Now in its 22nd year, the Kulturfabrik Airfield, in cooperation with the Office for Youth and Family Affairs of the State Capital of Mainz, invites you to a day of music, barbecue, and cold drinks on Saturday, August 22, 2026. As is tradition, the event will take place on the grounds of the Alte Ziegelei Mainz Bretzenheim, and the organizers are hoping for another large turnout, just like in previous years. From 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., some of the “best up-and-coming bands from the region” will give it their all—a new band will take the stage every hour.

“For many years now, Grill ’em All has demonstrated just how vibrant and passionate the young music scene in Mainz and the region is. Set against the fantastic and unique backdrop of the Alte Ziegelei, the festival offers up-and-coming bands a stage to showcase their talent to an audience,” says Jana Schmöller, Director of Youth Affairs for the state capital of Mainz. “What makes Grill ’em all special is that the festival was launched more than 20 years ago by local bands and has since been organized annually by young musicians together with staff from the city and the Kulturfabrik Airfield. My heartfelt thanks go to the participating youth organizations, all supporters, and the bands who make this concert day possible through their hard work. I wish all the bands every success and hope the audience has a great time!”

This year, the Grill ’em all jury has nominated the following bands (no running order):

• Die Bandstunde (opens in a new tab)
• Hertzstörung (opens in a new tab)
• Jane Next Door (opens in a new tab)
• Mania (opens in a new tab)
• No Newer (opens in a new tab)
• sharpened.lives (opens in a new tab)
• Dirty Glamour (opens in a new tab)

For everyone who loves indie music, this day promises to be something truly special once again. Funk meets rock ’n’ roll, and the most beautiful melodies meet hard-hitting guitar riffs. Everything comes together on this day, and there’s something for every musical taste. Admission is free again this year. As always, both drinks and barbecue food (including options for vegans) will be offered at fair prices suitable for young people.

You’re not allowed to bring your own drinks, and there will be backpack checks at the entrance again. The festival can take place even in rainy weather, as there are plenty of covered areas available.

Giveaway

Following the success of previous years, there will once again be a raffle with attractive prizes, such as free tickets to the OPEN OHR Festival, CDs, and merchandise from the performing bands, and much more! All visitors who arrive at the Ziegelei by 5:00 p.m. can participate. Tickets are available directly at the bar. The raffle will be held at 7:45 p.m. on the main stage. It’s a win-win situation: Those who arrive early have a chance to win something, and it supports the first bands, who can thus play in front of a full house.

Background

The idea for this open-air festival came from the six founding bands: Pinks not red, Oskot, Hauptsache es knallt (HEK), Change of mind (successor to Bate Band), r.u.s.t., and T.P.A. (now: Dirty Glamour). At their initiative, the band festival at the Alte Ziegelei was developed in 2002 in collaboration with the Mainz Youth Welfare Office. The philosophy behind it—both then and now—is to provide young and young-at-heart bands from Mainz and the surrounding area with an open-air platform where they can showcase their talent to a larger audience.

This was only made possible through the collaboration of musicians, the Office for Youth and Family of the State Capital of Mainz, and the Kulturfabrik Airfield. The commitment and assistance in preparing and carrying out the event—not only from the bands that perform each year but also from the founding bands—is exemplary and a fundamental requirement for participation.

The Organization

The “Grill ’em All” Band Festival is organized by the “Children, Youth, and Family” department of the Office for Youth and Family of the State Capital of Mainz, with staffing support from all municipal youth centers, particularly the Haus der Jugend and JuBs Bretzenheim. The youth centers are responsible for all coordination and logistics. 

The festival is made possible by the support of Kulturfabrik Airfield as well as the band members (founding bands and performing bands). Each band is required to help with setup and takedown as well as organizational tasks. The scope of this assistance will be discussed by mutual agreement at a preparatory meeting held in advance. Since there is no admission fee, there is no performance fee or gas allowance for the bands. Band members will receive a limited amount of drinks and grilled food on site. The application materials for 2027 will be available on the website starting in fall 2026.

An event like the Grill ’em all Festival—organized jointly by the City of Mainz, local clubs, and musicians, with everyone contributing their organizational expertise—brings together the youth music scene in Mainz and the surrounding area. 

Special thanks go to the following sponsors for their support: Malteser Hilfsdienst (opens in a new tab) and the AStA Mainz (opens in a new tab).