FAQs
Every group/choir leader can register their choir for the European Gospel Festival at www.gospel.de/anmelden via the button "New group reservation for groups ...". In the process you indicate whether the choir would like to actively participate in the programme (Participating choir) or only take part (Participating choir). The group leader will then receive a reservation code by e-mail, which they will pass on to the singers in the choir. All participants in the choir must use this code to register themselves and pay the respective participation fee immediately.
The participation fee includes:
Admission to the events in the Porsche Arena on Friday and Sunday (2x mass choir rehearsals, festival concert on Friday, worship service on Sunday)
Participation in the workshops on Saturday in downtown Stuttgart
2026 songbook as the official songbook of the European Gospel Festival (if ordered)
Public transportation ticket for the event days in Stuttgart
The reservation code is a code that is required for the registration of groups for the European Gospel Festival. Each group/choir leader receives a reservation code for their choir, which they must pass on to each participant. This reservation code contains the corresponding discount (group discount/participant discount). Without the reservation code, a discount is not possible.
The reservation code has no validity limit. We recommend that all group participants complete the online registration for the European Gospel Festival in good time. It is possible to increase the contingent informally by sending an e-mail to service(at)creative-kirche.de .
You will find your participation card in your customer account at www.creative-kirche-shop.de from March 2026.
We will inform you of this in good time. Until March 2026, you will find an informative registration confirmation in place of your participation card.
You can bring your participation card with you either in printed form or as a digital version in your wallet.
All permanent participants can attend the concert on Friday evening on presentation of their participation card.
If you have found a replacement participant, you can either re-personalise your participation pass in your customer account to the replacement person and/or transfer the pass directly to the person. If you are unable to find a replacement participant, the following cancellation conditions apply:
Cancellations up to:
- 09.02.2026 = 100% refund of the participation fee
Cancellations from:
- 10.02.2026 = 50% refund of the participation fee
- 22.03.2026 = 20% refund of the participation fee
- 17.04.2026 = no refund
Registration for the European Gospel Festival is binding. In the event of withdrawal from the registration, cancellation fees will be charged. Any credit notes may only be issued after the European Gospel Festival.
This is possible on the website of the European Gospel Festival www.gospel.de/anmelden via the button "Register now as a single participant".
As the centrepiece of the European Gospel Festival, the Mass Choir is a choir of 5,000 voices that rehearse new gospel songs under professional direction. The songs of the European Gospel Festival are sung together once again during the service; there is no "performance" after the rehearsal.
Top-class teachers have once again been recruited for the Mass Choir rehearsals at the European Gospel Festival. Among them are Volney Morgan (UK), Hanjo Gäbler (Germany), Miriam Schäfer (Germany), and Nina Luna Eriksen (Denmark).
Additional names will be announced soon.
Participation in the Mass Choir is only possible as part of the permanent participation in the European Gospel Festival.
The Mass Choir of the European Gospel Festival will take place on Saturday, 2 May from 09:00-12:00 and on Sunday, 3 May from 9:00-12:30.
The two sessions of the Mass Choir on Saturday and Sunday will take place in the Porsche-Arena.
It is not possible to register for the workshops of the European Gospel Festival. All participants are free to choose their own workshops.
That can happen. All rooms have capacity limits. We therefore recommend arriving early at the workshop venue. The European Gospel Festival cannot guarantee participation in a particular workshop. There are enough places available to enable everyone to take part in the workshops.
Some workshops are offered twice due to popular demand. Please refer to the programme booklet, which will be sent to the permanent participants six weeks before the European Gospel Festival. We ask all participants not to attend a workshop twice.
Basically, all participants can take part in any workshop. Workshop descriptions that contain the addition "for advanced" or "for beginners" or similar provide an indication.
There will be a handout for many workshops if it makes sense for that workshop. However, there will not be one for the "Open Gospel Singing" workshops, for example. The sheet music can of course be purchased in the European Gospel Festival shop afterwards.
The workshops start on Saturday, 2 May 2026 at 1.30 pm. The second slot starts at 3.15 pm., the third at 5.00 pm. Most workshops will end at 6.15 pm.
A workshop usually lasts 75 minutes.
Up to three workshops can be attended in succession. Depending on how far apart the workshop locations are, it is possible to attend two to three workshops.
All workshops of the European Gospel Festival are included in the permanent participation fee. Exceptions are special projects, for which separate registration is required.
There will be several larger and smaller stages along Königstraße in Stuttgart and throughout the city centre, where choirs, bands and formations will perform on Saturday, 2 May 2026 from 11 a.m. and present the diversity of pop and gospel music. Attendance at the Music Mile events is free of charge.
Various choirs from all over the world will be performing on the city stages during the course of Saturday.
The stages of the Music Mile are located in the squares of Stuttgart's city centre, with smaller stages also along Königstraße in Stuttgart.
If I would like to register as a choir, group or band for a performance at the Music Mile, the European Gospel Festival requires an informal letter of application with audio and visual examples and information about the group (size, technical/musical requirements, style....). The application should be sent to Sebastian Sendzik, sebastian.sendzik(at)creative-kirche.de , Tel. +49 2302 28222-25 by 15 December 2025 at the latest.
Contact person for the performances on Saturday is Sebastian Sendzik (02302-28222-25 / sebastian.sendzik(at)creative-kirche.de ).
By registering as a "Participating choir" you have received a special discount on the participation fee. If you do not perform, we reserve the right to charge you the difference to the participating choir retrospectively.
Various choirs, bands and formations from all over the world perform on the stages of the Music Mile. Every choir/group can apply to perform.
Depending on the stage location, the performances last from 45 to max. 60 minutes. The time is the gross time including set-up and departure, moderation and short sound check.
