Zytanien Open-Air 2026

Anyone who was there in 1987 knows that the first 'stage' was little more than a disused barn door on barrels. And so it makes the Zytanians a little proud to see how a private party originally intended only for friends and acquaintances has developed into an indispensable event in the local festival landscape over the years.

Today—almost four decades later—not only is there a much more stable main stage, but with the tent at the Glasgrenze, the Weltraum-Halle, the OpenStage, and the DJ floor in Ongolito Ville, there are now actually five venues offering a diverse program of the finest grooves and a great atmosphere.

Despite all this, the unique charm of the former brickworks site 25 km southeast of Hannover remains. Take, for example, the passageway to Ongolito Ville. These are places where time seems to stand still, where you can relax, dance the night away until the early morning—or unpack your own instruments, meet like-minded people, and make some music yourself.

For our youngest guests, there’s fun and games at Kinderland. And if you’re looking for a souvenir or two, why not take a stroll through the market mile for a change, stop here and there for a chat, or—with a little luck—maybe even find exactly what you’ve always wanted: the selection of arts and crafts and clothing is immense, to say the least. Just as there’s a wide range of culinary delights for both big and small appetites. Early risers appreciate breakfast at the Ongolito Bar—later in the evening, the world’s most delicious pizzas are served there to the sounds of ambitious DJs.

Program

The first artists set to perform this year are already listed on the festival’s website. A final program overview with detailed times will be released, as usual, about two weeks before the festival.

Background

Zytanien—or the old brickworks—is a small commune for dropouts. Until 1981, a pilot project was planned for the site to manufacture so-called “Zytan” building blocks made from expanded clay. However, industrial production failed, forcing the operation to shut down. Only the name has remained, and it served as the inspiration for the name of the abandoned site, which was occupied by a hippie commune in 1986. The property, now legally leased, is inhabited and maintained by 18 individualists. On the last weekend in August, the residents host their now-legendary Zytanien Festival, bringing the flower power of the 1970s back to life.