A Festival of Cultural Diversity
With over 200,000 visitors in recent years, altonale has become a cornerstone of Hamburg's cultural calendar. Northern Germany's most wide-ranging and versatile cultural event, the festival spans ten days each early summer, bringing together hundreds of individual events across art, theatre, film, music, literature, dance, and street art.
As a non-profit cultural organisation, altonale GmbH is committed to making local and international diversity visible in the Altona district, fostering mutual acceptance, and developing sustainable, open networks for art and culture. Each year, the festival's programme is united by an annually changing theme, explored through artistic interpretation across all disciplines.
What to Expect
Spread across a wide variety of indoor and outdoor locations throughout Altona — often in unexpected or unconventional venues — the festival is both interdisciplinary and participatory in spirit. At the heart of it all is the festival hub on Platz der Republik, where artists, residents, visitors, and the curious come together beneath old trees, between the town hall, museum, and station.
Recurring highlights include the altonale flea market around the park, the art market on Christianswiese, and the Buntes Altona information mile. The STAMP Festival ('Street Arts Melting Pot') transforms Altona into an urban stage, bringing international street art, contemporary circus, and participatory performances to the city's public spaces.
For younger audiences, Junge altonale offers creative workshops, readings, performances, and artistic activities designed to inspire and involve the next generation.
Admission: Pay What You Want
True to its inclusive ethos, altonale embraces a pay-what-you-want model. While some events may require prior registration or a ticket, most allow visitors to decide for themselves how much they are able and willing to pay. More information about the 'make it possible' initiative can be found on the festival's official website.
For more information, visit the official altonale website.
2026 Highlights
This year's festival runs from 12 to 21 June 2026. The STAMP Festival takes place over the final weekend, from 19 to 21 June. The festival theme for 2026 has yet to be announced — check the altonale website for updates.
Dates:
12–21 June 2026
Location:
Various venues across Altona, Hamburg
