Nürnberg Pop Festival 2026 – Music Germany

What to expect in 2026

Nürnberg Pop Festival 2026 is a three-day club and showcase festival taking place across Nürnberg’s historic city centre. The festival brings together established artists, emerging musicians, international acts and regional talent, with concerts spread across an unusually broad collection of cultural venues rather than a single conventional festival site.

The 2026 edition combines the main Nürnberg Pop Festival with the POP CONFERENCE and the GUNDA Popkulturpreis. The organizers describe Nürnberg Pop as South Germany’s largest club and showcase festival, with concerts taking place in clubs, cultural centres, churches, museums, shops, record stores, rooftops and other locations around the city.

The 2026 programme features a particularly wide range of musical styles, including indie, alternative, pop, rock, electronic music, techno, hip-hop, rap, soul, jazz, shoegaze, punk and experimental sounds. The confirmed lineup includes internationally known names alongside artists from Germany and the wider European independent music scene.

A major feature of Nürnberg Pop is the ability to move between venues during the festival. Instead of remaining in one enclosed festival field, visitors can experience concerts in different parts of central Nürnberg and combine live music with the city’s restaurants, bars, shops, historic streets and cultural attractions.

The 2026 edition also introduces additional programme elements, including a Podcast Stage and the HipHop Exchange Europe programme. The organizers announced the final timetable in September, with additional artists added to the programme during the final preparation period.

Event dates

8–10 October 2026

Nürnberg Pop 2026 takes place across three festival days in Nürnberg, Germany. The programme begins with the opening concert and continues through a dense schedule of performances across the participating venues.

The official website confirms that three-day tickets, weekend tickets and day tickets are available for the 2026 festival.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & festival site

Nürnberg Pop does not operate from one traditional festival field. Instead, the festival transforms locations throughout Nürnberg’s city centre into temporary performance spaces.

Previous editions have used churches, museums, clothing stores, record shops, rooftops, public spaces, clubs and cultural centres. This multi-venue format is one of the defining characteristics of the festival and allows visitors to experience both the music programme and Nürnberg’s urban environment.

Confirmed 2026 venues appearing in the artist programme include:

• Festsaal im Künstlerhaus
• Heilig-Geist-Saal
• Weinerei
• Zentralcafé
• Kulturgarten
• Gallerie Ostermayer
• HINZ x KUNZ
• Kornmarkt
• Other participating clubs, cultural spaces and festival locations

For example, Modeselektor opens the festival programme at Festsaal im Künstlerhaus, while Jonny Mahoro performs at Heilig-Geist-Saal. Other artists appear at venues including Weinerei, Zentralcafé, Kulturgarten and Gallerie Ostermayer.

Because the festival is spread across Nürnberg, comfortable walking shoes and a practical plan for moving between venues are useful.

Full lineup

The confirmed 2026 lineup includes:

• AARON
• AGATHA IS DEAD!
• AGHOGHO
• ANOTHER MOTHER
• ANSU
• ÃO
• BABY B3NS
• BADLEIGH
• BESLIK
• BETWEEN MY HEAD AND HEART
• BOONDAWG
• BOY WITH APPLE
• BROSIE
• CARI CARI
• CORDOBA78
• CYBER
• DAS BEAT
• DR. UMWUCHTS TANZPALAST
• EIN ROSENKAVALIER
• ELINBORG
• EMI X
• FILIAH
• FLIEDER
• FREUDE
• GENEVA
• GRINGO MAYER UND DIE KEGELBAND
• GÜNTHERBLINKT
• HI MUM
• IM NAME DER HOSE
• INDIEKNEIPECHOR
• ISE
• JONNY MAHORO
• JOSY
• JUGO ÜRDENS
• JULIA EFFEKT
• KAULBÆRK
• KAWAK
• KIDS WITH BUNS
• KIERON BOOTHE
• KII
• KLIMANACHBARN
• KORD
• KOSMO
• LAMAYA
• LEAH MARLENE
• LGOONY
• LICHTSCHUTZFAKTOR 4
• LIGHT AND RAIN
• LINUS VOLKMANN
• LISKA
• LISL
• LNA
• LUCA JULINE
• LUCY DREAMS
• LUSTERBODEN
• MAGDA
• MARCY
• MARIA LUI
• MARIUS DC
• MARTA DEL GRANDI
• MELONBALL
• MINA RICHMAN
• MODESELEKTOR
• MOTHER&DAUGHTER
• MOTUZ
• NACHTKINDER
• NILS KEPPEL
• OK KID
• ORBIT
• PANICBABY
• PAPA JUAN
• PAPAYA NOON
• PATINA RECORDS
• PATRICK JAMES
• PERSONAL TRAINER
• PLUME
• RAUM27
• RÉMI.FR
• SEIN MACEY
• SMELLO
• SOFT LOFT
• SO GOLD
• SPRINTS
• STEREOSTERNE
• TAPE TOY
• TERMS X CONDITIONS
• THE GUILT
• VANICER
• VRONSY
• WILLKOMMEN IM CLUB
• YARA
• YNDLING
• YUNGER

