Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2026: Leipzig will once again be the capital of the dark scene

For four days the German city will once again become a meeting place for fans of goth, dark wave, industrial, EBM, neofolk, synth pop, post-punk, goth metal and other "black scene" trends.

Wave-Gotik-Treffen has long gone beyond the usual music festival. The organisers call it an international family gathering of the gothic scene: the events take place not on one site, but in about 40 locations throughout Leipzig. The main venue and campsite are located on the agra site in Markleberg, on the southern outskirts of the city. The organisers expect the festival to attract around 20,000 guests from all over the world.

The music programme traditionally covers almost all shades of the dark scene. About 200 concerts and parties are announced in the poster, and among the confirmed participants are Einstürzende Neubauten, Kim Wilde, Clan of Xymox, Covenant, Frontline Assembly, Lacrimosa, London After Midnight, Moonspell, She Past Away, Suicide Commando, DAF, Das Ich, Pink Turns Blue, Molchat Doma, Perturbator, Aesthetic Perfection, Anja Huwe / XMal Deutschland and many others. Anniversary and special appearances are announced separately, including 40th Anniversary Show Cat Rapes Dog and Suicide Commando.

But WGT is not only appreciated for its concerts. The programme will again include lectures, readings, theatre performances, exhibitions, film screenings, tours of Leipzig's museums, classical music, parties, the large medieval market Heidnisches Dorf and the famous Victorian Picnic. Leipzig's official tourist portal also highlights exhibitions, concerts, theatre and film programmes, medieval markets and the Victorian Picnic at Clara-Zetkin-Park among the festival events.

For first-time visitors, WGT can seem like an entire city within a city. The festival has an official tool for navigating the schedule, the WGT-Kompass app. It helps to navigate through the large number of concerts, venues and cultural events. For newcomers, the organisers also recommend the Sadgoth reference resource for practical travel tips.

A ticket for all four days of the festival costs 190 euros on presale. It gives access to the events of the 33rd Wave-Gotik-Treffen and includes free public transport in the MDV 110 area - trams, buses and S-Bahn lines, except for special routes like excursions. For camping you need a separate Obsorgekarte for 50 euros: it allows you to stay at the agra festival campsite from 21 to 26 May. Separate tickets and vignettes apply for motorhomes, caravans and car parks.

the 33rd Wave-Gotik-Treffen is not just a series of Pentecostal concerts. It is a rare case when a whole city becomes a space of one culture for a few days: with music, historical costumes, dark romance, industrial sound, medieval markets, museum routes and people who come here not only to listen to their favourite bands, but also to meet "their own".