is scheduled for 14–17 May 2027 in Moers, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The festival traditionally takes place around the Whitsun weekend. The 2025 edition ran from 6–9 June, while the anniversary 2026 edition was extended to five days from 21–25 May.

The 2027 edition is currently planned as a four-day festival. The final daily opening hours, programme blocks and venue schedule should be confirmed when the organisers publish the official 2027 timetable.

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Venue & festival site

The main festival area is expected to centre on Moers and the locations used for the festival’s contemporary city-centre concept.

The main location used for the 2026 edition was:

• Kastellplatz, Kleine Allee 2, 47441 Moers, Germany

The 2026 festival placed the large outdoor stage in the middle of Kastellplatz, with the festival village surrounding it. Nearby venues included churches, the castle grounds, the park, Peschkenhaus and the Landratsamt.

The festival’s urban format means that visitors can move between venues on foot rather than remaining inside one large fenced festival field. The 2026 concept also included performances at Bollwerk 107, the skatepark and Die Röhre, expanding the festival atmosphere into different parts of the city.

For 2027, the exact venue configuration should be checked against the official festival announcement. The 2026 move to Kastellplatz was specifically presented as a new concept, so individual 2027 locations should not be assumed until officially confirmed.

Full lineup

The complete Moers Festival 2027 lineup has not yet been announced.

Because Moers is known for commissioned projects, premieres, special collaborations and improvisational performances, the final programme can contain projects that are created specifically for the festival. This means that the lineup cannot reliably be reconstructed from previous editions.

The 2026 edition demonstrated the scale and variety that visitors can expect from a typical programme. The festival’s anniversary edition included international jazz musicians, experimental performers, collaborations, special projects and performances spread across the main stage and additional venues.

The 2025 edition featured around 250 artists from approximately 20 countries. Its programme included projects connected with China and Rwanda, experimental ensembles, improvisers, youth projects and the festival’s Free Spirits format.

Once the 2027 programme is released, the final lineup is expected to include a mixture of:

• International jazz artists
• Free-jazz and avant-garde musicians
• Experimental electronic artists
• Improvisation ensembles
• Newly commissioned projects
• Emerging musicians
• International cultural collaborations
• Regional artists
• Workshops and youth projects
• Discussions and interdisciplinary performances

Headliners & featured artists

Moers Festival does not necessarily structure its programme around commercial headliners in the same way as mainstream music festivals. The artistic focus is instead distributed across ensembles, solo performers, commissioned projects and unexpected collaborations.

The 2026 anniversary programme illustrates this approach. Its concept promoted premieres, unusual collaborations, sessions, guerrilla concerts, discussions and different artistic perspectives rather than relying solely on headline billing.

The 2025 programme included artists and projects such as Spinifex Maxximus, Willi Kellers – The Circle, Hayden Chisholm’s Kinetic Chain, Led Bib, Holy Scum, Maya Dunietz, Mamer, URWEREKA, The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters and Koshiro Hino’s projects.

Moers is particularly known for presenting musicians whose work crosses boundaries between jazz, improvisation, electronic music, contemporary composition and international musical traditions. Visitors should therefore approach the 2027 lineup as a programme of discoveries rather than expecting a conventional hierarchy of headline and supporting acts.

Stages & performance areas

Moers Festival uses several performance environments rather than a simple sequence of numbered stages.

Main outdoor stage: The 2026 edition placed the principal open-air stage at Kastellplatz in the centre of the festival village. This became the main gathering point for larger festival performances.

Indoor venues: Concerts were held in nearby churches and other city-centre buildings, allowing audiences to move between outdoor and indoor performances.

Castle area: The festival has historically used the castle and castle courtyard for selected performances, creating a distinctive setting away from the central outdoor stage.

Festival village: The surrounding festival market provides space for food, drinks, meeting areas and the social side of the festival.

Alternative locations: The 2026 edition also expanded into locations including Bollwerk 107, the skatepark and Die Röhre.

The final 2027 stage map should be checked when released because the organisers can modify the venue arrangement from one edition to another.

Stage-by-stage schedule

A complete stage-by-stage schedule for 2027 is not yet available.

The 2026 format provides a useful guide to how the festival works. The principal outdoor stage hosted major programme blocks, while other performances took place simultaneously at nearby venues. The close proximity of many locations made it possible to move between concerts without needing long journeys.

