From 12 to 21 June 2026, Fulda hosted the 63rd Hessentag. Around 1.1 million visitors experienced ten days of concerts, encounters and events across the city. Behind the state festival was a highly complex planning and coordination task with demanding requirements in infrastructure, safety, logistics and operational management.

POOLgroup supported the City of Fulda throughout the entire process – from concept development and specialist planning to tendering, coordination and implementation during set-up, the event itself and dismantling.

An event of this scale should feel effortless for visitors: routes need to work, information needs to reach the right people, infrastructure and supply systems need to function reliably, and safety measures need to work seamlessly together.

This required numerous event areas, existing urban structures and temporary solutions to be combined into one functioning overall system. Infrastructure and safety were not treated as separate disciplines, but planned as closely interconnected elements from the outset.

The Hessentag took place in the middle of a fully functioning city. Different event areas, high visitor volumes, existing transport and supply infrastructure and a large number of participating organisations had to be coordinated continuously.

At the same time, the scale of the festival required comprehensive safety planning. Visitor flows, access and escape routes, evacuation, noise control, emergency management, communication channels and technical safety measures all had to be assessed at an early stage, planned in detail and continually adapted throughout the project.

The infrastructure planning was based on accurately scaled CAD site, detail and master plans. These brought together event zones, structures, access and escape routes, technical infrastructure and safety and emergency measures in one continuously updated planning framework.

In parallel, POOLgroup planned and coordinated the energy, water and wastewater supply, temporary infrastructure, production and storage areas and certified vehicle barriers. This was complemented by digital radio communication, IT and network planning, visitor and pedestrian guidance systems, as well as concepts for waste prevention, disposal, sanitation and cleaning.

A second key focus was specialist safety planning. Hazard and risk assessments formed the basis for safety, evacuation, noise control and crisis and emergency concepts. Approval procedures, safety-related trades and coordination with the city administration, police, fire brigade, medical services and other emergency organisations were closely supported throughout the project.

During the event itself, POOLgroup also provided the event management and deputy event management. Consultancy on security and accreditation, project management and tender management, as well as graphic and design services for the “Treffpunkt Hessen” area at Konzepthaus Karl, completed the scope of services.

What was highly complex behind the scenes needed to feel simple and intuitive for visitors.

Wayfinding, supply systems, safety structures and organisational processes worked together across all ten event days. This created the framework in which around 1.1 million people could experience Fulda as a host city, attend events and move safely throughout the festival.

Much of the work itself remained invisible. That was part of its success.

With around 1.1 million visitors, the Hessentag exceeded the visitor target set by the City of Fulda. The city reported an overall positive outcome, while the police, fire brigade and medical services also assessed the event positively.

For POOLgroup, Hessentag 2026 demonstrates what major public events require: robust concepts, precise specialist planning, clearly defined interfaces and management structures that remain reliable even under highly complex conditions.

Because a major event does not begin with the first item on the programme. It begins long before, with planning, coordination and a structure that can carry the whole event.