The Meeting of Styles is one of the world’s leading festivals for graffiti and urban art. It has its roots in Wiesbaden: starting in 1997, the Wall Street Meetings held at the Schlachthof evolved into a global network that now includes events in more than forty countries. This year’s festival is themed “Togetherness.”

“Not many cities can claim to have been the birthplace of an international cultural movement. Wiesbaden can. We can be proud of that. What began nearly thirty years ago at the Schlachthof has put our city on the global urban art scene and continues today across multiple continents. The Meeting of Styles is thus not just a festival, but also a piece of Wiesbaden’s city history,” says Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende.

The festival begins at Brückenkopf Kastel, considered one of the largest open-air galleries in the Rhine-Main region between Cologne and Stuttgart. From June 11 to 15, new murals will be created there across an area of approximately 3,000 square meters. Afterward, the Meeting of Styles returns to its historic birthplace, the Schlachthof Wiesbaden, with the “MOS Aftermath” from June 17 to 21. There, lectures, discussions, film screenings, and additional wall art will round out the program.

“Anyone walking through the festival grounds this weekend will encounter artists from four continents. Many of them have been among the defining figures of the urban art scene in their countries for years. The fact that they are working together in Wiesbaden is no coincidence: this is where the roots of the Meeting of Styles lie, and thus an important part of international graffiti history,” says festival founder Manuel Gerullis.

Program highlights include:

• Thursday, June 11, through Monday, June 15: Live painting and a diverse festival program at Brückenkopf Kastel, Reduit
• Saturday, June 13, starting at 4 p.m.: 3x3 Basketball Night at Reduit Kastel. The Open Child and Youth Services department of the Office for Social Work is organizing the tournament together with the Mobile Youth Work Association (Moja) for the first time as part of the Meeting of Styles. Registration by Thursday, June 11 at www.jiz-wiesbaden.de/anmeldungsportal/basketball3x3 (opens in a new tab).
• Wednesday, June 17, 8:15 p.m.: Anniversary screening of the cult graffiti film “Wholetrain” at the Murnau Film Theater, followed by a discussion with director Florian Gaag and participating graffiti artists; more information is available at www.murnau-stiftung.de/filmtheater/kinoprogramm/wholetrain-df (opens in a new tab).
• Friday, June 12: Graffiti workshop for teens in cooperation with the Youth Services Department of the Office of Social Work at the Reduit Children’s and Youth Center. Registration is available through all municipal youth centers.
• Sunday, June 21, 11 a.m.: Art Walk & Talk on the Schlachthof grounds. Together with Manuel Gerullis and the artists, the newly created works will be presented. The tour offers the opportunity to learn about the background of the works, discover more about the development and significance of the Meeting of Styles, and engage directly with the participants. Dr. Patricia Becher, Head of Social Affairs, will also be on site to deliver a brief welcome address.

“The Meeting of Styles demonstrates what art in public spaces can achieve. People stop, strike up conversations with one another, and experience their city in a new way. It is especially important for young people to see that their culture and forms of expression are visible and valued. We need such places of encounter and creativity. That is why the state capital of Wiesbaden has supported this festival for many years,” emphasizes Dr. Becher.

A special milestone is coming up next year: in 2027, the Meeting of Styles will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Wiesbaden. The anniversary will be used to further highlight the festival’s history and its international significance. The Meeting of Styles is looking forward to welcoming additional supporters to help bring the anniversary year to life.

Further information on the entire program is available at meetingofstyles.com (opens in a new tab). The contact person is Manuel Gerullis, info@Buntic-Media.