FAQ

Since 1991, MAYDAY has been the original rave – a symbol of progress, creativity, and transformation.

An immersive experience awaits – powerful bass, pristine sound, and breathtaking visuals. Spectacular stage designs, avant-garde video art, and special effects embody the MAYDAY ethos: Always moving forward, never looking back!

More than just a rave, MAYDAY is a community of joy, inclusivity, and freedom. Escape the ordinary, embrace the music, and be part of the movement.

SAVE THE DATE:
MAYDAY
12 hours, 4 Floors, more than 30 DJs
Thu, April 30, 2026, 7 PM – 7 AM
Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

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At MAYDAY, we aim to create a safe space where everyone can be themselves and lose themselves in the moment. We value, respect, and protect people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, ages, and ethnicities.

We share a collective responsibility. If you witness or experience any violations, feel unsafe, or see someone being harassed, support each other or immediately reach out to our staff, security, police, or medical team.

Let’s take care of each other. ❤️

Disabled parking spaces are available. Please contact us in advance via email with proof of eligibility (e.g., disability ID or a license plate marked with “G”).

Wheelchair-accessible entrances and toilets are available at the Westfalenhallen.

Find more information here.

MAYDAY is Cashless. All further information can be found here. You can top up your credit approximately two weeks before the event.

Explicitly allowed are the following items:

• Sunscreen
• Medication
• E-cigarette liquids
• Roll-on deodorant (plastic/aluminum containers)
• Empty foldable water bottles
• Small foldable umbrellas

The following items are prohibited:

• any type of weapon
• objects that can be used similarly to a weapon or a dangerous projectile and do not obviously serve another, peaceful purpose (e.g. rucksack)
• drugs, narcotics, knockout drops and legal highs (e.g. bath salts) unless a medical document confirms beyond any doubt that the visitor needs to have them with him and to take them
• irritant gas, pepper spray, animal repellent spray and the like
• laser pointers
• caustic or highly inflammable substances
• fireworks, sparklers, pyrotechnical materials, inflammable torches, smoke candles, Bengal lights or any other pyrotechnical effects
• any type of advertising materials, in particular flyer, unless expressly allowed beforehand by the organiser; in such cases the person advertising must show the written consent of the organiser
• racist, xenophobic, radically left- or right-wing propaganda, in particular any such propaganda from parties or organisations which have been declared unconstitutional or have been banned
• drinks and food of any kind, unless the visitor is dependent on them for health reasons or medically indicated; the visitor must provide evidence of the exception
• bottles, cans, plastic canisters and/or other drinking containers
• chairs, seating furniture and seating (e.g. polystyrene cubes)
• film cameras whose capabilities exceed the usual mobile phone cameras or small, straightforward cameras unless expressly allowed beforehand by the organiser; in such cases the person filming must show the written consent of the organiser
• drones and any other unmanned aircraft

Check the full list in the house rules.

Lockers will be available on site. Further information on booking will follow shortly before the event.

There are numerous food stalls and counters available throughout the Westfalenhallen – including vegan and vegetarian options, including pizza, fries, falafel, and crepes. You can find the locations of the food stalls and counters here. Bringing your own food and drinks is not permitted.

Further information coming soon.

Lost items are collected during the event at the Trouble Shooting.

Please contact regarding your lost belongings:

Westfalenhalle GmbH
Central Lost and Found
Strobelallee 45 / 44139 Dortmund
Phone: 0231 - 120 418 90
Opening hours: Tue. 8 AM - 12 PM

Bringing your own cameras and taking photos/videos for private use is allowed.

Any professional or commercial recordings require prior written permission from the organizer.

Visitors should be aware that photo, film, and video recordings may be taken and used publicly.

Partying is fun, but it’s never completely without risk. That’s why it’s important to be aware of potential risks. At www.celebrate-safe.de, you’ll find tips and information for conscious and safe partying.

Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the website to always receive the latest info on MAYDAY.

Here you'll find all the contact options.

You can view the house rules here.

Admission is from 16 years old. Entry is strictly prohibited for anyone under 16.

Free outward & return journey on all VRR public transport: Book your free VRR ticket at kombiticket.mayday.de

With your admission ticket you can use all buses, trams and trains (DB: RE, RB and S-Bahn, each 2nd class) in the VRR Rhine-Ruhr fare zone free of charge. Valid from 30.04. to 01.05.2026, 12 PM. Further information at www.vrr.de and www.bus-und-bahn.de. An overview of the VRR area is available here.

Find more travel information here.

If you are unable to attend the festival yourself, it is not necessary to re-personalise the e-ticket.

Only the combination ticket needs to be re-personalised.
The name on the combination ticket can be changed at kombiticket.mayday.de. Simply enter the ticket number and then click on “Change data”.

Please note: Your pre-loaded cashless credit will be transferred along with your ticket.

Yes, you can book the re-entry function for EUR 5,- on your Cashless wristband:

• Online in the Eventportal
• On site at all TopUp & evening cash desks

Beware: Fake tickets are circulating and can be difficult to distinguish from original ones. Do not buy tickets from online auction platforms or private sellers. All tickets will be checked on-site. Entry will be denied with a counterfeit ticket.

