Fusion Festival 2026: Heat, Evacuation, and a Break Until 2028
· re:union Radio editorial · 3 min read
Fusion Festival 2026: 65,000 guests, up to 40 degrees, and an evacuation due to a fire. Lärz then takes a break – the next Fusion won't be until 2028.
Fusion Festival 2026 will go down in Lärz history as the hottest edition: up to 40 degrees, around 65,000 people on the former military airfield – and on Thursday evening, an evacuation of the entire site. Added to this is news that weighs heavier than any line-up: After 2026, Fusion will take a one-year break.
At a glance
- Around 65,000 visitors celebrated in 2026 on the former military airfield in Lärz.
- A wildfire three kilometers away in Retzow interrupted the festival for almost three hours.
- No Fusion will take place in 2027; the next edition is planned for 2028.
- Since 2012, tickets have been allocated exclusively by lottery.
Heat, Fire, Runway: How Fusion 2026 Unfolded
According to Groove, around 450 emergency personnel attended to approximately 2,400 people, mostly due to circulatory problems, cuts, bruises, or nosebleeds. 50 people were hospitalized – a comparatively low number for a weekend with temperatures up to 40 degrees.
The biggest disruption occurred on Thursday evening. A fire in Retzow engulfed about 3,000 square meters of forest and grassland, and the site was preventively evacuated, with thousands waiting on the runway. The fire was extinguished before it reached the festival, and no one was injured.
Drug checking also provided figures: Out of 801 analyzed samples, testers classified 60 pills as requiring a warning. Upon departure, more than 11,000 guests took the train from Neustrelitz.
Fusion in Numbers
| Location | Müritz Airpark airfield, Lärz (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Kulturkosmos Müritz e. V. |
| Visitors 2026 | approx. 65,000 |
| Visitors 2025 | 70,000 |
| Maximum temperature 2026 | up to 40 degrees |
| Interruption 2026 | almost three hours (fire in Retzow) |
| Emergency personnel / Attended | approx. 450 / approx. 2,400 |
| Drug Checking | 801 samples, 60 warning-required pills |
| Ticket Allocation | Lottery since 2012 |
| Next Edition | 2028 (Break in 2027) |
Holiday Communism on the Airfield
The organizers describe their goal with one word: “holiday communism.” There are no major sponsors and no advertising on the site, food is exclusively vegetarian and vegan, and an awareness team has been on-site since 2014.
The location also shapes the sound. Until 1993, the Russian army used the airfield; in 2003, Kulturkosmos bought the area. Twelve aircraft hangars covered with grass stretch across the site as green hills. Musically, the program ranges from minimal, techno, and house to drum and bass, dub, and goa, as well as punk and jazz, plus theater, cinema, and performance. The Tower Stage is one of the main stages, and another spot is the Trancefloor.
Break in 2027: Why Lärz Goes Silent for a Year
Already in November 2025, Kulturkosmos Müritz announced that Fusion 2027 would be canceled. The time will be used to rethink organizational concepts and the annual workflow. The break also affects the at.tension theater festival on the same site.
“… can also imagine that it needs a break at least every five festivals or at the latest every ten years”
— Kulturkosmos Müritz, Fusion Newsletter (quoted by Groove)
If you still don't want to miss out on open-air techno in 2027, you'll find alternatives in our overview Techno Festivals in Autumn 2026 and in the Festival Report on Awakenings 2026.
FAQ
When is the next Fusion?
The festival is taking a break in 2027. According to Groove, the next Fusion is announced for 2028.
How do you get tickets for Fusion?
The number of tickets has been limited since 2010, and only presale tickets are sold. Since 2012, tickets have been allocated exclusively by lottery, preceded by a registration phase.
Where does Fusion Festival take place?
On the former military airfield in Lärz near Müritz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, annually in summer since 1997.
Source: Groove – Fusion 2026: Festival ends largely without incident despite heat and evacuation, Groove – Fusion: Organizers announce break for 2027, Wikipedia – Fusion Festival
