Host Nation Update, April 16, 2026
Celebrating at the Cannstatter Wasen
Raise your steins! The Stuttgart Spring Festival is almost here, and with it, the festivities at the Cannstatter Wasen. This year, the 86th Stuttgart Spring Festival will take place from April 18 to May 10 at the Cannstatter Wasen. Opening date is Saturday, April 18 at 11 a.m.
The festival is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight, Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Mondays-Thursdays from noon to 11 p.m., and Fridays from noon to midnight.
(Stuttgarter Nachrichten, April 16, 2026)
Lufthansa flight attendants to strike on Friday, Stuttgart Airport affected
On the day of the ceremony marking “100 Years of Lufthansa” the cabin crew union UFO is calling for a strike. Widespread flight cancellations have already started affecting passengers.
All Lufthansa departures on Friday from Frankfurt and Munich airports, as well as all departures from Lufthansa subsidiary CityLine, airports in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Berlin are affected. In Hamburg, 20 flights to and from Frankfurt am Main and 22 flights to and from Munich were already canceled on Wednesday.
In Hanover, more than a dozen takeoffs and landings have been canceled. The situation is similar at Bremen Airport. Flight attendants already went on strike last Friday, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations nationwide.
(Stuttgarter Nachrichten, April 16, 2026)
Weekend Tips: Rock, Polar Night, Soul – all in one night on Saturday in Boeblingen and Sindelfingen
As every year, many well-known bands, as well as new ones, will be performing in both familiar and new locations. There’s rock’n’roll and boogie with the Lucky Boho Band at Seegärtle, the Lazy Sound Company at Freddchen, and soul with Cat in a Poke at Platzhirsch. Fast Eddy’s Blue Band will be playing at Bierbrunnen. El Creepo (Rock, Punk, Metal) and Diet Dope (Rock and Pop spanning many decades) will be playing at the Congress Hall. Mimmo and Friends will be performing at the Old TÜV Hall. Breaze previously played there, but they are now moving to the Blue House.
There’s also a change at Frechdax: Since Madison Bow is rocking the Brauhaus, the U2 tribute band The Edge will now be playing there. One can also head on over to Polar Night! More information at www.polarnacht-bb.de.
Those fans who already eagerly watched the little darts flying at the Sindelfingen Glass Palace on Friday or Saturday can still do so: From April 17 to 19, the European Darts Grand Prix will be making another stop there. The defending champion is Gary Anderson, who is competing again after his triumph last year. Also participating are James Wade, who is highly regarded, Jonny Clayton, currently leading the Premier League, and Gerwyn Price.
(Stuttgarter Nachrichten, April 16, 2026)
English guided tour of Waldenbuch this weekend
Have you ever wondered, what the connection is between the castle in Waldenbuch and Meghan Markle? How many peasants does it take to lift a building? The answers to these mysteries and many more are revealed on the English Guided Tour of Waldenbuch.
Register at www.waldenbuch.de/fuehrungen. Contact tourismus@waldenbuch.de with any questions.
(City of Waldenbuch, April 16, 2026)