Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival and Campus is expanding on all fronts this year by growing the number of professional delegates by 50% and adding more venues around Hamburg’s infamous red light district.

Now in its second year, organisers hope to increase the number of delegates from 1,000 to 1,500, targeting an international delegation from Scandinavia, UK, France and Benelux. Held from 23-25 September, the event take place just 10 days after Berlin Music Week, which incorporates the historic top dog in German music trade fairs, Popkomm, back after a year’s absence. 

“All these events have their individual strengths and advantages, but I think the Reeperbahn festival and campus will do very well because we have a very clear focus on live entertainment with the festival and live music,” says Reeperbahn general manager, Detlef Schwarte.

Reflecting the Campus’s planned session topics regarding the development of cities and creativity, Reeperbahn will be adding numerous new venues to its public festival, including iconic buildings such as St Paul’s church and the Indra club, where the Beatles first performed. Up to 170 bands will perform to 20,000 ticket holders over the festival, and organisers will also host a showcase night at SXSW in Texas in March, where they’re inviting international colleagues to discuss the direction of the convention.