Bonnie Tyler will not perform in Bad Hofgastein: the Summer:Sounds programme has changed
The concert originally announced with Bonnie Tyler and NENA at the Alpenarena Bad Hofgastein will not take place with that line-up. Bonnie Tyler cancelled her summer performances, and the organisers have booked Chris Norman for the Summer:Sounds Gastein - 80s Edition evening. The current programme therefore features NENA as the headliner, Chris Norman as the evening's second main act and Sharron Levy in the opening part of the programme.
This is the most important information for everyone who bought tickets because of Bonnie Tyler: she will not perform. Previously purchased tickets remain valid for the revised programme. The concert will still take place at the Alpenarena, an outdoor venue in the centre of Bad Hofgastein.
Tickets for this event are currently on sale.
Why the original announcement featuring Bonnie Tyler attracted so much attention
For decades, Bonnie Tyler was one of the most recognisable rock-pop singers from the United Kingdom. Her raspy, powerful voice is easily recognisable from the opening bars of songs such as "It's a Heartache", "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero". These recordings combine dramatic ballads, guitar-driven rock, pop choruses and large-scale production that particularly defined the 1980s.
Her most recent full studio album, "The Best Is Yet to Come", was released in 2021, while the song "One World One Home", connected with the documentary film "Homeless", was presented in April 2026. The "Jubilee" tour had also been announced for 2026 and was conceived as a celebration of 50 years of her career.
Following the cancellation of her summer performances, Bonnie Tyler's family and team announced on 9 July 2026 that the singer had died the previous evening in a hospital in Portugal. Visitors should therefore disregard old advertisements and schedules that still list her as a performer in Bad Hofgastein. The current evening is not a Bonnie Tyler concert, but a revised edition of Summer:Sounds featuring NENA, Chris Norman and Sharron Levy.
NENA leads the evening with songs that shaped European pop
NENA returns to Bad Hofgastein after performing at the first Summer Open Air in 2016. This return carries additional significance because 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the summer concert series. Her performance has been announced as featuring her greatest hits and the current tour programme, but a complete set list has not been published.
The audience can reasonably expect the performance to rely on songs such as "99 Luftballons", "Leuchtturm" and "Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann". These are compositions that combine new wave, pop-rock and melodies that easily lend themselves to collective singing. "99 Luftballons" remains her most internationally recognisable song, while "Leuchtturm" and "Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann" strongly represent the German-language part of her catalogue.
Her songs are known by long-time fans as well as younger listeners through radio rotation, cover versions and the return of 1980s music in films, television series and festival programmes. A mixed audience can therefore be expected at the Alpenarena, drawn by nostalgia, German-language pop and the summer open-air format.
Chris Norman brings Smokie classics and a current chapter of his career
Chris Norman was added to the programme following Bonnie Tyler's cancellation. His voice is associated with the band Smokie and songs such as "Living Next Door to Alice", "I'll Meet You at Midnight" and "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone". His solo career was marked by titles such as "Midnight Lady", while the duet "Stumblin' In" with Suzi Quatro remains one of the best-known pop-rock duets of the late 1970s.
The exact order of songs for his performance in Bad Hofgastein has not been confirmed. It is realistic to expect a combination of his recognisable catalogue and more recent material, but individual titles should not be treated as guaranteed parts of the programme.
In 2026, Norman is not performing merely as an artist relying on old hits. The album "Lifelines" was released on 13 March 2026, following the single of the same name, while his cover version of the song "Run" was also presented in February. This gives the current performance a broader context: the audience may receive an overview of the Smokie era, his solo career and his new studio cycle.
Musically, his part of the evening should be softer and more oriented towards melodic pop-rock than the dramatic style for which Bonnie Tyler was known. The change of performer does not create the same concert image as the original announcement, but it retains a connection with international hits from the 1970s and 1980s.
Sharron Levy opens the programme
Sharron Levy has been announced as the opening act. She is a singer-songwriter and rock-pop singer who has collaborated with NENA during her career and performed as a support act for Bonnie Tyler. Her performance provides the evening with a link between the originally announced programme and the current line-up.
The start time of her set, the duration of the performance and the repertoire have not been published separately. Visitors who want to hear her should arrive before the beginning of the main part of the programme, rather than only shortly before NENA or Chris Norman take the stage.
What the concert venue at the Alpenarena is like
The Alpenarena is located at Kurpromenade 2 - 4 in Bad Hofgastein. It is an outdoor venue in the town centre, in a valley surrounded by mountains. This gives the concert a different atmosphere from an indoor hall: the audience is exposed to the evening temperature, wind and possible weather changes, while the stage blends into the Alpine surroundings.
The open-air format suits a repertoire with powerful choruses. During songs such as "99 Luftballons", "Living Next Door to Alice" or "Midnight Lady", the audience's reaction becomes an important part of the experience, rather than only what happens on stage. A mountain evening may bring a pleasant temperature after a warm day, but also a rapid change in conditions, so clothing should be suitable for spending time outdoors.
The capacity for this concert configuration, special production elements, the duration of individual performances, breaks and the finishing time have not been confirmed. These details should therefore not be assumed on the basis of previous concerts.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
Key information for visitors
- Venue: Alpenarena, Kurpromenade 2 - 4, Bad Hofgastein, Austria.
