Ausgelassene Stimmung auf dem Kennedyplatz

Festivals & Highlights

ESSEN ORIGINAL

May 7 to 9, 2027

30 years of ESSEN ORIGINAL – thank you!

30 years of “Essen Original” – three days of celebrations on and in front of the three stages and along the “Original Essen” mile. Around 150,000 visitors came to the city center to enjoy great music, celebrate together, get to know the city better and spend a wonderful time together. Thank you for making this anniversary edition something truly special with us!

Mark your calendars now for the next edition of “Essen Original”, taking place from May 7 to 9, 2027.

We look forward to seeing you!

Your EMG – Essen Marketing GmbH

Tom Twers auf der New Music Stage auf dem Burgplatz

New Music Stage Burgplatz

The historic Burgplatz will once again become a stage for tomorrow’s stars at Essen Original. Here, visitors can discover new music, exciting voices and artists who are just beginning to take the music scene by storm.

On Friday, “Tom Twers”, who delights a younger generation with his songs and millions of streams, will take to the stage as a true social media star. Saturday brings more exciting acts, including “Isaak”, known to many from the Eurovision Song Contest, and “Tiffany Aris”, whose powerful voice has already featured on numerous international tracks.

On Sunday, Burgplatz will be especially young. The big Family Day program is dedicated entirely to children.

If you’re keen to discover new favorite songs and get a glimpse of the future of music, Burgplatz is the place to be.

Voller Kennedyplatz bei Ásdís auf der Sparkasse Essen-Bühne

Sparkasse Essen Stage, Kennedyplatz

Kennedyplatz remains the heart of the festival’s biggest moments. At the Sparkasse Essen Stage, Essen Original becomes a party zone featuring well-known acts, powerful voices and spectacular live shows.

On Friday, the “SMAG Sundance Warm-Up” kicks things off, bringing an electronic festival vibe right into the city center. DJs including “YouNotUs”, “Oliver Magenta” and “Salvatore Mancuso” will transform the square into a huge open-air dance floor.

Saturday brings pop highlights such as “Ásdís”, who has topped the charts with international hits and collaborations, including with “Purple Disco Machine” and “Tokio Hotel”. The high-energy live band “Fresh Music Live” will also bring a real concert atmosphere to the open air. Anyone who saw the group perform at Kennedyplatz in 2024, where they always share the stage with artists from well-known music show formats, knows that “Fresh Music Live” gets the square fired up.

Sunday will be a relaxed Family Day, with clubs from the Essen Sports Association in the spotlight. We’ll round off the day with the “Ruhr Sound-Orchester Essen” and a DJ set.

Voller Willy-Brandt-Platz bei Iggi Kelly

WAZ Stage, Willy-Brandt-Platz

Willy-Brandt-Platz is making its comeback at Essen Original: after a few years’ break, a stage is returning to the city festival. Right next to Königshof and its market hall, it will become a meeting place for music, mingling and an authentic festival atmosphere.

The WAZ Stage will spotlight regional artists and local initiatives. On Friday, “ruhrPRIDE e.V.” will put on a colorful program, topped off by a performance from “Iggi Kelly”. On Saturday, the stage will belong in part to Essen band “KUULT”, which has long achieved cult status at Essen Original, as well as other acts from the region and the high-energy German pop act “Ein Rosenkavalier”.

On Sunday, the brewery at Königshof invites you to a Frühschoppen on Willy-Brandt-Platz. The beer garden season will be officially opened to the sounds of traditional brass band music.

This is what Essen Original is all about: people from the city coming together, discovering new music and celebrating their city together.