About Tension
Tension is an electronic music festival from Basel. It started on 31 July 2011 with a night of dancing at «Das Schiff» in Basel’s harbour. Today Tension dances at Gartenbad St. Jakob every summer and at Messehalle Basel in winter.
Tension is organised by Tension GmbH in Münchenstein. One night grew into three days with three stages and nights in Basel’s clubs; in 2025 the winter edition followed.
Editions
Tension Summer
Late July, early August at Gartenbad St. Jakob: days on the lawn and by the pool, nights in Basel’s clubs.
TENSION Winter Festival
Late November at Messehalle Basel: two nights, three floors, from eight till six.
Tension nights have also taken place outside Basel: at Kaufleuten Zurich in 2024 and at Café del Mar in Malta in 2026.
Timeline
- 2026Summer · 15th edition31 July to 2 August, Gartenbad St. Jakob.Monolink, Worakls, Kobosil, Indira Paganotto, Andrea OlivaWinter · 2nd edition27 and 28 November, Messehalle Basel.Bunt., Kevin de Vries, Mathame, Swimming Paul
- 2025Summer · 14th editionThree days, three floors at Gartenbad St. Jakob.Hugel, Nora En Pure, I Hate Models, Elderbrook, MathameWinter · first edition28 and 29 November, Tension moves into Messehalle Basel for the first time.Ben Böhmer (live), Jan Blomqvist Band
- 2024Three days, three stages and camping for the first time.Diplo, Fritz Kalkbrenner, Deborah De Luca, Kölsch
- 202329 and 30 July, nights in Basel’s clubs.Adriatique, Stephan Bodzin, Hugel, Nora En Pure
- 202230 and 31 July.Marco Carola, Nina Kraviz, Ben Klock, Ben Böhmer
- 2021Two days for the first time to mark ten years, under Covid rules.Sven Väth, Loco Dice, Stephan Bodzin
- 2020Cancelled because of the pandemic.
- 2019Two open-air stages at the Gartenbad, three Basel clubs at night.Loco Dice, Marcel Dettmann, Sam Paganini, ARTBAT
- 2018Two open-air stages for the first time.Jamie Jones, Charlotte de Witte, Len Faki, Boris Brejcha
- 2017Days at the Gartenbad, nights at Viertel and Borderline.Richie Hawtin, Fritz Kalkbrenner, Chris Liebing
- 2016First year at Gartenbad St. Jakob.Sven Väth, Dixon, Anja Schneider
- 20155th edition, open air on the St. Jakob grounds.Nina Kraviz, Claptone, Butch
- 2014Open air on the St. Jakob grounds, nights at Nordstern.Sven Väth, Âme, Oliver Koletzki
- 2013Das Schiff closes and Tension moves to an open air next to St. Jakobshalle.Fritz Kalkbrenner, Dubfire, Len Faki, Adriatique
- 2012Seven floors at Das Schiff, Cirquit and Borderline, for 24 hours.Umek, Monika Kruse, Len Faki, Maceo Plex
- 2011First edition on 31 July: a night of dancing at the club «Das Schiff» in Basel’s harbour and at Borderline.Fritz Kalkbrenner, Ellen Allien, Dubfire
Press and partners
For press enquiries, accreditation and partnerships, use the contact form or write to info@tension-festival.ch.