All About Time Warp Festival

Mannheim, Germany

Hall / Indoor only / City

XL – 20-50k

Electronic

$$

Underground, International, Alternative

3-24h

Time Warp Festival lives up to its name with its transcendental electronic affairs.

Whether you want to watch industry titans perform or are hoping to shop around for new faves, Time Warp is a portal to the international electronic music scene.

Here’s everything you need to know about Time Warp Festival.

The rise and grind of Time Warp Festival

Time Warp began as a passion project by two electro-heads – but it didn’t take time for the electronic titan to morph into a much sought-after event attracting thousands of EDM-loving attendees.

The first rave was in Ludwigshafen and took over an industrial building called Walzmühle.

Oscillating between cities around Germany, like Berlin and Bremen, Time Warp finally settled down in Mannheim in 2000. Cosmopop GmbH is the genius group behind the madness the German festival begets.

If you keep wondering what raving in the olden days was, sounded, and felt like, Time Warp is here to guide you through the vibrant electronic realm.

At Time Warp Festival, dance sessions are provided by experts

Over 20 artists take over Time Warp’s stages with no plans of giving ravers a break. From deep and melodic house to punchy techno and EDM, Time Warp provides a full spectrum of electronic sounds.

The fest is not affectatious, as it hosts veteran DJs and budding talents with unwavering respect for their craft.

Solomun, Nina Kraviz, Dubfire, and Loco Dice are just some of the blue-blooded electronic names that spun the audio decks at Time Wrap Festival.

As you can tell, the electronic titan is anything but shy in curating the lineup that will leave fans drooling. Every year, around 12,000 techno lovers, electronic greenhorns. and house music enthusiasts come together for an entrancing experience at Time Warp.

Where do we dance if not in quirky locations?

Mannheim and Time Warp go together like PB&J.

When it comes to stage production and design, this duo brings the shows you will tell your grandkids about. Maimarkthalle and Maimarktclub are home to festival-goers for two days of unencumbered passion. Maimarkt, where both reside, is a large exhibition and market space.

The not-so-humble beginnings of the German festival were scattered around Germany, but the underground aura was maintained throughout. Warehouses and abandoned office buildings were brought back to life by Time Warp’s shenanigans from 1994 to 2000.

Time Warp features some jaw-dropping stages

Maimarkthalle and Maimarktclub’s ample space lends itself to being set up and utilized in more ways than one.

Time Warp guarantees an intensive electronic affair with only two stages, but the visuals and mind-blowing installations will do all the talking.

From floating structures, 3D visuals, and light shows that take you on a groovy trip, the German festival’s ethos immerses partiers in a multi-sensory experience.

City girls, guys, and theys

The German festival is in the heart of Mannheim, a picturesque residential city. Yeah, you got that right, there are no leafy areas for your tent.

Since camping isn’t an option at this two-day festival, make sure to book Airbnbs, hotels, and hostels that suit your weekend shenanigans.

You say activities, Time Warp Festival says focus on the music

Time Warp has proven that it is dedicated to the genre, so the festival is free from distractions. A Chill-Out Zone is available for those who want to wind down from the heart-thumping bass.

Mannheim has its fair share of outdoor activities on the Rhine, so make sure to work your arms before traveling.

If you manage to preserve a few brain cells after the festival weekend, head to the city center and take in the grandeur of the Mannheim Palace.

At Time Warp, a dance marathon is always guaranteed

Time Warp sets itself apart from its counterparts as it is and isn’t a festival.

The German festival is a 19-hour-long rave spread over two days, offering partiers a chance to watch the industry’s biggest names turn their world upside down.

With over 20 artists performing, 19 hours of dancing, and two stages, can your body can handle the excitement?

In the early 2000s, the festival experienced a sales drop that worried the founders. They even went as far as naming their 2008 edition “the big finale” and expected an end to the grand event.

After the was-to-be final hurrah, ticket sales skyrocketed, which caught the attention of the city’s former mayor, Dr. Peter Kurz.

The government official then acknowledged the economic and social power Time Warp Festival possesses and had Dresel work side-by-side with the government to liaise between the city and the festival.

Reviving retro German techno through a book

The Warp Book, a telling tale of the festival’s past 20 editions, is the only appropriate coffee table book every self-proclaimed raver should have.

Creators of the German festival give insight on how the event grew from a party to a mega-event drawing people from all over the world, and artists explain the grandeur performing at Time Warp.

By encompassing a comprehensive visual timeline – from stage setting to afterparties – The Warp Book is worth a grab.

Time Warp Festival has all the goodies

Time Warp’s founding group is big on merch sold and festival booths. You can grab keepsakes ranging from their very own CDs to official festival wristbands.

The German festival has food options that cater to diverse dietary needs, so don’t worry about your stomach growling.

The german festival takes partying and your wellbeing seriously

Time Warp unites with the Mannheim Police Department in efforts to minimize accidents caused by drug and alcohol abuse.

The statement is evident on the website, and partiers are encouraged to stay safe and moderate their intake as police stops on the way to the festival are probable.

The festival gained international traction

If you thought it ended with Mannheim, think again, as Time Warp holds events worldwide. From New York to Sao Paolo and Santiago, the German festival brings its authenticity to the world and shares its love of raw rave culture.