PEOPLE Festival 2026 – Music Germany

What to expect in 2026

PEOPLE Festival 2026 returns to Funkhaus Berlin on 10 and 11 October 2026, bringing together an international community of musicians for a weekend built around collaboration, experimentation and unexpected musical encounters. Unlike a conventional music festival, PEOPLE does not operate with a traditional published lineup, fixed headliners or a conventional artist-by-artist timetable. Instead, approximately 180 musicians spend the preceding week creating music together across around 40 studios and spaces inside Funkhaus. The resulting collaborations are then presented to the public across approximately 200 performances over the festival weekend.

The residency runs from 4 to 9 October, followed by the public festival on 10 and 11 October. During the residency, musicians work in constantly changing combinations, developing new material, reinterpreting existing work and forming temporary ensembles. Many of these performances are premieres that may never be repeated in exactly the same form.

PEOPLE is deliberately different from a conventional commercial festival. The organisers describe it as an artist-driven, non-hierarchical gathering without artist performance fees or commercial profit. Ticket income is used to cover the costs of producing the festival, while the artistic programme is shaped by the musicians and their creative encounters.

For visitors, the result is a festival where discovery is more important than following a predetermined schedule. Audiences move through Funkhaus, entering different rooms and stages and encountering performances as they unfold. Some spaces accommodate only around 50 people, while larger concert rooms can hold approximately 1,000 guests.

Event dates

PEOPLE Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday, 10 October and Sunday, 11 October 2026 at Funkhaus Berlin.

The wider PEOPLE residency begins on 4 October, when participating musicians arrive and begin working together across the Funkhaus complex. The residency continues through 9 October before the building opens to the public for the festival weekend.

The public festival is scheduled to run for approximately 12 hours each day, with the official festival information describing around 200 premieres across 12 stages. Some third-party listings describe 11 stages, so visitors should use the official festival information for the latest operational details.

The published public opening time is 10am on both Saturday and Sunday. The exact closing time and individual performance times are intentionally not published in the conventional festival format.

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Venue & festival site

PEOPLE Festival takes place entirely within Funkhaus Berlin, the historic broadcasting and recording complex at:

Funkhaus Berlin
Nalepastraße 18–50
12459 Berlin
Germany

Funkhaus was constructed in the 1950s as a broadcasting and recording centre for the former German Democratic Republic. Its extensive collection of studios, concert rooms, corridors and architectural spaces gives PEOPLE a very different setting from an outdoor festival field. The complex is particularly known for its distinctive acoustics and large variety of rooms.

The festival uses the character of Funkhaus as part of the experience. Instead of building temporary stages across a field, PEOPLE turns existing studios and performance spaces into places for new musical collaborations.

Visitors can move through the complex during the day, discovering smaller rooms and larger halls. The smallest performance spaces can accommodate around 50 people, while some of the largest rooms accommodate approximately 1,000 guests.

Full lineup

PEOPLE technically has no conventional lineup. The official festival describes the event as having no published lineup, no headliners and no fixed expectation of who will perform together. Participants are announced to give visitors an indication of the musicians involved, but the actual combinations and performances emerge during the residency.

The announced 2026 participants include:

• Aaron Dessner
• Adam Cohen
• Adrian Utley
• Ahmed Gallab
• Ajeet Kaur
• Aki Bosse
• Alex Somers
• Alexi Murdoch
• Amanda Bergman
• André de Ridder
• Angie McMahon
• Ariel Engle
• Bartees Strange
• Ben Howard
• Bendik Giske
• Bryce Dessner
• Clara Ysé
• Colin Stetson
• Daniela Pes
• Dustin O’Halloran
• Efrim Menuck
• Eliot Sumner
• Erlend Øye
• Fionn Regan
• Flora Hibberd
• Gail Ann Dorsey
• Greg Fox
• Greg Grease
• Gyða Valtýsdóttir
• Heather Broderick
• Henning May
• Ichiko Aoba
• Jesper Munk
• Jessica Dessner
• Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
• Kurt Wagner
• Laurel Sprengelmeyer
• Leif Vollebekk
• Li-Chin Li
• Limpe Fuchs
• Lisa Hannigan
• Lucinda Chua
• Makaya McCraven
• Melissa Laveaux
• Msafiri Zawose
• Nick Zinner
• Owen Pallett
• Patrick Watson
• Peder Mannerfelt
• Peter Broderick
• POMME
• Rebecca Foon
• Richard Reed Parry
• Rozi Plain
• Sarah Neufeld
• Sharon Van Etten
• Shinji Masuko
• Shara Nova
• Soema Montenegro
• Tatu Rönkkö
• Thom Sonny Green
• Victoria Canal
• Vincent Moon
• Woodkid
• Ye Vagabonds
• Zaho de Sagazan

