Rockharz Festival 2025: Metal and accessibility for all fans!

Rockharz Festival 2025: Metal and accessibility for all fans!

The Rockharz Festival, a highlight for metal fans, opened its doors on July 2nd, 2025 at Ballenstedt Airfield. With more than 25,000 visitors expected, the event promises to be a special kind of musical festival. Headliners like King Diamond, Powerwolf and Heaven Shall Burn ensure that the atmosphere on the two stages runs high during the four days of the festival. After all, over 50 bands will be performing that will make fans' hearts beat faster. This year, the tradition that has characterized the festival since its humble beginnings in the early 1990s will once again be continued: cheers to metric sounds and a clear stance against the right.

Amidst the exciting musical performances, the organizers also thought about the practical needs of their guests. Additional water points and shady areas were set up at the festival site to offer visitors some cooling down in the hot temperatures. Around 700 helpers, including paramedics, ensure the safety of festival visitors and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Inclusion and accessibility in focus

A particularly important aspect of this year's Rockharz Festival is accessibility. The organizers have not only set up wheelchair-accessible paths and special sanitary facilities, but also ensured that there are suitable platforms at the stages. There is also an inclusion camping area with nursing care. This is a result of extensive cooperation with Lebenshilfe Braunschweig, for whom accessibility is a central issue. Marco Spiller, chairman of Lebenshilfe, emphasizes the relevance of accessibility for all visitor groups.

In order to further optimize accessibility, DEFENDER MIDI 5 2D cable bridges are also used, which enable different surfaces to be easily overcome. Björn Schulz, the inclusion officer, works closely with the organizers to ensure that all guests' needs are taken into account. Anne Wipperfürth from DEFENDER is pleased about the positive progress and collaboration in the area of ​​inclusion to enable everyone to participate in the live events.

A step in the right direction

At a time when accessibility is becoming increasingly important in the events industry, the Rockharz Festival is a shining example. Studies and initiatives, such as those at TU Giessen, are already integrating content on planning barrier-free events into their curricula. Although there is still no clear overview of the accessibility of all venues in Germany, the trend is clearly towards improving participation for people with disabilities. Events like Rockharz show that it is possible to create an inclusive experience that attracts all visitors and enables them to have a pleasant stay.

So let's celebrate and enjoy together as we drive progress in inclusion and accessibility in the music scene!