The official lineup page confirms these artists for Nürnberg Pop 2026.

Headliners & featured artists

One of the most prominent names on the 2026 programme is Modeselektor. The Berlin electronic duo of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary is scheduled to open the festival at Festsaal im Künstlerhaus. Their music draws from techno, electro, IDM, hip-hop, UK bass, breaks, house and ambient influences.

Other prominent artists appearing across the programme include Sprints, Personal Trainer, Kids With Buns, Cari Cari, OK KID, Edwin Rosen, Ätna, Slut, Lime Cordiale, Just Mustard, Roy Bianco & Die Abbrunzati Boys, Frittenbude Bruckner, Granada, Philine Sonny, Ben Caplan, Cloudy June, NAND and Sparkling. The festival’s promotional material highlights these names among the principal acts.

The 2026 programme also places significant emphasis on emerging artists. Jonny Mahoro, for example, combines pop, indie and R&B, while Nachtkinder bring indie rock and grunge influences to the festival.

Stages & performance areas

Nürnberg Pop’s stage system is different from that of a conventional large-scale outdoor festival. Instead of several permanent stages in one field, the festival uses numerous independent venues throughout the city.

The result is effectively a network of stages and performance rooms. Some locations are established concert venues, while others are cultural spaces or unusual locations adapted for the festival.

The 2026 programme also includes specialist formats such as the Podcast Stage and HipHop Exchange Europe. The organizers announced that the final programme includes a Podcast Stage featuring three podcasts, while Spanish rapper Kawak completes the HipHop Exchange Europe lineup. A POP! ROT WEISS stage also presents regional artists.

Stage-by-stage schedule

The official 2026 timetable has been published, and the festival recommends checking the downloadable timetable when planning movements between venues.

The schedule is divided primarily by individual venue rather than conventional festival stages.

Festival opening: Modeselektor is scheduled for Festsaal im Künstlerhaus, establishing an electronic and club-oriented start to the festival.

Central city venues: Locations such as Weinerei, Zentralcafé and Gallerie Ostermayer host several performances during the programme, making these important stops for visitors concentrating on indie, alternative, electronic and international acts.

Heilig-Geist-Saal: Jonny Mahoro is scheduled here, bringing a pop, indie and R&B performance to the programme.

Kulturgarten: Ansu is scheduled at Kulturgarten, adding hip-hop and rap to the venue programme.

Podcast and specialist programmes: The Podcast Stage and HipHop Exchange Europe add non-standard programme formats alongside the concerts.

Set times

The official 2026 timetable has been released and is available through the festival website. The organizers advise visitors to use the timetable for the latest running order and venue information.

Selected confirmed set times include:

• Modeselektor: 21:00 at Festsaal im Künstlerhaus
• Jonny Mahoro: 21:00 at Heilig-Geist-Saal
• Ansu: 18:15 at Kulturgarten
• Kawak: 18:45 at Gallerie Ostermayer
• Kieron Boothe: 21:45 at Gallerie Ostermayer
• Vanicer: 18:15 at Weinerei
• HI MUM: 21:00 at Weinerei
• Lichtschutzfaktor 4: 19:40 at Weinerei
• Das Beat: 23:45 at Zentralcafé
• Nachtkinder: 19:15 at Hotel Drei Raben

These individual times are confirmed on the festival’s artist pages and timetable information.