In addition to an application from the choir/group, the registration of the individual group members for the European Gospel Festival is a further requirement for a performance. There is no fee for the performance. The choir's own performance should always be seen as part of the European Gospel Festival programme, which also offers programme elements such as workshops, the Mass Choir and concerts.
During the Night of Choirs in Stuttgart, many choirs will perform at various locations throughout the city between 19:00 and 23:00 on Saturday evening. The choirs will bring their own colourful repertoire so that you can experience the diversity of modern church music.
This can vary from location to location. In general, the performances last from 40 to max. 60 minutes. The time is the gross time including set-up and departure, moderation and short sound check.
In addition to an application from the choir/group, the registration of the individual group members for the European Gospel Festival is a further requirement for a performance. There is no fee for the performance.
The choir's own performance should always be seen as part of the European Gospel Festival programme, which also offers programme elements such as workshops, the Mass Choir and concerts.
An overview of the venues and the choirs performing there will be published at the earliest 4 months before the start of the event and can then be viewed in the programme, in flyers and online.
You will find the address and directions online for each location a few months before the event begins.
If I would like to register as a choir, group or band for a performance at the Night of Choirs, I can do so online using the following form: Register your performance
Registration must be completed by 15.12.2025 at the latest. The European Gospel Festival requires a lot of information in order to organise the allocation of the various choirs to the communities in the best possible way. If you have any questions, please contact Sebastian Sendzik, sebastian.sendzik(at)creative-kirche.de, Tel. +49 2302 28222-25.
The Night of the Choirs in Stuttgart is organised according to the motto "Plug'n Play". The technical equipment and arrangements are made after registration and allocation between the congregation, choir and European Gospel Festival. Every choir is welcome to bring its own technical equipment and to make it available to other groups.
Please send any questions to service(at)creative-kirche.de; 02302/28222-0 or to Sebastian Sendzik: sebastian.sendzik(at)creative-kirche.de; 02302/28222-25.
Friends and acquaintances who are not registered for the European Gospel Festival are cordially invited to the festival service on Sunday. The service is free to attend.
No tickets are required for the festival service.
The Porsche-Arena is completely barrier-free. The accessibility of the other venues has yet to be checked. Corresponding information can be found in the programme.
Accompanying persons of people with disabilities (mark B) have free admission to all events at which they appear as an accompanying person. Please let us know in advance at service(at)creative-kirche.de with your request so that the accompanying person also receives a participation pass.
Persons with wheelchairs must register for the European Gospel Festival by telephone on 02302 28222-22 so that a suitable place can be reserved.
People with disabilities with a GdB of 50% or more receive a discount on the participation fee. We reserve the right to randomly check the relevant proof.
There are no special programmes for children at the European Gospel Festival. However, if you would like to take your baby/child with you, you are of course welcome to do so. Children up to the age of 6 who do not need a seat are admitted free of charge - but are not entitled to a seat, participation pass or other services of the European Gospel Festival. Children aged 6 and over and all children who require a seat pay the reduced entry fee and, like all other participants, must be registered for the European Gospel Festival.
There is no special children's programme or childcare at the European Gospel Festival.
From the age of 6, participation costs the reduced fee in the corresponding tariffs.
As part of the European Gospel Festival, there will once again be a separate youth festival. Young people can take part in this youth festival as well as in the programmes of the European Gospel Festival. Further information will be announced at a later date.
Yes, the European Gospel Festival participation pass entitles you to free use of public transport in the Stuttgart city area from May 1 to 3, 2026.
The cheapest accommodation for your choir is in the European Gospel Festival's shared accommodation in gymnasiums in the city centre. When registering, simply tick the box for shared accommodation. In addition to breakfast dishes and a towel, you will of course need to bring your own sleeping equipment such as a sleeping bag, sleeping mat or air mattress etc.
Accommodation in a gymnasium for two nights including breakfast costs €30 or €25 reduced.
If you decide to stay overnight in the shared accommodation, you will receive all further information about which gymnasium you will be accommodated in about 6 weeks before the start of the European Gospel Festival.
The European Gospel Festival works together with Stuttgart-Marketing for group enquiries. Groups can use a separate form to make an enquiry for room bookings. The form can be found here. The completed form should be sent by e-mail to hotels(at)stuttgart-tourist.de.
The planning of the European Gospel Festival takes place in close coordination with the public authorities (public order office, police, fire brigade) of the city of Stuttgart. Events in public spaces will be adapted to the applicable safety regulations on a daily basis.
The 2026 songbook of the Evangelical Youth Organization in Württemberg (EJW) will be published as a special edition for the European Gospel Festival. In addition to the songs for the mass choir rehearsal, the songbook will also include many new German and English-language songs.
In the 2026 songbook of the European Gospel Festival, you’ll find all the songs used in the Mass Choir rehearsals. In addition, it includes a selection of other German and English-language songs (a total of 24 songs) for use with your own choir.
The 2026 songbook is included in the full participation package and does not need to be ordered separately.
If you already have the songbook, please select the rate “Participation without songbook / 2026 songbook”when registering.
Additional songbooks can be ordered starting February 2026 through the online shop of the Stiftung Creative Kirche. Shipping is expected to begin at the end of March 2026.
Please note: shipping costs will apply.
It will also be possible to purchase additional copies on-site in Stuttgart during the event.
There will be a shop at the European Gospel Festival. In addition to the songbooks and CDs of the performing artists, there will also be a sheet music and CD exchange as well as merchandising articles relating to gospel music. Of course, you can also pay by card here.
In the city centre there is a wide range of food and drink to suit every budget.
For the Mass Choir rehearsals on Friday afternoon and Sunday morning, it is permitted to bring a PET bottle with a maximum of 1.5 litres of water as well as small sandwiches and fruit cans.
Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase at the venue.