Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2024: Leipzig Guide and Festival Guide

The following bands have been announced for WGT 2024 (band selection, last update: May 11th):

12 Illusions (D) – A Projection (S) – Abu Nein (S) – Agent Side Grinder (S) – Agnis (PL) – Agonoize (D) – Almara (D) – Amduscia (MEX) – Andi Sex Gang (GB) – Angels & Agony (NL) – Anneke Van Giersbergen (NL) Heavy Strings – Årabrot (N) – Argine (I) – Artwork/Belladonna (D) – Ashbury Heights (S) – Aska (IS) – Ausgang (GB) – Automelodi (CDN) – Autopsia (YU/CZ) – Backworld (USA) – Barnacle Boi (USA) – Basscalate (D) – Batboner (N) – Blackbook (CH) – Blanche Biau (D) – Blitzkid (USA) – Bloodsucking Zombies From Outer Space (A) – Bon Harris (GB) “Songs from the lemon tree” – Brigade Enzephalon (D) – Brothel (USA) – Camerata Mediolanense (I) – Chain Of Flowers (GB) – Christian Death (USA) – Circuit Preacher (USA) – Clout Blued (D) – Corde Oblique (I) – Cumulo Nimbus (D) – Dalriada (H) – Dancing Plague (USA) – Daniela Bedeski & David Cabi (I) – David Leubner (D) – Dead Astronauts (USA) – Death Loves Veronica (USA) – Deloraine (CZ) – Derniere Volonte (F) – Deus Vult (D) – Die Habenichtse (D) – Die Kammer (A/D) – Diva Destruction (USA) – Dive (B) – Dorsetshire (D) – Echoberyl (F) – Editors (GB) – Eihwar (F) – Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen (D) – Emmon (S) -Enemy Inside (D) – Ensemble Nobiles (D) – Esplendor Geometrico (E) – Estetica Noir (I) – Extize (D/F) – Flawless Issues (D) – Frozen Plasma (D) – Gossenpoeten (D) – Gothminister (N) – Gvllow (USA) – Haunt Me (USA) Europapremiere – Heppner (D) – Hope (D) – In Strict Confidence (D) – Irdorath (BY) – Kareful (GB) – Karin Park (N) – Keep Of Kalessin (N) – Kellermensch (DK) – Kirlian Camera (I) – Klez.e (D) – Klutae (DK) – Knight$ (GB) – Kollaps (AUS) – Kontravoid (CDN) – Ladytron (GB) – Lament (D) – Lili Refrain (I) – Lisieux (F) – Luigi Rubino & Riccardo Prencipe (I) – Maerzfeld (D) – Martial Canterel (USA) – Martin Dupont (F) – Maschinenkrieger KR 52 (D) – Massiv In Mensch (D) – Megaherz (D) – Melotron (D) – Merciful Nuns (D) – Meta Meat (F) – Mia Morgan (D) – Mila Mar (D) – Miranda Sex Garden (GB) – Model Collapse (D) – MorphiuM (E) – Mr. Irish Bastard (D) – Neila Invo (I) – Nemuer (CZ) – Nico Wieditz (D) – Night Club (USA) – Nils Keppel (D) – Nitzer Ebb (GB) – Noelia Sarris Gothic Piano (ARG) – Nürnberg (BY) – Omnimar (RUS) – Opernensemble der Landesbühnen Sachsen (D) – Orphx (CDN) – Ostara (AUS) – Other Day (D) – Petra Hermanova (CZ/D) – Placebo Effekt (D) – Plantec (F) – Plastikstrom (D) – Playfellow (D) – Position Parallele (F) – Prayers (MEX/USA) – Primordial (IRL) – Principe Valiente (S) – Psyclon Nine (USA) – Public Memory (USA) – Reaper (D) – Rendez-Vous (F) – Rosa Anschütz (D) – Rose Of Avalanche (GB) – Rroyce (D) – Safi (D) – Saint City Orchestra (CH) – Schattenmann (D) – Schwarzer Engel (D) – SDH (Semoitics Department of Heteronyms) (E) – Sex Gang Children (GB) – Sextile (USA) – She Hates Emotions (D) – Sierra (F) – Sirenia (N) – Skeler (AUS) – Skuppin (D) – Social Station (USA) – Soviet Soviet (I) – Sowulo (NL) – Spiritual Front (I) – Statiqbloom (USA) – Stoneman (CH) – Strikkland (S) – Sublab (D) – Suono (D) – Tanzwut (D) – Terence Fixmer (F) – The Beauty Of Gemina (CH) – The Bellwether Syndicate (USA) – The Cassandra Complex (GB) – The Cemetary Girlz (F) – The Danse Society (GB) – The Feelgod McClouds (D) – The Foreign Resort (DK) – The Hellfreaks (H) – The Secret French Postcards (S) – The Slow Show (GB) – Theatre Of Hate (GB) – This Morn Omina (B) – Tiamat (S) Clouds & Wildhoney-Set – Topographies (USA) – Tourdeforce (I) – Tragic Black (USA) – Twin Noir (D) – Twins In Fear (UA/CH) – Two Witches (FIN) – Umbra Et Imago (D) – Use Knife (B) – Vanaheim (NL) – Vanguard (S) – Vera Lux (D) – Vive La Fete (B) – Walt Disco (GB) – X-RX (D) – Xeno & Oaklander (USA) – Years Of Denial (F) – Zombeast (USA) – Zombiesuckers (S) – Zweite Jugend (D)