Venue doors generally open approximately 30 minutes before the beginning of a concert. Because capacities are limited, arriving early is recommended for particularly anticipated performances.

Ticket types

The 2026 ticket structure includes several options designed for different visit lengths and group sizes.

The confirmed standard festival ticket prices are:

• 3-Day Festival Ticket, 1 person: approximately $105.30
• 3-Day Festival Ticket, 2 people: approximately $99.45 per person
• 3-Day Festival Ticket, 4 people: approximately $93.60 per person
• Weekend Ticket: approximately $76.05 for one person
• Weekend Ticket, 2 people: approximately $70.20 per person
• Weekend Ticket, 4 people: approximately $64.35 per person
• Thursday Day Ticket for Modeselektor: approximately $40.95

These are converted from the official 2026 prices of $90, $85, $80, $65, $60, $55 and $35 respectively at approximately €1 = $1.17. The official prices are stated before advance-booking fees.

The festival later added day tickets for all three festival days after the timetable and final programme were announced.

VIP & premium options

Nürnberg Pop does not currently advertise a conventional VIP festival package with private lounges, luxury viewing platforms or premium backstage access.

The festival is structured around moving between participating venues, discovering artists and experiencing Nürnberg’s cultural spaces. The available public ticket categories focus on three-day admission, weekend access, day tickets and group discounts rather than a traditional VIP hierarchy.

The POP CONFERENCE operates separately from the main festival ticket. Its programme includes panels, talks, networking and workshops connected to music and cultural topics. The 2026 conference information states that conference access is free for its listed programme, subject to registration for capacity-limited sessions.

Event rules

Visitors must follow instructions from the festival crew and security personnel. Failure to comply can result in removal from the festival.

Important 2026 rules and visitor information include:

• Respect and awareness: Visitors are expected to treat other people with respect and dignity.
• Consent: The festival states that no means no and only yes means yes.
• No discrimination: Discrimination, harassment, hate speech and intimidation are not tolerated.
• Bag restrictions: Bags larger than DIN A4 are not permitted inside the festival venues.
• Cloakroom: Individual festival venues do not provide cloakrooms. Cloakroom service is available at aftershow parties.
• Venue capacity: Each venue has a limited capacity. Entry can stop when a venue reaches its permitted capacity.
• Festival wristband: A festival wristband is required for entry to individual participating venues where applicable.
• Identification: Visitors exchanging tickets for wristbands should bring their festival ticket and identification.
• Young visitors: Under-16s require the appropriate adult supervision or legally accepted authorization under German youth-protection rules.
• Photography and recording: Photo, video and audio recording takes place throughout the festival and participating venues.

How to get there

Nürnberg is one of Germany’s major rail-connected cities, making train travel particularly convenient for the festival.

Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof is a major transport interchange with ICE, IC and EC rail services as well as U-Bahn, tram and bus connections.

Because Nürnberg Pop uses venues around the city centre, arriving at the main railway station puts visitors close to the core festival area. From there, many venues can be reached by walking or by Nürnberg’s public transport network.

Visitors arriving by air can use Nürnberg Airport. The U2 underground line directly connects the airport with Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof, with the airport-to-city-centre journey taking about 12 minutes.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is particularly useful because Nürnberg Pop is distributed across the city rather than located in a single remote festival field.

From Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof, visitors can connect to U-Bahn lines U1, U2 and U3, along with several tram and bus services.

For visitors arriving by car, central Nürnberg has multiple parking facilities, but driving between festival venues is generally less practical than walking and using public transport. The festival’s city-centre format means visitors should consider leaving the car at their accommodation or using a central parking facility.

The organizers also use the Kornmarkt area for festival wristband exchange on Friday and Saturday, while Thursday wristband exchange takes place at Künstlerhaus.

Accommodation areas

Nürnberg offers a wide range of accommodation options, from hotels and guesthouses to hostels and apartments. The city’s official tourism accommodation directory lists properties throughout Nürnberg and the surrounding region.

For Nürnberg Pop, the central city area is especially convenient because many festival venues are located within or around the historic centre.

