WGT 2025: Peaceful Festival of the Dark Scene celebrates in Leipzig!

WGT 2025: Peaceful Festival of the Dark Scene celebrates in Leipzig!

Leipzig, Deutschland - The Wave-Gotik-Meeting (WGT) is an established festival that takes place annually in Leipzig and attracts fans of the "dark" music and culture. This year the event will take place from June 6th to 9th, 2025 and expects around 18,000 to 20,000 visitors. The first WGT event took place in Potsdam in 1987, but had to be considered illegal due to the GDR laws at the time. The first official WGT was launched in 1992 in the Eiskeller Club in Leipzig and has shown steady growth since then.

Visitors can look forward to over 150 bands and artists who represent various genres such as Gothic Rock, EBM, Industrial and Darkwave. The festival extends over four days and offers an extensive program that, in addition to concerts, also includes cultural events, film screenings, readings and workshops. Many museums in Leipzig open their doors for the visitors free of charge during the festival and offer special tours.

The philosophy of the Gothic scene

A central feature of the WGT is the peaceful atmosphere. According to mdr , a basic principle within the gothic scene is unthinkable, where fights or rivalries between goths and cyberpunks are unthinkable. Instead, visitors are recommended to treat each other respectfully and to consider taking pictures as inappropriate without permission. In the scene, creative ideas are more worth more than material things, such as expensive cars or branded clothing, which contributes to the high level of appreciation of individuality and lifestyle.

A remarkable story from the past of the WGT is the year 2000 when the event had to be flattened due to financial difficulties. The artists could no longer be paid and the access ribbons lost their value. Instead of protest, the Goths organized a replacement concert where many bands performed free of charge. This experience became a positive memory for the participants at a time that was otherwise characterized by disappointment.

extended events and attractions

The WGT not only offers music, but also a rich supporting program. In the main event hall, which offers space for up to 10,000 people, concerts, markets and dance floors take place. In addition to the main premises, the AGRA exhibition halls, numerous other venues in the city are also involved in the celebrations. In recent years, many thematic picnics and electronic music festivals have been organized as additional attractions.

The event attracts a various and creative community that appreciates life and its existential depths. This is not only due to the appearance and behavior of the participants, but also through the commitment to a common goal: an unforgettable experience within the limitless world of sound of dark music.