PEOPLE festival is back and will take place On October 10 and 11, following two landmark events in 2016 and 2018, PEOPLE will return to the historic Funkaus studios, the radio and recording headquarters of the former East German Republic built in the 1950s. It’s a maze of studios of all sizes, with unrivaled sound quality.
Confirmed participants for 2026 include Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir, Gyda Valtýsdóttir, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Shara Nova, Angel Deradoorian, Alexi Murdoch, Helado Negro, Bartees Strange, Bryan Devendorf, Scott Devendorf, Kurt Wagner, Colin Stetson, Makaya McCraven, Jake Clemons, Greg Fox, Gail Ann Dorsey, Alex Somers, Nick Zinner, Naeem Juwan, Richard Reed Parry, Ryan Olson, Shahzad Ismaily, Trever Hagen, Zach Condon, Ben Howard, Woodkid, Zaho de Sagazan, Kings of Convenience, Ajeet Kaur, Mouse on Mars, POMME,LEA, Henning May, Severin Kantereit, Aki Bosse and many more.
A week before the festival, a residency of 120 artists will collaborate at Funkhaus, and present new work at the festival on October 10 and 11. Two hundred shows will be premiered,twelve hours a day, in intimate spaces and rooms that hold a thousand. All performances will be a surprise—there is no lineup, and no hierarchy. Sharing the process is part of the performance, and the audience will not know what they are going to see until the lights come up.
The initial idea was sparked by a circle of friends: Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Ryan Olson (MDS, Poliça), Vincent Moon (Petites Planètes), André de Ridder, Brandon Reid, Mary Hickson (Sounds from a Safe Harbour) Azar Kazimir & Nadine & Tom Michelberger (Michelberger Hotel, Restaurant & Farm).
Co-founders Nadine and Tom Michelberger add, “Building something based on what comes out of all of us, things we agree on, that unite us: the love for family, for the other, the desire to create, to feel free, to dream in abundance and to care for each other. Taking chances. Setting an example for ourselves. This is what we wish to contribute and experience with PEOPLE.”
0rder Tickets for PEOPLE Festival HERE