38th Maschsee Festival in Hanover

The 38th Maschsee Festival in Hannover kicks off at the end of July: 19 days of summery, seaside open-air fun featuring music and culinary delights

From July 30 to August 17, 2025, the shores of Maschsee will once again be transformed into a summer promenade. Now in its 38th year, the Maschseefest invites visitors to enjoy a unique open-air experience featuring live music, international culinary offerings, and a relaxed atmosphere. As a firmly established highlight in the city of Hanover’s event calendar, the Maschseefest attracts guests from all over Germany and neighboring European countries every year.

To kick off the festival on July 30, the groups Stelzen-Art & Confusao will open the festivities in spectacular fashion on the north bank with a colorful parade: majestic summer insects will dance along the waterfront promenade alongside playful caterpillars and elegant flowers. Also joining the fun are the jumping stilt walkers from Oakleaf Streetshow. DJane Acid Burrito and DJ Ajicero will kick things off with tropical sounds and rhythms, accompanied by live percussion from Mystical Mo. The party then continues along the shore with the Italo-world grooves of Brazzo Brazzone

Program highlights 2025 
Among the highlights at the Maschsee Seebühne at the end of the north shore at the "Hellebardier" 
belongs to bigFM the pop artist's performance Myller on August 1. The following day (August 2), the cover band traditionally kicks off the event Munique a lively mix of different musical genres on stage. 
On August 8, for the first time RADIO HANDCART The Maschsee Stage. Germany’s No. 1 party radio station, brought to you by radio ffn, is bringing XTREME PARTY MUSIC to the north shore, featuring host Ruven Rintelmann and other top acts.
This past weekend, Radio 21 the Maschsee Stage and invites you on August 16 Reckless Roses from Budapest takes you on a musical journey through time, playing the greatest rock anthems by Guns N' Roses. Afterward, the party band Jet lag They rocked the stage with their high-energy rock-pop mix.

The Maschseebühne program presented by the NP and HAZ is also sure to draw attention, featuring, for example, “Mr. President” Delroy Rennals right at the start of the festival on July 31, as well as a gig by Juliano Rossi (aka Oliver Perau), who will take the stage with his charismatic swing on the final Sunday (August 17). 
For the first time, the wine bar across the street near the Maschsee stage will serve not only fine wines but also lively DJ sets. On July 30, DJ Morella will bring electronic vibes to the waterfront.
On August 9, DJ Chris, known from the Wonderland Festival as well as Zaza and Sansibar, will take over the turntables.

At the Hamborger Veermaster, shanty and sea shanty choirs will sing their maritime laments. Lui & Fiete, among others, will bring coastal fun from the Waterkant to Hannover on three dates (Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15). On August 10, the “Leineshippers ut Hannover” will celebrate their 20th anniversary at the Veermaster.
At the Löwenbastion, bands from all over the world will serve up musical samples for every taste: from Big Tasty with their hearty alternative rock sounds from Hamelin (August 5) to Stefan Solo, the sensitive string whisperer from the Harz Mountains (August 10)
. The best Irish atmosphere will be on the south bank as usual: At the Irish Folk stage, various bands will liven up the stage with authentic folk performances on all 19 days, including the Keltics (July 30), the Greenhorns (Aug. 2), and many more. 
At the Musik-Park by the Maschsee spring, the Hanover-based Los Tumpolos will kick things off on July 30. With Hellfire (AC/DC tribute), Over Gold (Dire Straits tribute), and 18-Band (Westernhagen tribute), various renowned cover bands will be performing at the spring. One of the highlights with a home-field advantage at the tranquil Rock Stage on the east bank is the performance by SpVgg Linden Nord on August 13. The full program for the Maschsee Festival can be found at www.maschseefest.de/veranstaltungen/

A Dance of Lights Over the Lake: enercity Drone Show to Kick Off the Festival
With a spectacular blend of music, light, and technology, the Maschseefest kicks off on the first weekend (Aug. 2 at 10:30 p.m.; Aug. 3 at 9:30 p.m.) with a special highlight: a choreographed drone show will light up the sky above Lake Maschsee. Presented by enercity, around 300 illuminated drones will tell the company’s story in a spectacular display—marking its 200th anniversary

Mobile Observation Tower This year, a spectacular eye-catcher rises into the sky on the forecourt of the Heinz von Heiden Arena: the approximately 75-meter-tall MaschseeTower, powered by Rossmann, offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the festival grounds, the lake, and far beyond. The mobile observation platform impresses not only with its height but also with its innovative technology: In four glass, fully air-conditioned cabins—each seating 20 people—visitors glide gently upward along a steel tower. Refreshing drinks are available to enjoy during the ride

Classics and crowd favorites
For the fifth time this year, the north shore will transform into a Rainbow Mile during QueerWednesday (August 6, starting at 6 p.m.). 3,000 Pride flags will be handed out, with music provided by various DJs and a surprise live act. The colorful party will be hosted by the popular drag queens Disko Jutta and Carrie Gold!
The “Fisch sucht Fahrrad” party on August 5 draws singles and those looking to flirt to the Maschsee stage on the North Shore. On the festival’s final weekend (August 17), the charity race ducks will once again swarm across the Maschsee. At the 14th annual duck race organized by the North German Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Donor Registry (NKR), large Big Ducks and small squeaky ducks will take to the water under the motto “Giving Life – Against Leukemia” for a good cause. Guests can look forward to the traditional torchlight swim on August 9 starting at 9:30 p.m.

Program for children 
A great program for little adventurers: The That's not a word I recognize. sets sail again. On board the floating pirate ship, imaginative stories, fun games, and interactive activities await children ages four to ten. The Maschsee Pirates set sail on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2, 3, and 4 p.m. Tickets are online available. 

Kids' Area: Fun, games, and hands-on activities for the whole family
In 2025, the Maschseefest in Hannover will once again offer a varied program for children and families in the large Kids' Area between Seufzerallee and Karl-Thiele-Weg (in front of the Heinz von Heiden Arena), featuring new daily activities for crafting, playing, and exploring. Creative activities, face painting, building block areas, and an indoor play area with a stuffed animal pool invite everyone to join in. The popular Kids’ Olympics, featuring Airtrack stations from the Turn-Klubb zu Hannover (TKH), provides athletic challenges, while various partners such as the Hemmingen Library, the Johanniter, and the upcyclingbörse offer additional experiences with picture book screenings, Bobby Cars, first-aid workshops, and craft activities.
Other special attractions include bouncy castles, giant soap bubbles, walk-around acts, and vehicles to explore—including activities by enercity, the Saubermänner, and the Hannover 96 soccer school. Frioli, the Kaffeerad, and the Knusperhütte provide culinary refreshments.

Maschseefest Media Partner 
HAZ and NP take the stage on the north bank
The Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung (HAZ) and the Neue Presse (NP) are once again on board as media partners for the third year in a row. They will be presenting a diverse mix of performances daily on the Maschsee stage on the north shore.

Radio partners bring their own programming to the stage. Now in their fourth year of the partnership, bigFM and Radio 21 are back on board as partners. On the first weekend of the festival, bigFM will bring Myller to the stage, among others. Radio 21 will feature cover bands like Reckless Rose and the Jetlags to get the crowd going. Radio 21 is also a partner for the music program at the Maschsee spring. For the first time, RADIO BOLLERWAGEN will present a program on the Maschsee stage.

Awareness guide
To promote respectful interaction and prevent any form of inappropriate behavior, the HVG has once again this year developed a “Mindfulness Guide” to supplement its existing safety plan. The measures include, among other things, the use of Saferspaces App as well as a reinforced PSNV (Psychosocial Emergency Care) team from the Johanniter. The app can be accessed by scanning the QR code on Saferspaces posters on streetlights around Lake Maschsee and in restrooms. Those without a smartphone can alternatively use the Johanniter Hotline at 0800 0192140 use. In addition, the Johanniter provide safe havens and shelters.
All employees and catering partners have been briefed on the awareness program and are committed to helping prevent discriminatory behavior, reporting incidents of abuse, and providing initial safe spaces. Those affected can, if they wish, access psychosocial support from the Johanniter there.
New this year is the involvement of the company ToSa Security as additional support for implementing the mindfulness concept. From Sunday through Thursday, a specially trained ToSa task force will conduct supplementary patrols in the evenings to ensure that PSNV volunteers are available. On Fridays and Saturdays, the PSNV team will be on site in sufficient numbers, just as it was last year. For more information on the Mindfulness Guide, please visit https://www.maschseefest.de/mindfulness/

