Events and festivals in Saxony-Anhalt this weekend, September 5-6, 2026: Havelberg's historic horse market draws around 200,000 visitors, Dessau opens its Bauhausfest for the movement's 100th anniversary, and NENA performs in Magdeburg.
Four days along the Havel. Havelberg becomes one of Saxony-Anhalt's largest gatherings from September 3 to 6, 2026. Around 200,000 visitors come for the historic horse market, while Dessau opens its Bauhausfest and NENA performs in Magdeburg.
Horse trading, a fair and a giant flea market on the Havel
The Havelberg horse market dates back to the 18th century and ranks among the oldest fixtures on Saxony-Anhalt's festival calendar, and from September 3 to 6, 2026, the small Hanseatic town in the Altmark turns into a mix of historic street festival, horse trading, giant flea market and funfair.
For four days, the town turns upside down. The peak traditionally falls on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Around 200,000 visitors are expected over the four days in the Hanseatic town, spread across horse trading, flea-market stalls and fairground rides through the streets of the old town, while traders from across the region bring their horses and the flea market stretches over several streets.
Carousels belong to the fair just as much. Horses change hands between the stalls while onlookers watch, and along the paths the smell of roasted almonds and candy floss drifts, as it does at any fair. Families move from stall to stall.
Havelberg itself ranks among the smaller Hanseatic towns of the Altmark, yet for four days the town becomes one of the busiest spots in the state, with a crowd far beyond its usual size.
Stages, anniversaries and a vintage rally in one weekend
In Magdeburg, pop icon NENA takes the MDCC park stage in the Elbauenpark with over 40 years of hits, and possibly new songs from the studio, while Wernigerode hosts the MDR Harz Open Air with The BossHoss, Marquess and Georgi Gogow in front of several thousand spectators in the Bürgerpark. It is hosted by Susi Brandt and Lars Wohlfarth. On Peißnitz island in Halle, the Weckt die Toten Festival turns the stage into a blend of medieval rock, industrial metal and Nordic folk, curated by In Extremo and running its second edition after a sold-out debut in 2025. A children's programme and regional support acts round out the weekend.
Under the motto "Salto | Takt | Form," Dessau marks the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus with the Bauhausfest, three days of dance, circus, performance and visual art at the Bauhaus building, the Bauhaus Museum and across the city. In Oschersleben, it's all about engines. At the Asia Arena, Germany's largest scene for Japanese and Korean car culture gathers, with drift and tuning shows, a cosplay contest, a show-and-shine, drift demos on the Kamikaze square, live acts and its own festival camping. Goseck sounds entirely different. There, Unique Place Open Air plays house and techno in front of a 7,000-year-old Neolithic site, its 5th edition running from 3pm to 1am on September 5, with past guests including Robag Wruhme and Steve Bug.
In the Burgwerben castle park, it's all about wine. The Burgwerbener Weinfest crowns its new wine princess, with Saale-Unstrut wine, a torchlight procession and a family brunch, organised by the Burgwerben/Kriechau winegrowers' community on the first weekend of September in the historic castle park. It's a different scene entirely in Loitzschütz. There, the Dreschfest has run its notorious Trabant rally since 1991, a fixture on the folk and cultural festival calendar of the Zeitz region, restricted since 1993 to original two-stroke cars from the GDR era, alongside a harvest festival, a marquee, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and fireworks.