"BAP" can refer to various things depending on the context. It could be an acronym, a name, or something else entirely. If you provide more context or a specific phrase that includes "BAP," I'd be happy to help with the translation!

For this special occasion, there will be an arena tour through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Such a jubilee deserves to be celebrated.

When talking about BAP, one is discussing German rock history. With their Kölsch lyrics, they have achieved what only a few bands of this magnitude have managed: they brought local cultural heritage to universal relevance, celebrating unprecedented successes far beyond the borders of their hometown Cologne and Germany. The year 2026 will be particularly special for BAP and their massive fan base, as the band, founded in 1976, will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and band founder Wolfgang Niedecken will celebrate his 75th birthday. This is reason enough to return to where Niedecken feels most at home: in his homeland, specifically in the local football stadium, close to his fans. Under the title "Fifty Years of BAP – The Final Stretch," the Cologne rock legend will embark on a major anniversary tour through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in the winter, with 19 dates.

With early hits like "Verdamp lang her," "Kristallnaach," "Müslimän," "Waschsalon," and "Do kanns Zaubere," BAP made music history in the 1980s, irrevocably winning the hearts of their fans and establishing themselves with passion, conviction, and a distinctive sound as an authentic rock institution in the German music scene. Thirteen number-one albums, numerous gold and platinum awards, coveted music prizes, and above all, live performances have brought BAP immense success over five decades. After the sold-out ZEITREISE tour in 2024/25, rock legend Wolfgang Niedecken will once again take the stage with his band next year, embarking on a musical journey through time with the audience to celebrate the vast repertoire from 50 years, including their greatest hits.

Since their formation in the mid-1970s, the band has had a lasting impact on the German rock and pop landscape. Their hits have become anthems for an entire generation and remain highly relevant today. Even now, Niedecken does not shy away from addressing difficult topics or current political events in his profound, poetic, and touching songs. The stories told by the charismatic singer and frontman with his warm, smoky voice are authentic and close to the heart. The BAP sound is a brilliant mix of rock and folk elements. One can feel that Niedecken grew up with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and Bob Dylan.

As a Kölsch boy, where others see dialect as a barrier, he has turned it into a key to the heart with his band. Despite initial criticism of the decision to sing in Kölsch, Niedecken remained true to his regional dialect—the success has proven him right. In the early 1980s, the band went on its first tour of Germany and has repeatedly done so with great resonance in the following decades.

Especially live, the phenomenon of BAP unfolds to this day—50 years later—in all its unique form. It is hardly surprising that the concert for the 50th band anniversary on July 10, 2026, at the Cologne RheinEnergieStadion sold out in a short time. All fans who could not secure a ticket now have the opportunity to experience the band live starting November 27, 2026, as part of their grand anniversary tour "Fifty Years of BAP – The Final Stretch." There will be a total of 19 dates in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, including performances at the Hamburg Barclays Arena, the Stuttgart Porsche Arena, the Munich Olympiahalle, the Berlin Uber Arena, and a "Homecoming" at the Cologne Lanxess Arena.

When asked whether "The Final Stretch" in the tour title might signal the band's farewell from the stage, Wolfgang replies: "For us, the greatest joy is playing the songs live for our long-time loyal fans. Even at my advanced age, it is still incredibly fun. But one must remain realistic: planning such large tours is always a bet on the future. Let's first celebrate our anniversary together. Such a final stretch can sometimes be longer than one thinks, and ours has just begun. Always take it step by step, or else one might stumble."