- Date: 1 August 2026.
- Admission: from 17:30.
- Programme start: the events calendar lists 18:15, while some announcements still display 18:30. Arriving before 18:00 reduces the risk of missing the opening performance.
- Current performers: NENA, Chris Norman and Sharron Levy.
- Bonnie Tyler will not perform.
- Previously purchased tickets remain valid for the revised programme.
- The concert is outdoors, so visitors should check the weather forecast and the latest information from the organisers before setting off.
Arrival by train and local bus
Bad Hofgastein has a railway station on the line running through the Gastein Valley. The station is not directly beside the Alpenarena, but bus line 558 connects the station with the town centre approximately once an hour. For visitors arriving from other cities, this may be a more practical option than driving into the centre itself, particularly during increased traffic before the concert.
During the summer, regional bus line 550 connects Dorfgastein, Bad Hofgastein, Bad Gastein and Sportgastein. Published information lists departures every 15 minutes on the main section of the route. This is useful for visitors staying overnight in another town within the valley.
Guests staying in registered accommodation may receive a Guest Mobility Ticket for public transport. The ticket is issued through the accommodation provider in digital or printed form, and its area of validity should be checked before travelling.
For the evening return journey, it is not sufficient to rely on the daytime frequency of the buses. The timetable after the concert may be less frequent, so the final connection should be checked in advance. This is particularly important for accommodation outside Bad Hofgastein.
Arrival by car and parking
Visitors should not expect an unlimited number of parking spaces beside the venue in the immediate town centre. Published options in Bad Hofgastein include the car park at the railway station, the car park at Schlossalmbahn and the car park at Alpentherme. The car parks at the station and Schlossalmbahn are listed as free of charge, while parking at Alpentherme is subject to a fee.
These car parks are not presented as being reserved exclusively for the concert, so availability is not guaranteed. A sensible plan is to arrive early, allow enough time for walking or local transport and avoid attempting to drive directly to the entrance immediately before the start.
Overnight parking and camping are not permitted in the Schlossalmbahn car park. Visitors travelling in a camper van should find an authorised location in advance rather than using the concert car park as a substitute for a campsite.
What to bring to a summer open-air concert
An evening in an Alpine valley can be considerably cooler than the afternoon. A light jacket or layered clothing is more practical than relying on the daytime temperature. In unstable weather, rain protection that does not inconvenience other visitors may be useful.
Rules concerning bags, bottles, food, umbrellas and other items have not been specified in detail in the available information. The latest instructions from the organisers should therefore be checked before departure. Visitors should have their ticket ready at the entrance, as well as an identification document if it is required for a particular type of ticket.
Because the programme has changed, it is useful to save the current event confirmation rather than relying on an old announcement bearing Bonnie Tyler's name. People who purchased a ticket before the line-up change should check the messages connected with their purchase and the conditions applicable to their order.
Who will find the current programme most appealing
Summer:Sounds Gastein - 80s Edition is now primarily an evening for an audience wanting to hear recognisable European and British pop-rock songs from the 1970s and 1980s. NENA brings more energetic German-language pop and new wave, while Chris Norman represents melodic rock, the Smokie catalogue and solo ballads. Sharron Levy opens the evening with a more contemporary singer-songwriter and rock-pop approach.
Long-time Bonnie Tyler fans must be aware that her repertoire has not been confirmed as part of the programme and that she will not be on stage. Visitors more interested in the broader concept of 1980s music will get two performers with extensive catalogues and a clear connection to that era.
The concert is also suitable for travellers who want to combine a musical evening with a stay in an Alpine spa town. Bad Hofgastein is known for its thermal facilities, promenades and access to mountain excursions, so the visit can be organised as a day trip or a shorter stay in the valley.
Planning the evening without unnecessary haste
The simplest plan is to arrive in Bad Hofgastein during the afternoon, check the location of the Alpenarena and then return to the entrance before 18:00. This leaves enough time for the security check, finding a place and Sharron Levy's opening performance.
Visitors arriving by train should coordinate their arrival with bus 558, while those staying within the valley can use the regional bus connections. Drivers should select a car park before entering the centre and allow for walking.
The precise schedule of the individual performers, the duration of the concert and any possible interval have not been confirmed. A backup plan should therefore be made for the return journey by public transport, particularly if the final connection departs before the end of the programme.
It is worth securing tickets for the current programme in good time, while clearly checking that the purchase relates to NENA, Chris Norman and Sharron Levy, and not to an outdated announcement featuring Bonnie Tyler.
Sources:
- Gastein.com - current line-up, the change following Bonnie Tyler's cancellation, the validity of previously purchased tickets, the venue, admission and information about the start of the programme.
- Gasteinertal Tourismus Presse - confirmation that Chris Norman replaced Bonnie Tyler and that the concert will take place with NENA.
- Bonnie Tyler - biography, discography, the song "One World One Home", the "Jubilee" tour and the announcement by the singer's family and team regarding her death.
- NENA - performance schedule for 2026 and information about the songs "99 Luftballons", "Leuchtturm" and "Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann".
- Chris Norman - biography, Smokie and solo catalogue, the album "Lifelines" and the single "Run".
- Gastein.com mobility - railway station, bus lines 558 and 550, the Guest Mobility Ticket and information about car parks.