…and more! You can find the current lineup and venues on the official WGT website or via their Facebook page.

Besides live concerts there are two medieval markets (at Moritzbastei and Torhaus Dölitz), art exhibitions, readings, classical concerts and theater performances. During the day, you can go shopping for all kinds of dark clothing and accessories from corsets to tailor-made vampire fangs at the Black Market – a huge hall full of stands on the agra festival site. At night, the party continues at several clubs where international DJs play different dark styles from 80s to industrial.

In addition to the official program, there are lots of unofficial fringe events happening during WGT in Leipzig, too. Don’t miss the highlights below!

Victorian Picnic
The „Victorian Picnic“ on Friday afternoon in the park is an iconic event (unofficial) event to kick off WGT, especially for those who like to dress up in Victorian, steampunk, baroque or all kinds of neo/dark romantic styles. Hundreds of elegantly costumed people meet up in style for a dazzling picnic or stroll in the park! More on the Facebook-Event page.

Friday, May 17, 2 pm – 6 pm, Clara-Zetkin-Park, free admission

Medieval market „Heidnisches Dorf“
The medieval market is definitely among the highlights of WGT each year. Soak in the atmosphere at Torhaus Dölitz, where lots of stalls sell clothing, accessories, hearty food and drink among shady trees or demonstrate traditional arts and crafts.

Sit on the grass, sip mead beer and listen to medieval/folk/classical live music all day before catching a fire show at night!

Note: The medieval markets are open for everyone, not just festivalgoers, but there’s no entrance fee if you have a WGT wristband.

Heidnisches Dorf, daily from Friday to Monday, 11 am until late, Torhaus Dölitz, Helenenstr. 24, tram stop: Leinestr.

Museums, exhibitions and guided tours during WGT
During WGT, several Leipzig museums offer free admission to exhibitions or special guided tours and lectures for WGT attendees. Visiting one of the museums during the day before going to band gigs later is highly recommended!

Grassi Goes Gotik: The Grassi Museum für Angewandte Kunst offers a series of free guided tours and talks during WGT (in German only). More info here

You can find more information about museums, exhibitions and guided tours here.

Classical music, opera and theater
For those of you interested in classical music, Opera Leipzig, ballet and theater, Gewandhaus concert hall and others usually offer a limited share of free tickets for festivalgoers. You can’t make a reservation, so be there super early!

Find more information in the official program!

Use the hashtag #WGTLeipzig to share your WGT pics on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok and find out what else is going on during WGT!

We will be posting from WGT so feel free to follow Leipzig Travel on Instagram and make sure you also follow our guest blogger Susi from Black Dots White Spots on Instagram.

You’re a photographer or blogger interested in a cooperation or in being featured? Contact us and tag @leipzigtravel in your posts!

Fans of retro-futurism will meet on Saturday afternoon for a picnic in dazzling steampunk costumes at Clara-Zetkin-Park. Find out more about the event here.