Culinary Innovations: 2025–2027 
With several exciting new additions planned for the next three years, the HVG is setting a new standard in dining. In addition to time-honored classics on the north shore, guests can look forward to four new offerings: Belmondo (French cuisine) Salento (Italian cuisine) Mykonos (Greek cuisine) and the Wine bar opposite (Italo-Bistro). 
Among the new highlights on the east bank are the Indulgence-Geibel (Nordic maritime delicacies) and Ohana Beach (Hawaiian flair). Also new at Geibel: the Adria Lounge featuring a blend of Balkan cuisine, Italian traditions, and Mediterranean vegan specialties. On the west bank, the new Aperitivo-Bay for tapas and drinks. For more information about the restaurants, visit www.maschseefest.de/gastronomie/

More than 4,000 seats; table reservations now being accepted
Many restaurants around Lake Maschsee are offering exclusive events—such as winemaker evenings, tastings, and Sunday brunches—during the 19-day festival. Reservations can be made at www.maschseefest.de/reservierungen/ or through the websites of the respective restaurants

Other

SHARE Stations at the Festival Grounds
The Hanover-based startup SHARE is providing a total of 15 power bank stations at the Maschseefest, including three larger models with particularly high capacity. Guests can borrow power banks there to charge their smartphones on the go. The first 90 minutes are free thanks to htp; after that, a fee of 1 euro per half-hour applies. The rental requires a 20-euro deposit and no registration (card payment is accepted).

Getting There and Back, Parking, and Getting Around the Lake
The HVG recommends using public transportation to get to and from the event. Specifically for the Maschseefest, ÜSTRA’s special bus line 267 runs between the Kröpcke stop and the beach. Along the route, there are several stops right on the lakeside promenade. Bus line 800 operates on the section from Altenbekener Damm to Aegidientorplatz.
Light rail lines 1, 2, and 8 run from the main train station and Kröpcke to Aegidientorplatz; lines 3, 7, and 9 take you to the Waterloo station (each a 10-minute walk to the Maschsee)

Temporary bike path to the Maschsee Festival 
The most environmentally friendly way to get there is by bike. We want to make this as easy as possible. That’s why, in addition to numerous bike parking spaces, there will once again be a permanent bike path along Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer. From mid-July to around August 22, 2025, the bike path leading into the city on the east side of Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer between Altenbekener Damm and Kurt-Schwitters-Platz will be relocated to the roadway. The actual bike path directly along the Maschsee will be “temporarily closed.” In addition, a temporary bike path will be set up on the south side heading toward the city center along Arthur-Menge-Ufer between Courtyard and Kurt-Schwitters-Platz. 

Closure of the western part of Südstadt
Last year, there was no traffic circling in search of parking in the area around Maschsee, resulting in significantly less noise, exhaust fumes, and disruption for nearby residents. The new traffic plan tested in 2022—the closure of the western part of Südstadt—contributed to this. This year, the area between Maschsee and Hildesheimer Straße will again be temporarily closed to non-residents. The closure applies on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The manned checkpoints can only be passed with a valid pass. Additionally, the city has closed Geibelstraße as part of a construction project, and it is accessible only on foot.

Maschseefest Experience Package with Overnight Stay at a 3- or 4-Star Hotel
For anyone looking to combine the Maschseefest with a short trip to Hannover, HMTG offers a tailored experience package as well as a discounted group rate.
You can book the package here

Maschsee
Festival Hours Monday through Thursday: 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday through Saturday: 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m

Special opening hours for the Geibel
To protect residents of the Südstadt from noise, the following special opening hours apply at the Geibel (east bank):
Wednesday, July 30: 11:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 31: 10:00 p.m.
Friday, August 1 & Saturday, August 2: 2:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 3 through Thursday, August 7: 10 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 8: 11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 9: 12:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 10 through Thursday, August 14: 10:00 p.m.
Friday, August 15 & Saturday, August 16: 2:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 17: 10:00 p.m.
Photos for press download are available at https://www.maschseefest.de/presse/

The HVG would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the Hannoverscher Ruder-Club e. V. for kindly lending us the rowing boat—including the two young athletes Robin Weiß, German champion in the U19 lightweight single sculls (2025), and Jette Lisdat Zeit, German runner-up in the U19 lightweight single sculls (2025). Their athletic participation during the press conference for the Maschseefest 2025 enriched the event in a special way.