The Maschseefest is the largest public festival in Lower Saxony in the centre of the city on the Maschsee. Holiday feeling in the city centre, maritime flair in the middle of the city! The Maschseefest gives holidays an international stage. Over 19 days, visitors have the opportunity to take a culinary and artistic trip around the world. Typical local gastronomy concepts, musical highlights in the open air, sporting activities on the Maschsee and a wide range of attractions for children and families create a holiday atmosphere.

The 38th Maschseefest will take place from 22 July to 9 August 2026. In total, the Maschseefest will last for 19 days. The finals of the sporting competitions will take place from 23 to 26 July.

The Maschseefest takes place around the Maschsee. You have many options for travelling to the festival, including the ÜSTRA trams and buses, by bike or car.

Minimum opening hours: Monday – Thursday: 2.00 pm to 1.00 am Friday – Saturday: 2.00 pm to 2.00 am Sunday: 12.00 noon to 1.00 am Different closing times apply to the stalls at Geibel. During the finals (23–26 July), the Maschseefest will open from 12 noon as part of the North Bank programme.

Admission to the Maschseefest, the stands and the programme is free of charge. Based on this, no claims can be made with regard to the programme items on the various areas or the catering concept. The organiser and the sub-organisers are free to adapt the content of the programme and the catering after internal consultation if necessary. This includes, for example, the replacement of artists due to illness.

On our children's meadow on the west bank, there are programme items just for the kids. At the Heinz von Heiden Arena, between Seufzerallee and Karl-Thiele-Weg, young festival visitors will find great hands-on activities. The play and adventure world is open Fridays to Sundays and Wednesdays from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm. There are also other play opportunities for children on the south jetty. Safety note: As this is a children's programme, parents/guardians are responsible for supervising minors on the event site.

According to the Youth Protection Act, children and young people under the age of 16 are permitted to stay in restaurants until 10 p.m. if they are accompanied by a person with parental authority or guardian. Young people aged 16 and over may stay in pubs and restaurants until midnight if they are not accompanied by a person with parental authority or guardian. The purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages is only permitted from the age of 18.

Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH
Management: André Lawiszus
7 Bödekerstraße
30161 Hanover

Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH
Project management: Naomi Peter
7 Bödekerstraße
30161 Hanover

Press contact: Ela Windels
E-mail: presse@hannover-marketing.de

The Maschseefest takes place around the Maschsee. There are plenty of ways to get there. We advise against driving right up to the Maschsee due to the limited parking available. The best option is to park at the Schützenplatz (Bruchmeisterallee 1A, 30169 Hanover), near the Maschsee. Parking costs around €5 per day. Please note that further congestion may occur due to the finals and the road closure arrangements. There are bicycle parking facilities around Lake Maschsee. In addition, there will be a central parking area for e-scooters in the western part of Planckstraße.

If you have any questions about the Maschseefest 2026, please contact the citizens“ helpline or send an email to ”maschseefest2026@freenet.de”.

If you cannot find an officer on site, you can call the police on 110. There is also a first-aid hotline for emergencies: 0800 / 019 21 40

The consumption of cannabis is prohibited on the festival site!

In cooperation with the PSNV helpers from St John Ambulance, the Saferspaces app and a special team from ToSa Security, we help those affected in emergency situations. Help can be called to your location using the QR code and/or the hotline. Of course, any staff working at the Maschseefest can also be contacted for help. More information under the tab \"Mindfulness measures\" at the bottom of the website.

Professional photographers and videographers take photos and videos at the Maschseefest. These are used for reporting and public relations purposes (e.g. social media, aftermovie, website) by Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH as the organiser of the Maschseefest. Photographers and videographers are recognisable on the event site by means of official event passes. More information on data protection at: www.maschseefest.de/datenschutzerklaerung/

Cycling is prohibited in large parts of the Maschsee Festival site. Nevertheless, thanks to our partnership with Donkey Republic, cyclists can ride from the west bank via the Maschsee spring to the south jetty. The lake can also be crossed using the Üstra fleet. Please check the Üstra timetables for the Maschseefest period. Unfortunately, the Üstra fleet will not be operating during the Finals days from 22–26 July due to the sporting competitions taking place on the water.