Orange Blossom Special Festival 28

In the organizer's words:

30 top-class acts from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany make up the line-up of the traditional festival, which will take place on the Whitsun weekend from May 22 to 24, 2026.

The idyllic OBS garden in Beverungen, East Westphalia, will once again provide a stage for discoveries, encounters and musical border crossings.
Since its foundation in 1997, the OBS has been regarded as one of the most personal and charming addresses in the German festival calendar - a place where proximity, quality and curatorial signature are more important than size, volume and musical monotony.

A program as a manifesto of diversity

The 2026 edition reads like a deliberately composed panorama of sound: indie rock meets singer-songwriter, post-punk meets pop and avant-garde. The musical spectrum is complemented by readings, experimental formats and a surprise act - long a characteristic trademark of the festival.

Organizer and booker Rembert Stiewe sees the program compilation as an aesthetic concept: "Experience, gut feeling, a spirit of discovery and also a certain missionary zeal guide me," he says. "Many guests are proven music lovers - but I still want to present at least three or four bands to everyone that they didn't know before and that will be among their favorites afterwards."

According to Stiewe, his creative achievement lies in the dramaturgy: "It's about creating a mood, a musical flow. The range has grown - from indie rock to singer-songwriter to post-punk and beyond. But it never becomes arbitrary. The OBS is not a lowest common denominator, but rather an exciting buffet of specialties."

From punk rock to poetic songwriting

This year, the heavier faction will be represented by punk rock institution Turbostaat, garage rockers Bikini Beach, Maria Iskariot from Belgium and Dutch post-punk bands Tramhaus and Grote Geelstaart.

Fans of classic songwriting can look forward to the US-Americans Frazey Ford and Alela Diane, their compatriot Israel Nash and Jerry Leger from Canada.

Some of the most exciting indie acts at the moment come from Germany with Herrenmagazin, Marlo Grosshardt, Nils Keppel, Gringo Mayer and Die Kegelband, Blush Always, Schnuppe, Lener, Animat, Honig, Agassi, Stoic Mind, Schreng Schreng & La La and Willow Parlo. According to the BBC and the unanimous British music press, the British formation Man/Woman/Chainsaw is currently the most exciting live band in London.

Worries And Other Plants and Mel D from Switzerland and Wrest from Scotland - who close the OBS Sunday - combine haunting songwriting with atmospheric indie rock.

Kekse & Kakao is also an entertaining band for children and families. The Spiegel bestselling author Dominik Bloh and the Berlin music journalist duo Zwischen Zwei Und Vier have been secured for the reading stage.

The program is complemented by workshops, joint hikes, sports activities and numerous family-friendly activities.

"Indie land of milk and honey" with attitude

The OBS is not only known for its program, but also for its sustainable event concept and exceptionally high quality of service. "People should be able to experience carefree music here - without the usual annoyances of big events," emphasizes Stiewe.

The music magazine DIFFUS described the festival as an "indie paradise". The OBS does indeed set standards: numerous shade and rain protection areas, free drinking water, short distances, free sunscreen, ample bicycle parking, sanitary facilities that are cleaned several times a day, free toiletries, ear protection rental and baby changing and breastfeeding facilities are just as much a part of the festival as trained, friendly staff and minimal waiting times.

The gastronomic offer also exceeds expectations for a festival of this size - both in terms of quality and quantity. "We want to give people the feeling of being on another planet for three days," says Stiewe. "Great music, great atmosphere, great people."

Life filling station with philosophy

This year's motto "Lebenstankstelle" is no coincidence. Many guests describe the OBS as a conscious break from everyday life - a festival with a high experiential value and a lovingly curated character.

The philosophy behind it is clearly formulated: Everyone involved - musicians, audience, crew and service providers - should be treated like guests you invite to your home - and feel like guests. Respect, equal treatment and a sense of responsibility characterize the way we work together. "For us, the audience is not an anonymous mass, not paying cattle," says Stiewe. "The OBS is a special place."

Maximum flexibility for visitors

To ensure the greatest possible planning security, all tickets can be canceled free of charge up to eight days before the start of the festival. The purchase is automatically insured - "so if something should come up, the tickets can be returned without any bureaucratic effort and even without a medical certificate - neither buyers nor we suffer any disadvantage as a result," say the organizers.

Price information:

Tickets are available for 13 to 18-year-olds for 50 euros each (hard ticket 51 euros) and for adults for 155 euros (hard ticket 160 euros). Free admission for children under 13.