Bardentreffen

Two-hundred-thousand people enjoying world music in the Old Town?

Sounds like NUREMBERG!

When Nuremberg transforms into a city of world music on a weekend in the summer, then it’s Bardentreffen time! It is one of the largest free-of-charge music festivals in Germany and draws more than 200,000 visitors from near and far each year. Eight music stages with almost 90 concerts as well as hundreds of street musicians in the lanes give the Nuremberg Old Town an absolute open air festival feeling: Anyone who experiences it, comes again and again!

The Story: Who Are These Bards?

The Bardentreffen is one of the best-known music festivals in Germany. But its story started quite small. In 1976, the Bardentreffen was originally called to life to commemorate the Nuremberg Meistersinger Hans Sachs. At the 400th anniversary of his death, the city celebrated something to honor his name and work: A singer-songwriter contest for modern Meistersinger. Bardentreffen was the name of the festival from the very beginning and comes from the term bard, which is the traditional expression for a story teller or poet – fitting for a festival, which originally focused on songwriters and their art. Over the decades, the Bardentreffen grew and changed. A music competition has been transformed into a music festival of the international world music scene and singer-songwriters. Since 2003, it has been organized from the Project Office of Nuremberg and is free-of-charge.

Meeting of the Bards in Nuremberg © Berny Meyer

The Music: The World as Guests in Nuremberg

The Bardentreffen is dedicated to world music, which reflects the diversity of global music culture. Artists from various countries and cultures come together to share their music and enable a true cultural exchange. The official program on the stages includes an impressive selection of international, national and regional bands, which perform on eight stages within the Nuremberg Old Town. The spectrum of music styles ranges from world music to singer-songwriting to a wide variety of experimental sounds, which reflect the international character of the festival. An outstanding feature of the festival is the yearly changing motto, which forms the musical direction and the program.

But the Bardentreffen is more than just an event on stages: Hundreds of street musicians are allowed to present their music in the streets and lanes of the Old Town. They can freely choose what they want to play – from their own compositions to pop classics. Their music enhances the one-of-a-kind atmosphere and makes the festival a lively experience that can be felt on every corner of the city.

Interview with the Festival Planner Rainer Pirzkall

The Project Office Culture organizes large cultural events for the city such as the Classic Open Air, Stadt(ver)führungen, Zukunftsmusic or the Blue Night as well as the Bardentreffen World Music Festival. We took a look “backstage” and spoke with Rainer Pirzkall, who has been responsible for the realization of the music spectacle since 2013.

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Bardentreffen fans say:

Ulrike, aged 50: “At the Bardentreffen, the whole Old Town is a stage, that’s amazing!”

Franziska, aged 30: “I am glad to go to the Bardentreffen every year, because you meet music from all over the world here – free-of-charge and in the heart of the town. For my circle of friends the weekend is always in our calendars. These are days full of good music, delicious drinks and a party mood in the whole city.”

Patrick, aged 38: “The Bardentreffen’s variety surprises me again every year.”

Festivallocations

At a glance

Information

Bardentreffen
Wo? Bühnen in der ganzen Stadt, Musik an jeder Ecke
Webseite

Opening hours

1. bis 3. August 2025

Freitag: ab 19.00 Uhr bis Sonntag 23.00 Uhr

Spielorte in der ganzen Altstadt:
Hauptmarkt, Insel Schütt, Katharinenruine, Lorenzer Platz, Sebalder Platz, Kreuzigungshof, Trödelmarkt und Straßenbühne.

Prices

Freier Eintritt, aber nicht für umsonst - Viele ermöglichen Kultur für Alle

Mit einer Spende ab 10 Euro ermöglichen Sie die Zukunft von Bardentreffen und Klassik Open Air.

Unser Dank: Außergewöhnliche Momente und einmalige PINS, erhältlich an den Info-Ständen vor Ort oder online auf bardentreffen.de und klassikopenair.de

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Details

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NUEJAZZ Festival

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Details

1 to 3 August 2025

Interview with the Festival Planner Rainer Pirzkall

At a glance

Information

Opening hours

Prices

Festival-Highlights Nürnberg

st. katharina open air

Musicfest ION

Classic Open Air

Nuremberg Pop

NUEJAZZ Festival