Saturday, May 18, 2 pm, Clara-Zetkin-Park (new location), free admission

Members of the queer subculture can dance the night away to cold wave, post punk, EBM, goth, hard techno, synth pop and 80s hits on Saturday night.

Saturday, May 18, from 10 pm, Institut für Zukunft, An den Tierkliniken 38-40, tickets available online and at the door, more info here.

NINE INCH NAILS | INDUSTRIAL ROCK | ULTRA-HEAVY BEATS

DJ PuPPe (Villa, EBM Warm-Up, FT, Bunker/Dresden)
Dj dRiLL (Terror Dance, dRiLL, WGT-Leipzig, Common Roots, FT…)

Saturday, May 18, from 11 pm, location tba, more info: Facebook event

Discover Leipzig’s dark secrets on two guided ghost tours - especially made for WGT (in German only). One is a cemetery tour of Alter Johannisfriedhof, Leipzig’s oldest cemetery. The other will reveal dark secrets in the city’s historic center. Book your tour here - if you dare!

If you need a moment of peace and quiet during WGT, enjoy the gloomy and sepulchral atmosphere of Leipzig's historic cemeteries. Alter Johannisfriedhof („Old St. John’s Cemetery“) at the eastern end of the city center is an impressive park with approx. 400 tombs from the periods of Baroque, Classicism and Historicism.

Südfriedhof („Southern Cemetery“) is one of the largest cemeteries in Germany and definitely worth a visit.

During WGT, you can explore both cemeteries on special guided cemetery tours (in German only). More details here!

You want to know a good spot to have breakfast during WGT? Where to grab a cup of coffee or go get some delicious dinner on your way to the festival?

Travel blogger Susi from Black Dots White Spots has put together a list of her favorite Leipzig spots during WGT – from restaurants to cosy cafés, from delicious cupcakes to vintage and goth shopping.

Leipzig has some great nightlife. Check out these bars and clubs while you’re here!

Dark Flower
The club is well known in the goth scene (well beyond Leipzig) and offers a variety of musical styles from alternative to EBM and electro.

Moritzbastei
Moritzbastei is Leipzig’s most popular cultural centre with daily parties, concerts and other events. This downtown venue is part of the last preserved part of the old city fortifications and houses several clubs and bars. Here, you can party with a historical atmosphere and under high vaulted ceilings. Moritzbastei houses several club events during WGT – make sure not to miss it!

Flowerpower
Small bar with an alternative vibe in the trendy Südvorstadt district, mixed clientele and music from rock to oldies. Hang out and party with the locals until the wee hours.

Täubchenthal
Concert and party location in an old industrial building in Leipzig’s hip Plagwitz district in the west end. A great WGT location you shouldn’t miss!

Noels Ballroom
Large, rustic and homey Irish Pub with a club and beer garden in trendy Südvorstadt (near agra festival site). Perfect for drinks and bar food but look out for parties during WGT, too!

Werk2
Cultural events centre, club and concert location plus artists‘ workshops at Connewitzer Kreuz in the south of Leipzig. Location of Gothic Pogo Festival during WGT.

Hellraiser
Hellraiser was founded in 1992 and is well-known as a concert venue for numerous artists and bands from the goth scene and other underground scenes.

Why not combine a visit to Leipzig with some new body jewellery and ink? Here is a list of some of the hottest studios:

Ink and Pain
Individual tattoos and piercings of all kinds.
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 110
04275 Leipzig

Needleswing
Needleswing offers personalized tattoos, piercings, jewellery and accessories.
Könneritzstraße 22
04229 Leipzig

You can reach Leipzig via car, bus, plane or train from various destinations, for example by train from Berlin in 1,5 hours. To help you find out how exactly you can get to Leipzig, check out all the options we put together for you on our website.

During Wave-Gotik-Treffen, hotels, guesthouses, hostels and apartments in Leipzig are fully booked for a long time ahead, and most accomodations charge extra for the time of the festival.

Therefore, make sure you book your accomodation in Leipzig well ahead! We recommend 6-12 months before the festival (before you can even order tickets).

Convenient locations from where you can get to most venues easily are the city centre or the area south of the centre (Südvorstadt, around Karl-Liebknecht-Straße). There are also venues in Leipzig's west end (Plagwitz), so this could be a good option as well.