Contests, festivals and open calls: Germany
PlattsoundsLower Saxony, Lower Saxony, DEApplications close: 2026-09-15Rudolstadt-Festival 2027Rudolstadt, DE (folk/roots/world)Applications close: 2026-09-30ARD International Music CompetitionMunich, Munich, DENo published deadline — check the organiser's pageBaltic Open AirSchleswig (Busdorf/Haddeby), Schleswig-HolsteinNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageBochum Total (band submission)Bochum (city centre), Bochum (free city festival, ~1M visitors)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageBremer SchulRock-FestivalBremen, Bremen (finale: Schlachthof Kesselhalle, ~500)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageBreminaleBremen (Osterdeich), Bremen & surroundingsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageDeichbrand FestivalCuxhaven/Nordholz, Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageDeutscher Rock & Pop PreisAnnual final event (varies), DE (annual final, venue varies)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageDong Open AirNeukirchen-Vluyn, NRW (Rheinland, Ruhrgebiet, Münsterland)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageElbjazzHamburg, Jazz — festivals & trade fairsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageElbriotHamburg (Großmarkt), HamburgNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageEmergenza FestivalMulti-city: Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Leipzig, etc. (32 countries), 32 countries / 150 cities / 857 clubs — DE (Hamburg Logo, Köln Luxor, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Leipzig; Berlin final SO36), FR, IT, ES, DK, SE, Japan (final Shibuya) and moreNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageEmergenza Festival GermanyHamburg (Logo), Köln (Luxor), Berlin final (SO36), Region-wide / national contests active in the NorthNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageFUTURE SOUNDS (Leverkusener Jazztage)Leverkusen, Jazz — competitionsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageFree & Easy FestivalBackstage, Munich, Bavaria, 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageFull Force FestivalFerropolis, Gräfenhainichen (Saxony-Anhalt), 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageFusion FestivalLärz, Electronic — festivals & conferencesNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageFährmannsfestHannover (Fährmannsinsel), Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageHeadbangers Open AirBrande-Hörnerkirchen, Schleswig-HolsteinNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageHurricane FestivalScheeßel, Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageHütte Rockt FestivalGeorgsmarienhütte, Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageIn Flammen Open AirTorgau, Saxony, 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageJazzBalticaTimmendorfer Strand, Jazz — festivals & trade fairsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageJohn Lennon Talent AwardSchleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Holstein, DENo published deadline — check the organiser's pageJunge Bühne (Kieler Woche)Kiel, Region-wide / national contests active in the NorthNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageKRACH+GETÖSE (Hamburg Music Award)Hamburg, HamburgNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageLocal Heroes (Germany)13 federal states; national final (Bundesfinale), Germany-wide / internationalNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageM'era Luna FestivalHildesheim, Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageM'era Luna Newcomer ContestHildesheim, HildesheimNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageMelt FestivalFerropolis, Electronic — festivals & conferencesNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageMetal Frenzy Open AirGardelegen (Saxony-Anhalt, near NDS border), Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageNature OneKastellaun, Electronic — festivals & conferencesNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageOlgas Rock ("best of unsigned")Oberhausen, Oberhausen (free open-air, 20k+)No published deadline — check the organiser's pagePLAY LIVE (Baden-Württemberg)Baden-Württemberg (was: Popbüro network + DASDING), Regional Germany (south/central/east)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageReeperbahn FestivalHamburg, HamburgNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageReload Band ContestSulingen (JOZZ youth centre), Sulingen (JOZZ youth centre)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageReload FestivalSulingen, Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageRock am BeckenrandWolfshagen im Harz, Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageRock am Ring / Rock im ParkNürburgring (Rhineland-Palatinate) / Nuremberg (Bavaria), 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageRock den LukasTarmstedt (near Bremen), Bremen & surroundingsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageRock in der RegionOsnabrück region, Osnabrück, DENo published deadline — check the organiser's pageRock in der Region (RIDR)Osnabrück (Haus der Jugend), Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageRockbusterRhineland-Palatinate (rounds in Mainz, Koblenz, Ludwigshafen etc.), Rhineland-Palatinate (Mainz, Koblenz, Ludwigshafen)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageRockharz Open AirBallenstedt, Saxony-Anhalt (Harz), 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageRuhrpott RodeoHünxe (Flugplatz Schwarze Heide), NRW (Rheinland, Ruhrgebiet, Münsterland)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageSPH Music Masters70+ cities incl. Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Braunschweig, Bielefeld, Bochum, Köln, 70+ cities DE/AT/CH (incl. Bremen, Hamburg, Munich, Vienna, Zurich)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageSparda pop awards(South-west Germany, unverified), SW GermanyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageSummer Breeze Open AirDinkelsbühl, Bavaria, 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageTaubertal-FestivalRothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, 1. Major festivals with newcomer paths — Germany (South/Central/East)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageTime WarpMannheim, Electronic — festivals & conferencesNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageToys2MastersBonn / NRW, Bonn / NRW-wideNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageVainstream RockfestMünster (Am Hawerkamp), NRW (Rheinland, Ruhrgebiet, Münsterland)No published deadline — check the organiser's pageW:O:A Metal Battle (Wacken Metal Battle)International; national rounds in Germany (club heats → national final), Germany-wide / internationalNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageWacken Metal Battle (international network)national rounds → final at Wacken Open Air, Pan-European contestsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageWacken Metal Battle Germanynational (finale at W:O:A), Schleswig-HolsteinNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageWacken Open AirWacken, Schleswig-HolsteinNo published deadline — check the organiser's pageenviaM "Bands on Stage"Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg (one contest day per state, at town festivals), Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, BrandenburgNo published deadline — check the organiser's pagejazzahead!Bremen, Jazz — festivals & trade fairsNo published deadline — check the organiser's pagelocal heroes (Bundesverbund)nationwide, strong in Niedersachsen, Region-wide / national contests active in the NorthNo published deadline — check the organiser's pagelocal heroes Niedersachsenstatewide (finale Hannover), Hannover & Lower SaxonyNo published deadline — check the organiser's pagesplash! FestivalFerropolis, Hip-hop/R&B — festivalsNo published deadline — check the organiser's page