Do you have feedback or questions for us? Feel free to send us an email at presse@kopfundsteine.de.

Admission to VOGELBALL in accordance with German Youth Protection Law

Admission to VOGELBALL is generally permitted from the age of 16.

Teenagers aged 16 and over may remain on the premises until midnight without being accompanied by a person with parental authority or a designated guardian.

Designated guardians must carry written proof of authorization and, upon request, present a copy of the ID of the person with parental authority.

The corresponding form will be available for download.

If you feel uncomfortable, have experienced discrimination or boundary violations, or need support in general, you can contact our awareness team:
The awareness team can be reached via call, SMS, WhatsApp, or Telegram at 0157 36407217.
In general, anyone wearing a pink disco ball on their body (as a vest, button, or in another form) is approachable and there to support you if needed.

To ensure we can all celebrate VOGELBALL as safely and comfortably as possible, we have an awareness concept in place again this year. These points are important to us:

• We do not tolerate sexism, racism, or any other forms of discrimination at our events – symbols and signs of fascist structures and organizations are prohibited on our grounds.
• We do not tolerate verbal or physical violence – this includes staring and catcalling (i.e., sexually suggestive shouting, comments, or whistling).
• Certain substances can affect your perception of your own and others’ boundaries: Please consume responsibly and act considerately.
• Respect other people’s boundaries: No means no, and only an explicit yes means yes.
• Only the affected person decides what they perceive as violence or discrimination. We do not question their experiences — we believe them.
• Please keep your shirt on: being shirtless is not welcome.
• Do not take photos of others without their explicit permission.
• Respect the cultural significance of elements you wear: do not use aspects of other cultures as costumes — especially those cultures that are already discriminated against.
• We can’t see someone’s gender identity. So, ask people for their pronouns or avoid gendered language.
• We practice allyship: If you see someone feeling uncomfortable or being harassed, don’t hesitate to reach out to our awareness or security teams!

These rules are meant to help everyone feel safe and enjoy the festival — please respect them and look out for each other.

We’re always open to feedback — the best way to reach us is by email at awareness@kopfundsteine.de.

As a vibrant masquerade ball featuring many queer artists, we know that style is always political — and we do not want to adorn ourselves with borrowed feathers.

We’ve increasingly been made aware that in the past, costumes resembling Indigenous headdresses have appeared at our events. We’ve taken this opportunity to re-engage with the topic of cultural appropriation, and we’d like to share our perspective with you:

What is Cultural Appropriation?

Cultural appropriation describes the act of using elements of cultural groups — particularly those who have been historically and structurally disadvantaged — for one’s own benefit.

These elements may include clothing, gestures, musical or dance styles, and hairstyles.

When members of a majority group strip cultural elements from a minority group of their original meaning and adopt them in a degrading or stereotypical way, this is cultural appropriation.

Why shouldn’t I wear an Indigenous headdress if I don’t have Indigenous roots?

There are around 5,000 Indigenous groups worldwide, making up about 6% of the global population. These are real communities — not costumes.

For them, traditional headdresses are part of their (sometimes endangered) identity and carry spiritual and cultural significance. A feathered headdress, for example, may be reserved for a few individuals of high standing within these groups who have earned the honor to wear it over the course of their lives.

When we wear these sacred artifacts from another cultural heritage as mere costume, we strip them of their meaning and degrade them by misusing them as decoration.

At the same time, cultural appropriation often involves performing cultural individuality, while the people whose culture is being used are systematically discriminated against and persecuted in their daily lives.

For example, Indigenous peoples of the Americas were nearly wiped out through colonization. Until the 1960s, they were not allowed to vote or wear their headdresses publicly. Forced relocations, land theft, massacres, and cultural erasure drastically reduced their population.

We believe this history and culture deserve our respect. So in the future, let’s still dress in feathers — but not in someone else’s sacred headdress.

DOs

• A few loose feathers tucked into your hair
• Feathered bird masks with a beak, without a headband
• Feather earrings
• Feathers on your face, body, or as wings
• Headbands, hairbands, masks, and crowns not solely made of feathers, but mixed with other decorative elements like flowers, rhinestones, etc.
• Glitter — in all shapes and forms!

DON’Ts

Feather accessories attached to a headband or similar, and:

• Worn on top of the head
• Even if it’s just a single feather attached to a band or string
• In the shape of a crown or mohawk/Iroquois style
• No matter whether the feathers point up or hang down
• Also no fur and/or horns attached to headbands or similar

Card and cash payments are accepted at all bars and food trucks.