A typical 2027 programme is likely to include:

• Kastellplatz main stage: Major festival performances and larger ensembles
• Indoor city-centre venues: Smaller concerts, experimental projects and specialised performances
• Castle area: Selected concerts and special events
• Festival village: Informal music, meetings and supporting cultural activities
• Alternative city venues: Special projects, late events and experimental performances
• Free Spirits spaces: Spontaneous formations and musician-led collaborations if the format returns

Visitors should use the official daily timetable when planning their itinerary because several performances can run simultaneously.

Set times

Exact 2027 set times have not yet been published.

Moers Festival schedules are typically organised around several programme blocks rather than a single continuous concert sequence. In previous editions, the main stage has operated alongside simultaneous performances at nearby indoor locations.

This means visitors should allow enough time between performances even when two venues appear geographically close. Doors, technical changes, artist preparation and audience movement can affect the practical timing of a concert.

The festival’s programme booklet and digital programme are particularly useful for planning because Moers often presents a large number of performances and special events across the same day.

Ticket types

The 2027 ticket structure has not yet been announced.

The latest available ticket model provides useful guidance. For the 2025 edition, Moers introduced a “Pay What You Want” system with recommended contribution levels of approximately $46, $92, $138, $184 and $345. The organisers described this model as an attempt to make festival participation accessible regardless of financial circumstances.

The 2025 Early Bird ticket was approximately $138 and included guaranteed seats for festival-hall concerts plus access to a secret concert. The “Silent Heroes” ticket was approximately $345 and included additional benefits.

For 2026, the festival changed its structure for the 55th anniversary and returned to a conventional festival-ticket arrangement while extending the event to five days. Children and young people up to and including age 16 were admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For 2027, visitors should wait for the official ticket announcement before assuming that either the 2025 Pay What You Want system or the 2026 structure will return.

VIP & premium options

Moers Festival has historically offered supporter-oriented ticket categories in addition to standard admission.

The 2025 “Silent Heroes” ticket was approximately $345 and included access to a secret concert, a festival shirt, backstage access and catering. It was designed not only as a premium experience but also as a way for visitors to provide additional financial support to the festival.

The 2025 Early Bird ticket was approximately $138 and included additional benefits compared with the regular festival ticket, including access to a secret concert.

The 2027 VIP and premium structure has not yet been announced. Any premium package should therefore be treated as pending until the official ticket shop publishes the new edition’s categories.

Event rules

Moers Festival combines open-air concerts, indoor venues, camping and city-centre activities, so visitors should follow both festival regulations and the rules of individual venues.

Important practical considerations include:

• Valid admission: Carry the correct festival ticket or credential for the areas and performances you intend to attend.
• Venue rules: Indoor concert locations can have separate rules concerning bags, photography, recording and seating.
• Respect performances: Many concerts involve quiet listening, improvisation and delicate acoustic work, so audience behaviour is an important part of the experience.
• Camping: Camping requires the appropriate festival and camping permissions when camping is offered.
• Children: Age-specific admission rules can apply.
• Accessibility: Visitors requiring assistance should make arrangements before arriving.
• Safety: Follow instructions from festival staff, security personnel and venue teams.
• Programme changes: Artists, venues and performance times can change because of production or artistic circumstances.

The festival also places considerable emphasis on community, cultural exchange and creating space for different musical perspectives.

How to get there

Moers is located in North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany, close to Duisburg and the wider Ruhr area.

Visitors travelling by train can use Moers railway station and then continue toward the city centre by local transport or on foot, depending on the final festival venue arrangement.

For international visitors, Düsseldorf Airport and Cologne Bonn Airport are among the larger airports serving the wider region. Duisburg and Düsseldorf also provide useful connections to long-distance rail services.

By car, Moers is connected to the regional motorway network, making it accessible from Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen and other parts of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Because the festival uses several city-centre locations, visitors should check the exact venue address before setting off.

Public transport & parking

Public transportation is useful for reaching Moers and moving around the surrounding region.

Local buses connect the railway station with different parts of the city, while regional rail services provide connections to Duisburg and other nearby cities.

For visitors staying outside Moers, using the train to reach the city and continuing by local public transport can reduce the need to find parking close to the festival centre.

The 2026 edition specifically noted that campervans and motorhomes could use various locations in the city, including the Krefelder Straße parking area, while the enni motorhome site at Solimare was also available.

The exact 2027 parking and camping arrangements should be confirmed once the organisers publish the new festival information.

Accommodation areas

Moers city centre is the most convenient area for visitors who want to stay close to the main festival locations.

Nearby areas can also work well because Moers is connected to Duisburg and the wider Lower Rhine and Ruhr regions.

