NEUE WÄNDE is Germany’s largest festival of campus culture – because everyone participates! And there are many ways to become part of this great event.

Got questions or ideas?
Join us for the preparatory meetings on 16 July and 19 November 2025, 7 p.m. at the Studiobühne, Domplatz 23.
The preparations for NEUE WÄNDE 2026 begin now!

Main Program
In principle, all artists and creatives from Münster’s universities are welcome to perform in the main program of the NEUE WÄNDE Festival – whether music, theater, dance, performance, and/or art, whether classical, modern, or avant-garde. To make the festival truly unique, everyone is encouraged to team up with other artists or groups and develop a joint project.

In the past, this has worked wonderfully – for example, an a cappella choir performed dance music for a university sports course, a symphony orchestra immersed itself in a multimedia show, or a jazz combo and an improv theater troupe teamed up. Anything is possible! Just come to the prep meetings and meet new best friends.

Band Program
The festival also offers young bands and newcomers a stage: short gigs with original material are followed by jam sessions focused on collaboration and experimentation. This is how new ideas are born over the weekend! Apply with compelling sounds and/or visuals – or join one of the preparatory meetings.

Projects from Münster can participate if most members are studying at one of the city’s universities.
Simply come to one of the meetings (16 July & 19 November 2025, 7 p.m., Studiobühne, Domplatz 23) or send us a short self-description (Who are you?) and audio links (What do you sound like?) to info@neue-wande.de.

You can find the conditions of participation for international projects at
… goes Europe.

During the festival days in May 2026, there will be plenty to do behind the scenes – at NEUE WÄNDE 2023, nearly 600 artists performed in over 40 acts. To keep everything running smoothly over those three days, we need people to welcome artists, guide them to dressing rooms or the stage entrance, and support backstage catering.

If you’d like to help us bring order to the creative chaos, reach out:
festival@neue-waende.de

Making a festival happen takes more than just people – it also takes funding: for transporting instruments and props, renting equipment, and realizing all the creative ideas the artists will surprise us with in May 2026. And while much of the work is volunteer-based, we also rely on professionals whose expertise is essential – from lighting and sound to pouring intermission champagne and managing the audience.

If you’d like to support the festival with a donation, get in touch. The Förderverein Hochschulkultur is a registered non-profit and can issue tax-deductible donation receipts.

Contact: vorstand@neue-waende.de