Citadel Music Festival at Zitadelle Spandau

The Citadel Music Festival takes place in the courtyard of Spandau Citadel

Spandau Citadel is a Renaissance fortress built from 1559 to 1594 at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers. Its Julius Tower dates back to the 13th century, and a Slavic settlement on this site can be traced back to around 1050. The fortress is listed in Berlin’s state monument registry under number 09085439. The courtyard is used for events, accommodating up to 10,000 guests among its bastions, walls, and casemates. The stage is open-air, with the fortress architecture serving as a backdrop. Concerts have been held at the Citadel since the mid-2000s, organized by Trinity. There is no festival ticket for the entire season; tickets are purchased per concert. The courtyard should not be confused with the small open-air stage of the Spandau Cultural Center, which is located right next door as its own natural stage.

The 2026 Season at the Citadel

The Citadel Music Festival ran in 2026 from June 5th to August 29th. It was opened by Fat Freddy’s Drop; two days later, Massive Attack played a politically charged show where Deborah Miller sang Unfinished Sympathy. June saw performances by Deine Freunde, Kings of Leon, and The B-52’s. The Pixies were on stage at the end of June, Morrissey at the beginning of July, who included five Smiths songs in his set. The summer also brought Mark Forster, Seal, Antilopen Gang, OMD, and Zaz. To conclude, BHZ played at the end of August, and Trailerpark gave two sold-out concerts on the last two evenings. Tickets cost between approximately 50 and 130 Euros depending on the act; for The B-52’s, pre-sale tickets were 75 Euros.