The (aka ) was an annual outdoor music event in Cologne, Germany held for the first time in 1993 and halted in 2006. In various locations of downtown Cologne stages were set up and live bands performed and also other events were presented. The Ringfest used to be held at the MediaPark, on the

Cologne Ring The Cologne Ring (known in German as: ''Kölner Ringe'') is a semi-circular, some 6 km long urban boulevard in Innenstadt, Cologne and the city's busiest and most prominent street system. The Cologne Ring is a four lane street and part of Bu ...

and the Neumarkt square. In 1993 some visitors attended the festival already, growing to around people in 1997, causing the organizers to claim the event to be the world's largest music festival. In 2005, about visitors attended the festival. The Ringfest was held for the first time in 1993. Approximately 200 bands have performed each year. Famous German groups such as Selig,

Element of Crime Element of Crime is a German rock band that plays melancholic chanson, pop and rock music with guitar, bass guitar, drums and voice/trumpet. Band history The band was founded in 1985 by Sven Regener who subsequently became known as the auth ...

, Die Fantastischen Vier, Brings,

Fettes Brot Fettes Brot () is a German hip hop group that formed in 1992. History Band name Fettes Brot means ''fat bread'' in German. "Fett" is a German slang term for "excellent" and brot is slang for "hash". The band took the name from a fan who ca ...

, Caught in the Act,

Söhne Mannheims Söhne Mannheims (German: �zøːnə ˈmanhaɪms ''Sons of Mannheim'') is a German pop and soul band founded 1995 in Mannheim by Xavier Naidoo and others. History The Group was founded in 1995 by Xavier Naidoo, Claus Eisenmann, Robbee Maria ...

Guano Apes Guano Apes are a German rock band formed in 1994 in Göttingen. The band consists of Sandra Nasić (vocals), Henning Rümenapp (guitars, backing vocals), Stefan Ude (bass, backing vocals), and Dennis Poschwatta (drums, backing vocals). AllMusic ...

, H-Blockx, ,

Sabrina Setlur Sabrina Setlur (born 10 January 1974), formerly known as Schwester S., is a German singer, rapper, songwriter and occasional actress. Her debut was in 1995 under the guidance of 3p Records executive and mentor Moses Pelham, producer of her breakt ...

, Götz Alsmann, Jürgen Drews,

Anne Haigis Anne Haigis (born 9 December 1955) is a German musician, singer and songwriter. Through the 1980s, she gained commercial success with rock songs, blues and ballads sung in German with her native Swabian accent. In the 1990s she incorporated Eng ...

Extrabreit Extrabreit is a German band established in Hagen, Germany in 1978. The band was one of the most successful exponents of the Neue Deutsche Welle movement of the 1980s. History The band was founded around the end of 1978, when they began their ...

, Reamonn, and Sportfreunde Stiller, local bands such as Bläck Fööss, Höhner, , , , , Renate Otta, Die Firma and , as well as international stars such as Heather Nova,

Sparks Sparks may refer to: Places *Sparks, Georgia * Sparks, Kansas *Sparks, Kentucky *Sparks, Maryland * Sparks, Nebraska *Sparks, Nevada *Sparks, Oklahoma *Sparks, Texas * Sparks, Bell County, Texas * Sparks, West Virginia Books * ''Sparks'' (Raffi ...

Joshua Kadison Joshua Kadison (born February 8, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and writer, who was born in Los Angeles, California. He is perhaps best known for the top 40 hits " Jessie" and " Beautiful in My Eyes" from his debut album '' Pai ...

, Runrig,

The King In the British English-speaking world, The King refers to: * Charles III (born 1948), King of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms since 2022 As a nickname * Michael Jackson (1958–2009), American singer and pop icon, nicknamed "T ...

Julian Dawson Julian Dawson (born 4 July 1954 in London) is a British singer–songwriter, guitarist and author. His style has been compared to Wilco and Ron Sexsmith. He is fluent in German and French. Outside his solo work, acts he has recorded with (as si ...

Cardigans The Cardigans is a Swedish rock band formed in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1992 by guitarist Peter Svensson, bassist Magnus Sveningsson, drummer Bengt Lagerberg, keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson and lead singer Nina Persson. Post-hiatus shows sinc ...

Manowar Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology), as well as ...

Paul Carrack Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

, Motörhead and Geri Halliwell have also performed. Since 2006 the Ringfest has not been held any longer. The organizers have justified the lack of organization with the difficulties of the music market. In the last three years of its life Ringfest held parallel to the music fair Popkomm, which has taken place in Berlin since 2004. Since 2004, the festival has been held in Cologne. The festival focuses on electronic pop music. At the premiere 2004 visitors attended the festival.

References

External links

c/o pop festival homepage
{{Authority control Music festivals in Germany 1993 establishments in Germany 2006 disestablishments in Germany Music festivals established in 1993 Recurring events disestablished in 2006 Annual events in Germany