Good areas to consider include:

• Nürnberg Old Town: Convenient for walking to many festival venues and restaurants.
• Around Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof: Useful for visitors arriving by train and for late-night public transport connections.
• Central Nürnberg: Suitable for visitors who want quick access to multiple venues.
• Wöhrd and nearby central districts: Useful alternatives when central accommodation is limited.
• Surrounding Nürnberg: Suitable for visitors who do not mind commuting by public transport.

The official tourism office maintains an accommodation directory covering hotels, inns, pensions, hostels and other accommodation types.

Food & drink

Because Nürnberg Pop takes place throughout the city, visitors can combine festival concerts with Nürnberg’s established restaurant, café, bar and nightlife scene.

Unlike a conventional festival with one large food court, the festival’s distributed format means food and drinks are available through participating venues and businesses around the city. This allows visitors to plan meals between concerts and explore local establishments.

Nürnberg’s food culture includes traditional Franconian cuisine, bakeries, cafés, international restaurants, vegetarian options and casual food outlets. The city’s tourism office provides dedicated information about restaurants in the Old Town and wider urban area.

Visitors with tight schedules should allow enough time for food because venue changes and queues can make a short break between performances more complicated than expected.

Accessibility

Nürnberg Pop states that not every participating venue is fully accessible. Visitors who require detailed accessibility information are asked to contact the festival by email so the team can provide a specific overview of accessible and non-accessible venues.

Wheelchair users and visitors with qualifying disabilities pay the regular ticket price. Accompanying persons for severely disabled visitors with the appropriate “B” designation on their disability identification receive free admission and do not require a separate ticket.

Because the festival uses many different buildings, accessibility can vary significantly from one location to another. Visitors should contact the festival before arrival if step-free access, accessible toilets, seating or other specific facilities are required.

Best days to attend

The best day to attend depends on the artists and venues a visitor wants to experience.

Thursday is particularly significant for electronic-music fans because Modeselektor is scheduled as the festival opening act at Festsaal im Künstlerhaus. A Thursday ticket can therefore work for visitors interested primarily in the opening programme.

Friday offers a broad range of concerts across the city and is useful for visitors interested in exploring multiple venues. Artists such as Ansu, HI MUM, Vanicer, Kieron Boothe and Das Beat are scheduled across different locations.

Saturday provides another full day of performances, specialist programming and the opportunity to discover artists across the final festival programme. Visitors who want the widest possible experience can choose the three-day ticket and avoid having to select between competing performances.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 edition continued Nürnberg Pop’s multi-venue format across the historic city centre. The programme featured artists including ok.danke.tschüss, Sharktank, Ellice, TJARK, Jolle, frytz, Bangerfabrique, The Pill, Marathon, Albert Af Ekenstam, Jazzygold, Spacestation, Indiekneipechor, Blackout Problems, Paul Wetz, Wallners, Leftovers, Umme Block, Power Plush, Gwen Dolyn, Francis of Delirium, Rob Moir, Hayley Reardon and many others.

The 2025 programme also introduced the official Festival Partybahn, a special tram experience through Nürnberg’s Old Town with live music, drinks and snacks. The PULS Truck offered interviews, short live performances and karaoke with free admission.

Another highlight was the combination of the festival with the POP CONFERENCE and GUNDA Popkulturpreis. The conference provided professional and cultural programming alongside the music programme, reinforcing Nürnberg Pop’s role as both a public festival and a meeting point for the music industry.

The festival’s wider history also demonstrates its scale. In a previous edition, 5,000 visitors and music professionals experienced almost 100 live concerts across 22 stages, alongside a POP CONFERENCE attended by hundreds of participants.

Official tickets

Official 2026 tickets are available through the festival’s ticketing channels. The festival currently promotes three-day tickets, weekend tickets and day tickets, including day tickets for the individual festival days.

The official ticket information should be checked before purchase because availability, fees and remaining ticket categories can change as the festival approaches.

Festival wristband exchange is scheduled at Künstlerhaus, Königstraße 93, on Thursday and at Red Corner Bar on Kornmarkt on Friday and Saturday. Visitors should bring their festival ticket and valid identification. The organizers recommend allowing substantial time for wristband exchange during the busiest afternoon period.

Visitors should also remember that having a festival ticket does not guarantee admission to every individual venue if that venue reaches its permitted capacity. The organizers advise arriving early for particularly anticipated concerts.