Only purchase tickets through mayday.de or at the box office.

Cashless is safe, fast and easy. It shortens waiting times, you always have an overview of your expenses.

At the entrance you will automatically receive your cashless wristband.

If you have topped up credit in advance, your wristband will be linked to your ticket when it is scanned and you’ll be able to pay cashless right away.

Credit can be topped up from about 2 weeks before the event in the Eventportal.

Topping up credit is possible online continuously and free of charge until the end of the event.

On site, your ticket will be linked with a cashless wristband, so that you can use your pre-loaded credit.

Self TopUp Station: Easily top up your credit yourself – even easier than withdrawing money from an ATM. Payment by debit or credit card.

Cash TopUp Station: Staffed stations where the staff will top up your credit for you. Payment by debit/credit card or in cash.

Online in the app or in the Eventportal: Even during the event, you can top up your credit via the app or online in the Eventportal. The credit will automatically be loaded onto your cashless wristband.

Online via QR code: Scan the QR code on your cashless wristband and top up your credit online.

Note: A fee of €1 applies to each transaction at the Cash TopUp Stations.
All other top-up methods are free of charge.

There is no maximum amount. You can request the refund of your full remaining credit after the event in the Eventportal.

The refund is free of charge.

Important: Lost cashless wristbands will not be replaced!

1. Get your cashless wristband at the entrance.
2. Have you previously topped up your credit online (Pre-TopUp)?
   Then head straight to the bar and order your first drink
3. No credit loaded yet?
   Go to one of the TopUp stations and load money onto your cashless wristband. Or load your credit onto your wristband at any time with your smartphone in the Eventportal.

Yes, you can book the re-entry function for EUR 5,- on your Cashless wristband:

• Online in the Eventportal
• On site at all TopUp & evening cash desks

With the re-entry function you are allowed to leave the festival site and re-enter multiple times. Note that the re-entry function is only valid on the days when your festival or day ticket is also valid.

At any TopUp station, online in the Eventportal, in the wallet of the app and when paying on the devices of the crew.

Yes, you can see how much credit will be deducted when you pay on the devices of the crew.

You can also check your current credit balance at any TopUp station, online in the Eventportal, or in the wallet of the app.

For each drink (except for shots) 2€ will be booked from the cashless wristband as a deposit.

Upon return, the amount will be credited.

Deposit can be returned in the amount in which drinks were bought. In addition, there are five deposit containers as a buffer, so that you can also return the deposit from friends when you get the next round.

Yes, you can generally transfer your ticket. However, note that your credit is always directly linked to the ticket number of your ticket. So if you have already topped up credit, you can transfer your ticket including credit.

Yes, without the cashless wristband you cannot get your remaining balance refunded.

You can request a refund of your remaining balance by entering the data of your cashless wristband in the Eventportal from 04.05.2026 to 17.05.2026.

There is no refund of the remaining balance on site. The refund does not happen automatically!

Note: Where possible, the remaining balance will be refunded using the same payment method that was used to top up the account. If this is not possible (for example, in the case of cash payments made in person), an IBAN must be provided to which the remaining balance can be transferred.
Important: Accounts from Revolut, Trade Republic, and other online banks are sometimes not allowed because they do not allow transfers from third parties.

Compliance with the applicable data protection regulations is a matter of course. No movement profiles are created. Your personal data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to provide services or to process payment and credit transactions and provided that there are no statutory retention obligations to the contrary.

At the Westfalenhallen, you have barrier-free access to all floors. However, the upper tiers of the ARENA can only be reached via stairs.

To the right of the main entrance at the Westfalenhallen, there is a designated entrance for wheelchair users and individuals with mobility impairments. This entrance is clearly marked.

You can prove the following mark:

„B“
You will need a ticket for yourself. Your accompanying person will receive a free ticket if you show your disability ID with the note „B“ at the box office and your companion fills out a form on site.

„GI“
You will receive a 50% discount on the ticket price on site if you present your disability ID with the note „GI“ at the box office and fill out a form.

„BI“
You will receive a 50% discount on the ticket price on site if you present your disability ID with the note „BI“ at the box office and fill out a form.

If your disability ID does not have a "B" mark, but you still need an accompanying person, please write us an email before the festival. We will check your case individually and find a solution together so that you can enjoy the festival relaxed. Contact us at: info@mayday.de

There is a paved parking lot near the Westfalenhallen for people with limited mobility. To gain access, please send an email to info@mayday.de with a picture of your disability ID (with annotation G).

Urgently needed medication can be brought along. For prescription medication, please bring the corresponding doctor's prescription. If medication needs to be kept refrigerated, please send us an email to info@mayday.de in good time head.

Bringing your own food and drinks is generally not allowed. However, if you rely on them for health or medical reasons, please bring the appropriate documentation and present it at the entrance.

In the Westfalenhallen, there are plenty of restrooms available, including barrier-free toilets. The Eurokey locking system ensures that these facilities are reserved exclusively for individuals with physical impairments.

Guide dogs are not allowed at MAYDAY.

There are trained medical staff and an information point on site. If you don't feel comfortable, feel free to talk to them or other employees.