James Brown, funk and soul

James Brown tribute tour brings his funk to Germany in 2026

Published on 08/26/2026 at 06:57 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

James Brown’s music returns to German stages in 2026 as The James Brown Experience tribute tour hits Bayreuth on September 26 and Frankfurt on October 24 with full-band funk sets.

E-Gitarre mit Blick entlang des Halses zur Kopfplatte vor schwarzem Hintergrund
Perspektivische Eleganz: Der Blick gleitet entlang des Griffbretts zur Kopfplatte, während der dunkle Hintergrund alles rahmt., Illustration mit AI erstellt.

James Brown may have left the stage for good in 2006, but his music is set to shake German venues again in 2026. According to the official tour dates for The James Brown Experience, the tribute production has confirmed shows in Bayreuth and Frankfurt with tickets already on sale via venue and tour listings. Official tour dates for The James Brown Experience

Tribute tour dates in Germany and Europe

The James Brown Experience – A Tribute to the King of Funk is currently routing a European run that places Germany prominently on the map. The tour page lists Friedrichsforum in Bayreuth for September 26, 2026 and Century Hall Club at CLUB myticket Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt am Main for October 24, 2026 as key German stops, both clearly advertised as tribute concerts. Frankfurt-Tipp event listing

German anchor within a wider European route

Before the German shows, the route heads to Zomerterras in Rotterdam on August 22, 2026 and The Wardrobe in Leeds on September 10, 2026, giving Dutch and UK audiences an early taste of the band’s James Brown-focused set. The official tour overview then shows Stadttheater Wels in Austria on October 23, 2026 and Paard in The Hague on December 27, 2026, followed by a dense January 2027 run through Dutch cities including Groningen, Leeuwarden, Tilburg and Arnhem. Official tour overview

More to read

Tour, charts and legacy of James Brown in overview

Fans who want to dig deeper into James Brown’s catalog and current tribute shows can find further coverage and context on our site and via official tour information.

Where the act stands now

James Brown himself died on December 25, 2006 in Atlanta, so all 2026 shows are tribute productions that honor his repertoire with live bands rather than appearances by the original artist. The next confirmed German live date connected to his music is The James Brown Experience at Friedrichsforum in Bayreuth on September 26, 2026.

The musical core of James Brown’s catalog

James Brown’s legacy that fuels these shows is rooted in funk and soul staples such as Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, I Got You (I Feel Good) and The Payback, songs that reshaped rhythm sections in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Compilation releases like 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! have kept this material accessible and have even reached Platinum status in the United States, underlining the enduring demand for his work.

James Brown at a glance

  • Act: James Brown
  • Genre: Funk, soul, rhythm and blues
  • Origin: Barnwell, South Carolina, United States
  • Active since: Early 1950s (career as singer and bandleader)
  • Lineup: Solo artist, supported historically by bands such as The Famous Flames and The J.B.'s; current live shows are tribute productions like The James Brown Experience
  • Label: Historically King Records and Polydor; catalog now managed by later rights holders and reissue labels
  • Key works: Live at the Apollo (1963), Sex Machine (1970), The Payback (1973), 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (1991)
  • Current album/single: No new posthumous studio release announced; catalog remains active through compilations and remasters
  • Charts / certifications: 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! certified Platinum by the RIAA in the United States, and singles such as I Got You (I Feel Good) reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 during Brown’s lifetime.
  • Next live date: September 26, 2026 – The James Brown Experience (tribute show) at Friedrichsforum, Bayreuth, Germany

Frequently asked questions about James Brown

Is James Brown himself performing in Germany in 2026?
No. James Brown died in 2006, so the 2026 German concerts at Friedrichsforum Bayreuth and CLUB myticket Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt are tribute shows such as The James Brown Experience that celebrate his music with a live band.

When and where can fans in Germany see a James Brown tribute show in 2026?
The James Brown Experience is scheduled for Bayreuth’s Friedrichsforum on September 26, 2026 and for Century Hall Club at CLUB myticket Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt am Main on October 24, 2026, as stated on the tour dates page and local event listings.

Which classic songs by James Brown are typically featured in tribute setlists?
Tribute productions usually focus on funk landmarks such as Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, I Got You (I Feel Good), Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag and The Payback, reflecting the period from roughly 1964 to 1973 that defined him as the “Godfather of Soul.”

More on James Brown via streaming and social

This article was created with AI assistance and editorially checked. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice; correction notes can be sent via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.

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