2.3 million guests celebrate the 2026 Maschsee Festival

During the 19 days of the event, from July 22 to August 9, approximately 2.3 million visitors came to the Maschsee. With this result, Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG) once again surpassed the already very high figure from the previous year of approximately 2.1 million guests. In a long-term comparison, the Maschsee Festival thus remains in line with its average of around 2.2 million visitors per year. It fell just short of the record year of 2018, which saw around 2.4 million guests.

“2.3 million visitors—we’re very pleased with this outstanding result, which once again demonstrates the appeal of the Maschseefest for Hannover and the entire region. This year, the connection to the 2026 Finals also added extra momentum to the events around the Maschsee. Top-level sports and the summer festival complemented each other perfectly, bringing the Maschsee to life as a shared stage. The Maschseefest is an integral part of Hanover’s summer and, for many people, an annual gathering spot by the lake,” says André Lawiszus, HVG Managing Director.

Three great Saturdays and many balmy summer evenings

All three Saturdays of the 19-day Maschsee Festival were particularly well attended. On the busiest days, up to about 240,000 visitors came to the Maschsee. The other weekend days and the warm evenings also ensured high attendance at the festival grounds.

The day with the fewest visitors was Thursday, July 30, with around 10,000 guests. Due to an official severe weather warning, the Maschseefest had to delay its opening until 6:30 p.m. for safety reasons. Two stages remained closed that day, and other program items had to be canceled at the last minute. Food and beverage establishments were also affected by the situation: reservations had to be canceled at short notice, expected revenue failed to materialize, and some businesses suffered significant financial losses as a result. However, the safety of guests and staff was the top priority that day.

“The weather is always a risk at an open-air event. That makes it all the more wonderful that we had very good conditions for most of the time and that guests were able to fully enjoy the summer evenings at Maschsee. Thursday’s severe weather warning showed us how important it is to respond flexibly and, despite all the fun of the festival, to always put safety first,” said Lawiszus.

Summer-like temperatures and plenty of sunshine

The weather conditions were also positive overall. Over the course of the event, the average temperature was around 21 degrees Celsius, and the sun shone an average of 8.5 hours per day. The warmest day was Wednesday, July 29, with an average temperature of 25.5 degrees. The mostly warm days—and especially the balmy summer evenings—created ideal conditions for dining, live music, and events around the lake.

The 2026 Finals will bring additional visitors to Lake Maschsee

A notable factor this year was the simultaneous hosting of the 2026 Finals in Hannover and the surrounding region. Elite sports and the summer festival came together right on the shores of Lake Maschsee. Canoeing and rowing races took place directly on the lake, drawing additional attention and creating a special atmosphere.

During the first four days of the concurrent event period, approximately 150,000 more guests visited the Maschsee. Many visitors took advantage of both the summer weather and the combination of sports competitions and festival activities. 

The Restaurant Industry Reports Positive Results

Restaurant owners, too, look back on the 19 days of the festival with mostly positive feelings. The summery temperatures and the many balmy evenings led to packed patios and numerous reservations, especially on the busiest days.

“We had a lot of great days and a fantastic atmosphere at the lake. At the same time, the weather is, of course, always a risk at an event of this size,” says Sascha Casado of Ohana Beach.

Philip Lutz from the Weinbar Gegenüber on the north shore shares a similar assessment of how things have gone so far: “Overall, we’re very satisfied. The weather-related restrictions on the first Sunday and Monday were a shame, but those days aren’t among the busiest for the Maschsee Festival anyway. On Thursday, we had to cancel about 300 reservations due to the severe weather warning and the resulting later opening time—that cost us quite a bit in terms of stress and lost revenue.”

“I’m very pleased that the food vendors have further established themselves in the second year of the contract and that the new offerings were so well received by visitors. The combination of the various food concepts, the diverse program, and the mostly summery weather worked very well this year,” said Naomi Peter, project manager of the Maschsee Festival.

A 19-day festival program at Maschsee

In 2026, the Maschseefest—featuring 19 large food and beverage vendors—once again offered a wide variety of international cuisine, live music on four large stages and at many other venues, wine tastings, parties, family-friendly activities, and traditional events. Each of the different areas along the shore developed its own unique atmosphere. 

Security: Overall, the situation has remained largely under control

From the police’s perspective, based on current assessments, the Maschsee Festival proceeded largely in an orderly manner. The vast majority of the numerous visitors celebrated peacefully. According to current data, the overall number of crimes is on par with previous years, though there is a slight upward trend in the number of altercations.

The police were present with a large number of officers and were able to intervene early when necessary. This included issuing hundreds of orders to leave the premises, which were issued under public safety laws—for example, to resolve conflicts early on or to prevent further disturbances. The operational situation was continuously assessed throughout the festival, and the deployment of personnel was adjusted based on visitor numbers, weather conditions, particularly busy days, and the situation during the late-night and early-morning hours.

As things stand, the number of assault offenses is in the mid- to high-double-digit range, which is slightly higher than in previous years. The altercations occurred primarily on busy weekends and in the late-night or early-morning hours. In many cases, the individuals involved were heavily intoxicated.

As of now, other types of crimes, such as insults and petty theft, are roughly at the same level as last year. Robberies have so far been reported only in the low single digits, while threats and sexual harassment have each been reported in the single digits.

“An event with several million visitors over 19 days is always a dynamic situation. What matters most is that the vast majority of people celebrated peacefully and that, overall, we can say the event proceeded in a largely orderly manner. For us, every single incident is relevant: Behind every reported crime are victims whose concerns we take seriously and pursue consistently,” says Police Director Tobias Giesbert, head of operations at the Hanover Police Department.

The Johanniter ensure safety and provide rapid assistance
The Johanniter from the Hannover-Wasserturm local chapter once again provided medical care for visitors to the Maschsee Festival this year. On site, there were two first-aid stations, three ambulances, an emergency physician response vehicle, four foot patrols, a boat from the water rescue team, and personnel from the Psychosocial Emergency Care (PSNV) unit. With about 50 volunteers on the weekend and about ten during the week, the Johanniter, supported by a group of volunteer service participants, treated injuries among festivalgoers.

The PSNV volunteers were once again integrated into the organizer’s mindfulness program. They not only attended to the emotional needs of the guests, but also looked after children who had gotten lost in the crowd or their family members.

In total, the Johanniter contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours at the 2026 Maschsee Festival.

Fully Charged Batteries with SHARE Power Banks
The SHARE power bank stations were used more than 10,000 times at the 2026 Maschseefest, allowing numerous visitors to easily charge their smartphones during the festival. Their use raised at least 2,350 euros in donations for enercity Herzensprojekte e.V.

Save the Date: The 39th Maschsee Festival will take place from July 28 to August 15, 2027.