Rising costs prompt two Bavarian festivals to pause in 2027
Friday 23rd October 2026 on 12:15 in
Bavaria
Two major music festivals in Bavaria, the Modular Festival in Augsburg and Chiemsee Reggae Summer in Übersee, will take a break in 2027 as costs rise and audience habits change, BR reported.
Chiemsee Reggae Summer returned this June after an eight-year break. The smaller event featured 33 acts and drew 10,000 people over three days. Organisers said the reduced scale meant less waste, traffic and noise, and that the municipality, organisers and attendees were satisfied. They now plan to resume the festival in 2028, using the break to develop it and establish a more sustainable foundation.
Organisers say costs for artist fees, security and technical equipment have risen significantly in recent years, while raising ticket prices is not a workable solution. Some fans had already complained that this year’s tickets were too expensive.
The Modular Festival will also pause in 2027. Its organisers say costs for security, equipment, infrastructure and staff have climbed sharply, while the festival sector has changed. The aim, they said, is not to end Modular but to refocus it.
The festival is organised by the Augsburg City Youth Council with support from the city. Organisers say they considered smaller adjustments, savings, different ticketing and operational changes, but found these would not address the underlying problems. They want to use the pause to develop a lasting model, saying that deeper analysis and structural changes are difficult while the festival is running.
Although there will be no large weekend event in its usual format, organisers plan to test smaller and more decentralised events aimed at young people in Augsburg. Ideas include pop-up events, smaller stages, Modular camps, participation activities and events in neighbourhoods and the city centre. A survey will help determine what the target audience wants.
Other festivals in Germany are also taking breaks in 2027, including Highfield in Saxony, Fusion in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Appletree Garden in Lower Saxony and Umsonst & Draußen in North Rhine-Westphalia. High costs and insufficient income are among the reasons cited.