Alcohol is not allowed on the festival grounds. Non-alcoholic drinks up to 1.5L (no glass) in unopened bottles are permitted. Tetra Paks are not allowed.

You’re welcome to bring snacks, but full meals are available on-site — with options for vegetarians and vegans.

If you have specific food intolerances that require you to bring your own food, that’s no problem. You can bring a festival-appropriate amount with you.

In general: if you have a doctor’s note confirming your intolerance, you can simply show it at the entrance and you’ll be good to go.
If you don’t have such a document but still rely on your own food, feel free to email us at info@kopfundsteine.de.

VOGELBALL will offer a wide variety of drinks as well as vegetarian and vegan food options.
You can pay at the stands with cash or card.

In our Freihafen area, some of our favorite brands, shops, and initiatives present themselves — a place to browse, discover, and maybe find your next favorite accessory.

Want to showcase your label, business, or organization here? We’re now accepting applications for our Freihafen.
All info, contact details, and pricing can be found here

Small bags, drawstring bags, and totes up to A4 size are allowed on the festival grounds.
The less stuff you bring, the quicker you’ll get through entry.

Lockers are available for rent on our festival grounds. You can securely store your belongings and access them at any time during the event.

Next to the Etepete Bar, there will be a cloakroom where you can leave your belongings for a small fee.

Professional Recording Equipment

Professional audio and video recordings are not permitted on the festival grounds. Any violation will be prosecuted. All recordings made without the explicit consent of the organizer or the artists are prohibited. Unauthorized publication will result in legal action.

Tagging/Bombing
Please respect the art installations and rented equipment on site. Cleaning toilets, containers, and stage technology creates significant costs after the event — costs that can impact next year’s ticket prices.

Drones
Flying, launching, and landing unmanned aerial systems (drones) is prohibited under our house rules.

Weapons
Weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden at our events.

Fireworks, Flares, Laser Pointers, Pressurized Containers
Pyrotechnics and laser pointers are not allowed on the festival grounds — the artists will provide all the show you need.

Pressurized containers (e.g. deodorant, hairspray, or even sunscreen in spray form) must also be left at home.

There are plenty of drinking water stations on site.
Make sure to bring an empty water bottle (no glass!).

We want all visitors to be able to move freely across the site. The festival takes place on a formerly industrial, now greened open space, which we do our best to make accessible for everyone.

If your disability ID includes a “B”, you can bring a companion free of charge. Just purchase your own ticket and show your ID at the entrance.

Accessible viewing areas are available at the stages. There’s an accessible toilet backstage, reachable via Gate 16. Additionally, there are accessible portable toilets on the grounds secured with a code — you can get the code from security staff, the awareness team, or the info point.

If you lose something during the event, check in at the info points (open from 4:00 PM to midnight) to see if it has been turned in. If you find something, please drop it off at the info point or any bar.

After the event, you’ll have one week to collect your belongings from us (pickup dates will be announced). After that, all unclaimed items will be transferred to the Central Lost & Found Office in Altona.

We want to create a safe space for everyone celebrating — which is why we want to raise awareness about GHB (also known as Liquid Ecstasy) and make our policy very clear: no GHB at VOGELBALL.

Your safety and well-being are our top priority. No matter what you’ve taken (or haven’t), our awareness team, psycare crew, security, and medical staff are always there for you.

They offer discreet support and will help you feel better. If you ever feel unwell or unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Even after the event, you can contact us at awareness@kopfundsteine.de.

About GHB:

This substance is a big topic in the club and party scene, and some people use it while partying. However, it’s easy to overdose on GHB, and it is also used for drugging (“date rape”). Especially in combination with alcohol, it becomes extremely dangerous.

We consider GHB and its variants like GBL and BD to be very risky — that’s why we do not allow the use of GHB or its derivatives at our event. Bringing or using GHB on the VOGELBALL grounds is strictly prohibited.

If you’re found with GHB, your party is over.

Please take care and raise awareness among your friends:

• If you suddenly feel dizzy or unwell, don’t go to the bathroom or home alone — inform your friends and talk to staff.
• Watch your drinks.
• If you consume, do so consciously and remember that substances can affect your perception of other people’s boundaries.
• Look out for each other — if we work together to ensure a safe rave at VOGELBALL, everyone can have a beautiful time.