Mayday 2026

The story of Mayday begins in the pivotal post-reunification era of Germany. 35 years ago (in 1991, as of 2026), the nascent techno scene faced a critical moment: the youth radio station "DT64" - a vital early platform for electronic music - was on the brink of closure. The first Mayday event, held on December 14, 1991, at the Halle Weißensee in Berlin, was conceived as a solidarity party to support the station. That inaugural night saw 6,000 people euphorically celebrating a new, unifying sound. Hardly anyone suspected that this single event would become the foundation for a cultural phenomenon.

From those humble, politically charged roots, Mayday rapidly grew into an integral part of the European techno and rave scene. It is renowned for having cemented the rave culture in Germany and for consistently attracting the biggest names in electronic music. Over the decades, Mayday has become synonymous with progress, innovation, and change - living up to its motto: "Forward ever, backward never."

Today, as Mayday celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2026, it continues its tradition at the massive Westfalenhallen in Dortmund. The festival has become a towering annual gathering, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and featuring multiple stages covering all facets of electronic music - from pure techno and trance to hardstyle and underground house. While its scale has grown, the core ethos remains: Mayday is a circle of friends, a promise to be open, warm-hearted, and a part of the community.

When 30th of April 2026
Where Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany