05.03.2026 – 08.03.2026
The Elevate Festival for music, art and political discourse is once again transforming Graz into a hotspot for young, contemporary festival culture. This year’s motto for the Graz Elevate Festival is ‘Vital Signs’. For the first time, the festival opening is fully integrated into the Thursday programme and is no longer designed as a separate evening event. The Helmut List Halle will serve as the venue for the opening for the first time, marking a central hub of the new festival structure. The opening speech will be given by author and journalist Şeyda Kurt, and the evening will be moderated by science communicator and ‘Science Buster’ Martin Moder. A musical highlight will be the performance of Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich, interpreted by the PPCM Ensemble, which will bring the theme of ‘Vital Signs’ to life on an auditory level. The discourse programme in the Heimatsaal of the Graz Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art presents discussions and lectures on the festival theme with internationally renowned experts and theorists, including Douglas Rushkoff, Cathrin Clüver Ashbrook, Gilda Sahebi, Wolfgang Palaver, Baro Vicenta Ra Gabbert and Christian Schiffer. In the weeks leading up to the festival, the Elevate Arts programme will open the exhibition ‘Vital Signs in Public Space’, which brings together numerous works by local and international artists in public spaces in Graz.
Complete music line-up:
Aki Traar, Alice, Amnesia Scanner, Anika, Anna, Apua, Attila, Beaks, bela, Bendik Giske, Benedikt Alphart, Bibi & Tina, Cabaret Voltaire, Carrier, DÄ LIVER, Dame Area, Darwin, Distortina, DJ Deadlift, DJ Jackhammer, DJ Spinn, DJ Storm, Eli Preiss, Goldberg, gyrofield, Herbert & Momoko, Inou Ki Endo, jess_whereyouat, Josey Rebelle, Jukebox Utopia, Kelman Duran, Kessel Vale, Kianí del Valle, Kittin, Klimentina Li, KUNTARI, Lucia Kagramanyan, Lukas Koenig, Mama Feelgood & Mr. Farmer, Mara Never, Marc Almond, Maria Somerville, Mariam Rezaei, Maxime Denuc, Milès Borghese, Mitra, Miyra Lim, Modeselektor Dj-Set, OJOO, Oko Oko, Olgica, Pavel Milyakov, Pinch, PLF, Polygonia, PPCM Ensemble, Rena Volvo, Romain FX, Sibil, Somniac One, Spekki Webu, Stenny, Steve Reich, Stryke, Talita Otović, TEZIBEL, Theresa Baumgartner, Toupaz, UBICA, UCHE YARA, vince, Woody92, Zahra Mani, Zlata, Zora Jones
Speakers:
Andrea Schöne DE, Andreas Förster AT, Anna-Verena Nosthoff DE, Baro Vicenta Ra Gabbert DE, Birgit Bachler AT, Chad Reichert US, Christian Schiffer DE, Denise Helene Sumi AT, Dmitry Nekrasov RU, Douglas Rushkoff US, Elisabeth Kury AT, Florian Skrabal AT, Georg Günsberg AT, Gilda Sahebi DE, Harald Gründl AT, Ilona Otto AT, Irina Nalis AT, Jol Thoms CA, Katharina Kropshofer AT, Martin Moder AT, Mary Maggic US, Sarah Kriesche AT, Sebastian Kneidinger AT, Şeyda Kurt DE, Simon(e) van Saarloos NL, Stefan Lenglinger AT, Sven Biscop BE, Wolfgang Palaver AT
Elevate Festival 2026
05.03.2026 – 08.03.2026
Graz, various locations
www.elevate.at
