Two very different worlds, one weekend
Events in Lower Saxony on August 8-9, 2026 range from gothic bass on a former airfield in Hildesheim to knights in armour on a manor near Stolzenau. Anyone driving across the state this second weekend of August will find music, medieval markets, wine and unusual sports packed close together. Our pick for the weekend: the double bill of M'era Luna and the Mythodea LARP camp, two very different crowds proving how big niche audiences have grown in Lower Saxony. Which camp is actually bigger this year – the black-clad one at Drispenstedt airfield, or the armoured one at Rittergut Brokeloh?
M'era Luna Festival – Hildesheim
Since its 2000 debut, M'era Luna has grown into one of the world's biggest gothic and dark-music festivals. On August 8 and 9, 2026, around 25,000 fans gather at Drispenstedt airfield for a line-up spanning gothic, metal, dark electro, medieval rock and synth-pop across two stages. Camping is available on site, and special trains run from Hannover for the weekend.
ConQuest of Mythodea and Fantastica Festival – Stolzenau
At Rittergut Brokeloh near Stolzenau, around 10,000 live-action role-players camp out from August 5 to 9 for ConQuest of Mythodea, reportedly the world's largest LARP event. The main camp stays closed to registered players, but the parallel Fantastica Festival, running August 6-8, opens the medieval market to everyone, traders, craftspeople and jesters included.
Lüneburg Culture Summer
Eight open-air concerts run on Lüneburg's Sülzwiesen through August 9, drawing up to 4,000 spectators a night. This weekend's line-up brings Ronan Keating (Aug 7), Gregor Meyle and Sophia (Aug 8) and Dick Brave (Aug 9) to the stage, pop, soul and rock back to back, a short walk from Lüneburg's old town.
Goslar-Harz International Music Festival
The 24th edition of this classical and jazz festival opens on 08.08.2026 and runs through August 23 across the UNESCO World Heritage town of Goslar and the surrounding Harz region. The opening weekend centres on Till Brönner and other top ensembles, mixing symphonic works with chamber concerts in historic venues.
Salzgitter Culture Summer – Apocalyptica Open Air
Finnish cellists Apocalyptica play the Schlosshof Salder on 08.08.2026 as part of the Salzgitter Culture Summer. What began as a Metallica cover band from Helsinki has become its own genre, blending classical string virtuosity with uncompromising metal. The castle courtyard has hosted the region's most renowned open-air series since 1998.
50th Jever Old Town Festival
The town of Jever marks the 50th anniversary of its Altstadtfest from August 7 to 9. Six stages, a Ferris wheel, funfair rides and the returning club fair on Wangerstraße turn the Alter Markt into a three-day street festival, opening Friday evening.
Uelzen Town Festival
Held only once every two years, Uelzen's town festival takes over the entire old town from August 7 to 9, 2026. Three stages, at the old town hall, Herzogenplatz and DJPlace on Gudesstraße, spread more than 15 music acts across the Hanseatic town. Miss this one and the next edition isn't until 2028.
Peine Wine Festival
From August 7 to 9, Peine's historic market square turns Mediterranean as winegrowers from twin town Asselheim-Grünstadt in the Palatinate pour their wines at the Peiner Weinfest, alongside food stalls and live music. The decades-old town partnership keeps the tradition going every summer.
Kurzweyl und Gaukeley Medieval Festival – Duderstadt
Around one of Germany's oldest timber-framed town halls, Duderstadt turns medieval on August 8 and 9. Traders, craftspeople and jesters set up stalls across the town hall square and Marktstraße, with blacksmith demonstrations, archery and street performers filling the historic centre for two days.
Duhner Wattrennen – Cuxhaven
A genuine oddity: on Sunday, 9.8.26, horses race trot and gallop directly across the exposed Wadden Sea mudflats near Duhnen. The Duhner Wattrennen runs from 10am to 9pm, with the first race around 1:30pm over distances of 1,400 to 2,500 metres.
ParkArt Craft Market – Schloss Clemenswerth
In the baroque grounds of Schloss Clemenswerth in Sögel, around 60 artists from Germany and the Netherlands show painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass and photography on the weekend of August 8-9. ParkArt is one of the Emsland's most respected art markets, set against one of northern Germany's finest baroque palaces.
Also worth a look
- Schützenfest Ahnsbeck (Celle district): the district's longest marksmen's festival, running two weekends from August 7 to 16 – details.
- Kurhausfest Bad Bevensen: two festival days marking the spa house's 10th anniversary on August 8-9 – programme.
- RallyX Championship Finale in Buxtehude: over 120 drivers from 16 nations decide the rallycross season finale on August 8-9 – more.
More events across Lower Saxony
From marksmen's festivals in the Weser marshes to spa concerts on the East Frisian islands, this weekend offers far more than fits in one list. The full weekend overview for Lower Saxony is updated continuously.
