Discover music and theatre in Groningen
Have you already got into the festival spirit during Eurosonic? Groningen has plenty more great festivals worth discovering. From the best new music to experimental theatre, and from an old factory to an intimate student room – you’ll find it all in Groningen. It’s going to be a year full of festivals. Which ones will we bump into you at?
Groningen Bevrijdingsfestival
5 May – On 5 May, we celebrate freedom in the Netherlands. This is marked, amongst other things, by 14 major liberation festivals held across the country. Of course, Groningen has long been home to one of these festivals, held at the trotting track in the Stadspark. Over the years, the programme has featured major national and international acts, and this year promises to be a real celebration too – not least because we are marking 80 years of freedom.
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StuKaFest
30 April - Using a student room just for sleeping and studying? Definitely not. The organisers of StuKaFest know all about that. During the festival, bedrooms turn into mini theatres where various artists give short performances. Special performances at unique locations.
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Terug naar het Begin
29-31 May - During the annual festival Terug naar het Begin , Groningen's churches show you the way. For a weekend, these centuries-old buildings will be the stage and backdrop for art, music, stories and theatre. Map out your own route, stap on your bike and go on a cultural voyage of discovery.
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Rapalje Zomerfolk
6 and 7 June - Celebrate summer like you never did before. In a Celtic and folk way. Every year, the Groningen band Rapalje transforms the Zonneweide in the Stadspark into an atmospheric festival ground. While various folk artists play the stages, you will also be introduced to the culture and traditions of the Celtic countries.
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Hongerige Wolf Festival
10 to 12 July - Where? Yes, Hongerige Wolf is the name of a village in Groningen. The arts festival of the same name gives wayward young artists a stage for their music, dance, theatre, film, visual arts and literature. Listen to a concert on the Schapenveld, watch theatre on the dike and dance in the backyard.
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Paradigm Festival
8 and 9 August - Dancing on solid beats, surrounded by the industrial setting of a former sugar factory. Paradigm is one of the most versatile and innovative electronic music festivals in the Netherlands. For true enthusiasts, a feeling of coming home. This feeling cannot be created, cannot be understood, only felt and experienced.
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Noorderzon
20 to 30 August - For eleven days, festival Noorderzon is one of the highlights of Groningen's cultural summer. Every year in August, a colourful collection of performing artists and artists descend on the atmospheric Noorderplantsoen. Noorderzon represents a festive start to the cultural season and a smashing end to the summer holidays.
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Hullabaloo
5 and 6 September - Jason Derulo, Zara Larsson and Kygo. Hullabaloo has become a fixture in Groningen's cultural landscape in recent years.
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Jonge Harten
14 to 21 November - For over 25 years, Jonge Harten has been a household name in Groningen. A quirky theatre festival that brings people together and wants to make subjects discussable. The performances you see here are often just that little bit different. Made by a young team, young theatre makers and with you. Be surprised.
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More festivals
Besides the above festivals, there is of course much more to discover in Groningen. For instance, the street festival Waterbei returns to Winschoten, Bie Daip is organised in Appingedam in August and Middeleeuws Ter Apel is back on the programme. The year traditionally ends with WinterWelVaart in the city. Would you like to keep up to date with all the festivals? Then check out everything in our diary below.