The official participant database contains a substantially larger group of names and states that additional participants may be added closer to October. It also notes that some participants may perform without prior announcement.

Headliners & featured artists

There are no official headliners at PEOPLE Festival. The absence of headliners is part of the event’s concept, with the organisers specifically stating that PEOPLE operates without a published lineup or hierarchy.

Nevertheless, the 2026 participant group includes numerous internationally recognised musicians and members of well-known projects.

Notable participants include Ben Howard, Patrick Watson, Woodkid, Sharon Van Etten, Alexi Murdoch, Lisa Hannigan, POMME, Leif Vollebekk, Zaho de Sagazan, Erlend Øye, Fionn Regan, Colin Stetson, Makaya McCraven, Richard Reed Parry and Nick Zinner.

Aaron and Bryce Dessner bring connections to The National, while other participants include musicians associated with projects such as Arcade Fire, alt-J, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, AnnenMayKantereit and Efterklang. The official participant list also includes artists from electronic, experimental, folk, orchestral, contemporary and international musical backgrounds.

The important distinction is that being an announced participant does not mean an artist has a fixed headline slot. Musicians can appear in several combinations and may perform multiple times during the weekend.

Stages & performance areas

PEOPLE uses the rooms and studios of Funkhaus Berlin as its performance environment. The official festival describes approximately 12 stages for 2026, while other event listings currently refer to 11 stages, so the exact operational stage count should be checked closer to the festival.

The spaces vary considerably in size and atmosphere.

Small studio spaces provide intimate performances where audiences can experience musicians at close range. These rooms can accommodate approximately 50 people.

Medium performance rooms allow larger collaborative ensembles and provide more space for audiences to move between performances.

Large concert halls can accommodate up to approximately 1,000 people and provide a different setting for larger musical combinations and orchestral or ensemble-based performances.

The movement between rooms is an important part of the festival. There is no requirement to stay in one stage area, and visitors are encouraged to create their own path through the building.

Stage-by-stage schedule

PEOPLE does not publish a conventional stage-by-stage schedule in advance. This is one of the defining differences between the festival and a traditional music event.

During the residency, musicians work in constantly changing groups. New combinations form, material develops and performances are created. Consequently, the final programme depends on what the musicians create during the week leading up to the public festival.

The official FAQ specifically addresses whether there will be a timetable and whether visitors are guaranteed to see a particular artist. The festival’s concept means that visitors should not expect a conventional timetable that allows them to plan every performance before arriving.

Instead, the practical approach is to arrive with a few musicians or musical styles in mind, then remain open to unexpected performances. The colour of the wristband also plays a role in determining part of the visitor experience, adding another element of discovery to the weekend.

Set times

Individual set times are intentionally not published in advance in the traditional festival format. PEOPLE is built around spontaneous collaboration, and the exact combinations of musicians develop during the residency.

The public festival is expected to provide approximately 12 hours of music each day. Within that broad period, visitors move between studios and stages according to what is happening at the time.

The official public opening time is 10am on both Saturday and Sunday. The precise performance schedule is part of the experience rather than something visitors can completely plan before arrival.

This format means that missing one performance does not necessarily mean missing an artist entirely, as musicians may appear in several different collaborations throughout the festival.

Ticket types

PEOPLE Festival offers several ways to attend, including weekend admission as well as day and evening options. The event’s public listings confirm that visitors can choose between a full weekend experience, an individual day pass or an evening pass.

The publicly reported 2026 weekend pass price is approximately $225 USD, based on the published €192 price and a rounded EUR-to-USD conversion. The exact amount charged in USD may vary depending on the exchange rate and payment provider at the time of purchase.

Current published information confirms the availability of day and evening tickets, but an exact dollar amount for each of those options was not available in the accessible official information reviewed for this listing. It is therefore better to check the official ticket page before purchasing rather than inserting an unverified figure.

The organisers also advertise a Family & Friends discount code, FRIENDSOFPEOPLE, which provides 12% off the ticket price according to the current festival information.

VIP & premium options

PEOPLE does not operate with a conventional VIP hierarchy. The festival’s philosophy is based on an open, non-hierarchical environment where the audience and artists share the same creative space.

There is therefore no standard VIP stage package, backstage upgrade or premium viewing tier promoted in the official festival information. Instead, the principal attendance choices are weekend, day and evening tickets.

The weekend pass provides the broadest opportunity to experience the complete two-day festival and gives visitors more time to encounter different collaborations. Because the programme changes throughout the weekend, attending both days also allows more opportunities to discover artists in different combinations.

Event rules

PEOPLE’s official terms require all guests to follow festival and security instructions. Entry requires a valid digital or printed ticket, and security personnel may carry out bag checks, personal searches and other reasonable security procedures.

Children and minors may attend only when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The festival also reserves the right to refuse entry or remove visitors in situations involving excessive intoxication, unsafe behaviour, abusive conduct or violations of the festival terms.

Prohibited items include:

• Weapons and dangerous objects
• Glass containers
• Open beverage containers
• Outside food and drinks, except where medically required
• Fireworks, flares and pyrotechnics
• Drones and remotely operated aircraft
• Professional recording equipment without permission
• Animals other than certified assistance animals

Personal photography for private use is generally permitted, provided it does not interfere with artists or other visitors. Extensive recording, livestreaming, commercial filming and publication of substantial portions of performances require permission.

PEOPLE also has a community and respect policy covering harassment, intimidation, discrimination and abusive behaviour. Guests are expected to respect artists, staff and fellow visitors throughout the festival.

How to get there

Funkhaus Berlin is located at Nalepastraße 18–50 in the Oberschöneweide area of Berlin.

The venue is situated in the southeast of the city beside the Spree and is connected to Berlin’s wider public transport network. Because the festival lasts for long periods each day, public transport is generally a practical option for visitors staying elsewhere in Berlin.

Visitors arriving from central Berlin should allow additional travel time because Funkhaus is outside the central Mitte area. It is advisable to check the Berlin public transport network before leaving for the festival, particularly for late-night journeys after the day’s performances.

The official festival FAQ specifically provides transport information for reaching Funkhaus and also addresses parking availability, so visitors should check the latest travel guidance before the event.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is recommended for visitors travelling to Funkhaus because the venue is part of Berlin’s wider urban transport network and the festival can continue for many hours.

Funkhaus is in the southeast Berlin district of Oberschöneweide, making local public transport particularly useful for visitors staying in central neighbourhoods.

Visitors travelling by car should not assume that festival parking operates like a dedicated festival car park. The official FAQ specifically asks visitors to check whether parking is available on-site, and parking capacity should be confirmed before travelling.

Allow extra time for the final part of the journey, especially during the weekend when large numbers of visitors will be arriving at the same time.

Accommodation areas

Because PEOPLE takes place within Berlin rather than at a remote camping site, visitors can stay in a wide range of neighbourhoods across the city.

Oberschöneweide and southeast Berlin are useful for visitors who want to remain relatively close to Funkhaus and reduce travel time before and after the festival.

Köpenick is another practical area in southeast Berlin and provides access to the wider transport network while remaining relatively close to the venue.

Friedrichshain can also be convenient for festival visitors, particularly those who want to combine PEOPLE with Berlin’s nightlife, restaurants and cultural attractions.

Central Berlin provides the widest choice of hotels, hostels and serviced apartments, although visitors should allow more time for the journey to Funkhaus.

The PEOPLE community is closely connected with the Michelberger Hotel, although accommodation there is separate from festival admission. The Michelberger organisation also highlights its hotel and other hospitality options as part of the wider PEOPLE environment.

Food & drink

Food and drinks are available as part of the PEOPLE Festival experience, and the official FAQ specifically addresses festival food and beverage arrangements and whether visitors may bring their own food or drinks.

Because PEOPLE takes place inside Funkhaus for long periods each day, food and drink breaks are an important part of the experience. Visitors can use breaks between performances to eat, drink and socialise rather than attempting to follow a rigid concert schedule.

The wider PEOPLE concept also places considerable importance on connection and shared time outside performances. The official festival description highlights opportunities to mingle, eat and connect between musical encounters.

Visitors should check the final festival information for the latest food vendors, bar arrangements, dietary options and payment methods before travelling.

Accessibility

PEOPLE’s official FAQ includes a specific question about accessibility for visitors with disabilities, indicating that accessibility is part of the festival’s visitor planning. However, detailed venue-by-venue accessibility information was not available in the publicly accessible FAQ content reviewed for this listing.

Funkhaus is a large historic complex containing numerous studios and spaces of different sizes, so accessibility may vary between individual areas.

Visitors with mobility, sensory or other access requirements should contact the festival before attending to discuss their needs and identify suitable spaces. The official contact address for festival questions is contact@peoplefestival.berlin.

The festival’s long duration and movement between different rooms also mean that visitors should consider rest requirements, walking distances and the availability of suitable facilities when planning their day.

Best days to attend

Both festival days offer the core PEOPLE experience, and there is no conventional distinction between a headline day and a supporting day because the festival does not publish traditional headliners or a fixed artist schedule.

Saturday 10 October is the first public festival day and offers the opportunity to experience the first major wave of premieres following the residency. Arriving early can be useful for visitors who want more time to explore the Funkhaus complex and discover different rooms.

Sunday 11 October provides another full day of collaborative performances and offers the possibility of seeing musicians in different combinations from those encountered on Saturday.

The full weekend is the most comprehensive way to experience the festival concept because approximately 200 performances are spread across two days and many artists appear in multiple collaborations.

Visitors who prefer predictable schedules may find the format unusual, while those interested in improvisation, collaboration and musical discovery can use the lack of a fixed programme as part of the experience.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 festival follows the earlier PEOPLE events of 2018 and the original Michelberger Music gathering of 2016.

The first project took place in 2016, when more than 100 musicians came together at Funkhaus Berlin for a week of musical co-creation. That festival weekend featured multiple stages and performances created through collaboration rather than conventional artist bookings.

In 2018, the project returned under the name PEOPLE and expanded the concept into a wider community of musicians working together. The official archive includes performances and collaborations involving artists such as Feist, Justin Vernon, Woodkid, Gyða Valtýsdóttir, Mina Tindle, Melissa Laveaux and Damien Rice.

The 2016 and 2018 editions established the principles that continue into 2026: artists spend time together before the public festival, collaborations are formed organically, and audiences experience performances that are often created specifically for the event.

The 2026 return therefore represents a continuation of an established PEOPLE concept rather than a conventional festival restart based around a newly announced headline bill.

Official tickets

Tickets for PEOPLE Festival 2026 should be purchased through the official festival website. The festival terms state that tickets may be purchased only through the official Festival website and that ticket purchases are subject to the festival’s terms and conditions.

The current ticket structure includes weekend, day and evening options, while the published weekend pass has been reported at approximately $225 USD after conversion from the stated €192 price.

The festival also promotes the Family & Friends code FRIENDSOFPEOPLE, which provides a 12% discount according to current published information.

Official PEOPLE Festival website and tickets (https://peoplefestival.berlin/)