Wave Gotik Treffen (WGT) is the world’s biggest gothic festival. Taking place annually in Leipzig, Germany, it is a four-day event that brings together thousands of goths from all over the world. From its humble beginnings in 1992, WGT has grown to become the largest gothic festival in the world. With over 20,000 visitors each year, WGT offers an unparalleled range of music, culture and entertainment. With a diverse lineup of bands, DJs and performers, WGT has something for everyone. Whether you’re into darkwave, industrial, EBM, gothic rock or something else, there’s something for you at WGT. In addition to the music, WGT also offers a variety of cultural activities, such as lectures, art exhibitions, and more. With its unique atmosphere, WGT is a must-attend event for any gothic enthusiast.
For one week in early June, during the Wave Gotik Treffen, Leipzig turns into a little ”Halloween town”.
The City Atmosphere
The whole city is in the gothic spirit, you can find “Goths welcome” signs on ordinary shops and fast food stores - and see black balloons at McDonald’s! They say that even H&M used to decorate their shop windows in black!
At time of the festival, Snapchat also had filters such as “my goth look” or “alles Schwartz” (all black) when you checked into Leipzig. You could also buy stuff like black wings and black “misfortune” cookies at ordinary stationery shops. People in black suits crinolines and corsets were seen everywhere at any time of day, and the historic atmosphere of the city only added to the general old-timey feel.
I was looking at all the people with colored hair, piercings and tattoos and thought to myself – alternative is definitely not dead!
Wave Gotik Treffen Events
If you typically don’t enjoy the big crowds, basically you can have fun all over the city. If you haven't read my Wave Gotik Treffen concert report, you can find it here.
As for other events, we attended the Steampunk picnic on the 2nd day of the festival. Yes, we also brought food and wine which was a really extraordinary experience for me (I’m goth, I don’t do nature!). The main attraction was of course the people who dressed up in steampunk gear, and even brought props for pictures to make our photography job easier.
There was stuff like guns, telescopes, mechanical wings, old books, you name it! You could really tell that people put effort into their looks and played the part.
On the 3rd day we visited the Medieval market, where you could find – you guessed it, people in interesting medieval attire. You could also come across blacksmiths, spice vendors and rune readers (my rune reading was spot on!).
There was also a Victorian picnic but unfortunately we missed it :(
For anyone thinking of attending WGT, my advice is this – wander the streets of Leipzig, go see your favorite bands, enjoy the show, but don’t forget to sit and have some cheese and a glass of wine!
If you were one of the lucky festival goers - hit us up on Facebook and check out our WGT photo album. And, if you're featured - tag yourself and your friends!
Would you like to go to Wave Gotik Treffen next year? Let us know in the comments section - and maybe we'll see you there!
