“During the day, you could really feel the effects of the heat,” said Oliver Valentin, coordinator of Mainz’s Johannisnacht at the city administration office of Mainz, the state capital. “But in the evening, there was a lively atmosphere at the festival grounds, stretching from the banks of the Rhine across the cathedral squares to Schillerplatz: Hats off to all the bands and the audience, who really joined in the fun.” The varied music program and the 10 street performance acts were well received—as was the result of the World Cup match between Germany and Ivory Coast: After the 2-1 victory, which secured an early group stage win, the atmosphere at Johannisnacht was electric. 

Things were also heating up at the Mainz Three Bridges Run powered by BioNTech. Of the 660 participants who ultimately took part, 11 even managed to cross the finish line in under 30 minutes despite the temperatures. Maurice Machwirth (LEX Running Experts) crossed the finish line in 27:41 minutes, where Daniel Köbler, the city’s sports commissioner, was waiting to congratulate him. The brave group of runners received constant support along the route from cheering spectators and course marshals.

An exact number of visitors cannot be given. “Friday was within normal limits, but from Saturday through Monday, it was clearly noticeable that, given the temperatures, there was less activity at the festival,” summarized Elke Höllein, Head of Public Relations and Protocol for the state capital of Mainz. An exact visitor count for Saturday evening is still being determined. 

Fouad Yahia, head of the Office of Stalls, Legal Affairs, and Public Order for the State Capital of Mainz, flew over the festival grounds in a police helicopter. As part of this pilot project—in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the police helicopter squadron, and the Mainz Police Department—high-resolution photos were taken, which are now being analyzed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The goal is to obtain precise visitor numbers.  Based on the analysis, security measures for the festival will be adjusted to be even more targeted. 

The overall assessment of child and youth protection efforts is also positive. As part of Johannisnacht, child and youth protection staff, together with the police, conducted youth protection checks on several days. During these checks, 108 children and adolescents were approached and screened. In 55 cases, violations of the provisions of the Youth Protection Act were identified. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and vapes were confiscated. Depending on their age and individual situation, those affected may be invited, together with their legal guardians, to counseling sessions. The goal of these sessions is to educate them about health risks and legal regulations, as well as to refer them to further support services if necessary. Such invitations are generally extended to children and adolescents under the age of 16. Overall, the checks proceeded peacefully. “The close cooperation between the police and the Department of Child and Youth Protection makes an important contribution to the protection of children and adolescents and pursues, in particular, preventive and educational goals,” says Jana Schmöller, Head of the Department of Child and Youth Protection. 

Ludwig Holle, Head of the Festival Department, draws a thoroughly positive conclusion after his first St. John’s Night in this role: “For me, the unmistakable atmosphere of St. John’s Night is what matters most. Despite the high temperatures, people were in high spirits—cheerful, warm, and full of joy. That’s exactly what makes Mainz special.”

Holle was particularly impressed by the festival’s diversity: “St. John’s Night offers something for every taste and interest. As the festival commissioner, it was exciting to see how many different people and activities come together here.”

He extended special thanks to the many people working behind the scenes: “Four successful days of festivities are the result of months of preparation. My heartfelt thanks go to the city administration staff, our partners, the wineries, booth operators, artists, and carnival performers who made this festival possible.”

Among his personal highlights are the traditional “Gautschen” ceremony as well as the diverse program of events centered on Johannes Gutenberg: “It’s impressive to see how vividly Gutenberg’s legacy is kept alive in Mainz—from the poetry slam to the book market to the Gutenberg Prize. The fact that both the International Gutenberg Society and the Gutenberg Museum were able to celebrate their 125th anniversaries this year underscores Gutenberg’s special significance for our city.”

Johannisnacht came to a spectacular close on Monday evening with the drone light show on the banks of the Rhine. From the sound truck on the Theodor-Heuss Bridge, Mayor Nino Haase welcomed the audience to the dazzling finale, accompanied by fitting background music: “Following last year’s premiere, we made a few tweaks here and there—and with 400 drones, twice as many as last year, we were able to project designs into Mainz’s night sky. The focus was on sports: swimmers, rowers, runners, cyclists, soccer players, and others showcased the diversity of Mainz’s sports scene. Fascinating images combined with music created a great atmosphere and even a few goosebump-inducing moments. I think we’ve clearly stepped it up a notch, and just like last year, we’ll be evaluating the feedback.”

The drone light show was made possible with the support of sponsors 1. FSV Mainz 05, Volksbank Darmstadt-Mainz, and the Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz. 

Overall, Mayor Nino Hasse also draws a positive conclusion about the Johannisnacht festival that has just come to a close: “Although the heat didn’t bring us a record number of visitors this year, it didn’t dampen the mood at all. We experienced four joyful and festive days filled with many highlights. What’s particularly special is the peaceful atmosphere that characterizes our city during such festivals. Once again, Mainz celebrated Gutenberg just as it should be: together, exuberantly, and in a relaxed manner. And we’re already looking forward to next year, when it might be 5 to 10 degrees cooler!” 

The next St. John’s Night will take place from Friday, June 25, 2027, through Monday, June 28, 2027.