Moers city centre: Best suited to visitors who want to walk between accommodation, the festival village and central performance locations.

Duisburg: A useful alternative for visitors wanting a larger selection of hotels and stronger rail connections.

Krefeld: Suitable for visitors travelling by car or regional public transport.

Düsseldorf: Provides a much larger accommodation market and international transport connections, although the journey to Moers is longer.

Camping: The 2026 edition brought camping back to the Ballonwiese in the leisure park, within walking distance of the castle, Kastellplatz and stages. Camping required a festival ticket plus a camping ticket.

The 2027 camping arrangements have not yet been announced.

Food & drink

Food and drink form an important part of the social atmosphere around the festival village.

The 2026 festival concept placed the festival village around Kastellplatz and the castle forecourt, creating a central area where visitors could spend time between performances.

Visitors can expect a mixture of festival food, drinks and local options, while Moers city centre provides additional restaurants, cafés and bakeries.

Because the festival includes long days of concerts, visitors should plan meal breaks rather than relying entirely on food immediately before or after a major performance.

Camping visitors can also combine festival food with their own supplies, subject to the applicable camping regulations.

Accessibility

Moers Festival has made accessibility part of its festival planning, including specific provisions for visitors who require an accompanying person.

For the 2026 edition, severely disabled visitors who required an accompanying person, as documented on the relevant disability identification, could receive a free ticket for their companion.

The festival’s city-centre format can make some locations easier to reach than others. Modern venues and open festival areas may provide different access conditions from historic churches, castle areas or older buildings.

Visitors who need wheelchair access, accessible toilets, seating assistance or other accommodations should contact the festival team before purchasing or attending.

Because the 2027 venue map has not yet been released, detailed accessibility arrangements should be checked against the final 2027 venue information.

Best days to attend

Friday: The first main festival day can be suitable for visitors who want to experience the opening atmosphere and begin exploring the programme early in the weekend.

Saturday: Saturday is generally useful for visitors wanting a full day of concerts and multiple opportunities to move between different musical styles and venues.

Sunday: Sunday can offer another full programme day and is useful for visitors who want to combine larger performances with experimental and smaller-scale events.

Monday: As the supplied 2027 dates run through Monday, the final day provides an opportunity to experience the closing programme before travelling home.

Full four-day visit: Visitors interested in the festival’s experimental side may benefit from staying throughout the entire weekend because Moers often places special projects, collaborations and spontaneous formats throughout the programme rather than concentrating everything on one headline day.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 edition was the festival’s 55th anniversary and introduced a five-day format from 21–25 May. It also marked a significant return to the Moers city centre, with Kastellplatz becoming the centre of the festival and the main outdoor stage surrounded by the festival village.

The anniversary edition was designed around premieres, collaborations, unusual performances, sessions, guerrilla concerts, discussions and encounters. Camping also returned to the leisure park, with the Ballonwiese located within walking distance of the central festival area.

The 2025 edition provided another important reference point. Around 250 artists from approximately 20 countries took part, with the programme combining jazz, avant-garde, experimental music, improvisation and international contemporary culture. The festival reported record utilisation across its venues following the introduction of the solidarity-based ticket model.

The 2025 programme included a major focus on China, featuring artists such as Zhao Cong, Sun Yizhou, Tan Shuoxin, Zhou Wenbo, Li Daiguo, Lao Dan and Mamer. Rwanda was also highlighted through the URWEREKA project and additional performances and workshops.

Another important element was the Free Spirits format, which allowed festival musicians to create spontaneous, self-organised formations. The 2025 programme described 12 slots across four days, demonstrating the festival’s commitment to improvisation and artistic freedom.

These previous editions provide useful context for 2027, but the 2027 artist lineup, themes and special projects remain to be announced.

Official tickets

Official ticket sales for Moers Festival are handled through the festival’s own ticket platform operated for Moers Kultur GmbH. The current ticket platform lists the 2026 festival at Kastellplatz, while the 2027 ticket information has not yet been released.

The festival has used different ticket strategies in recent editions, including Pay What You Want in 2025 and a different anniversary ticket structure in 2026. Previous recommended 2025 levels converted to approximately $46, $92, $138, $184 and $345, while the 2025 Early Bird was approximately $138 and the Silent Heroes option approximately $345.

These previous prices are provided only as a reference because the 2027 ticket prices have not been announced. Visitors should use the official festival ticket shop for the final 2027 ticket categories, camping options and admission conditions.

For general festival enquiries, the supplied contact details are +49 2841 3673675 and info@moers-festival.de.