Name: 1150 Years Kahla — Festival Week for the City Anniversary 2026
Start: 2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-07T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Innenstadt und Marktplatz Kahla

1150 Years Kahla

About 1150 Years Kahla

For a whole week, from June 1st to 7th, 2026, Kahla in the Saale-Holzland district (Thuringia) will celebrate its 1150th city anniversary. The focus is on a varied program for all age groups: open-air events, concerts and activities in the city center, a children's day, a seniors' afternoon, a cinema evening, and a festive weekend with a market square atmosphere. The highlight is the grand parade on Sunday, in which clubs, groups, companies, and citizens will participate.

Dates 01 Jun — 07 Jun 2026

Venue Kahla (16074)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

1150 Years Kahla — edition 2026

The festival week for the 1150th city anniversary spans the entire city center of Kahla from June 1st to 7th, 2026. Each day has a different focus — from Children's Day to Seniors' Afternoon to Cinema Evening — culminating in a festival weekend around the market square and a grand historical parade on Sunday.

Festival Week Program

Monday, June 1 — Children's Day

Kick-off of the festival week with games, hands-on activities, and stage program for children and families in the city center.

Tuesday, June 2 — Seniors' Day

Afternoon program with music, coffee, and cake for Kahla's older generation.

Wednesday, June 3 — Cinema Evening

Open-air film evening in the city — films related to the history of Kahla and Thuringia will be shown.

Thursday and Friday, June 4–5

Concerts, readings, and club evenings in churches, courtyards, and halls of the city center.

Saturday, June 6 — Festival Weekend

Stage program on the market square, culinary stalls, and merchandise sales at the jubilee stand (1 PM–6 PM).

Sunday, June 7 — Grand Parade

Grand parade through the city center with clubs, groups, companies, and citizens. Historical images, music, costumes, and floats bring 1150 years of city history to life. Followed by a festive church service and closing on the market square.

Note: The complete program with times will be published from April 2026 on kahla.de.

Highlights 1150 Years Kahla 2026

Grand historical parade on Sunday, June 7, 2026
Festival weekend with stage and market square atmosphere June 6–7
Themed days for children, seniors, and cinema enthusiasts
Reading with Bodo Ramelow in the pre-program

Programme 1150 Years Kahla 2026

Daily Program of the Festival Week

Mon 1.6. — Children's Day in the city center
Tue 2.6. — Seniors' Afternoon with music
Wed 3.6. — Cinema Evening (Open-Air)
Thu 4.6. / Fri 5.6. — Concerts, readings, club evenings
Sat 6.6. — Festival Weekend: Stage Market Square, Gastronomy, Merchandise 1 PM–6 PM
Sun 7.6. — Grand Parade through the city center + Festive Church Service

Accompanying events in the anniversary year (selection): Reading with Bodo Ramelow on April 28th, Biergarten opening on May 1st, Evening Music in St. Nikolaus on May 16th, Dance Party Rosengarten on May 23rd, Concert Brassband VIELklang on June 28th, Market Festival on October 3rd.

Prices 1150 Years Kahla 2026

Free admission to most events. Individual concerts and readings require tickets — details in the annual program of the City of Kahla.

Practical information

Practical information — 1150 Years Kahla

Getting There

Kahla is located on the Saalfeld–Jena–Naumburg railway line; regional trains stop directly at Kahla (Thür) station. Accessible by car via the federal highway B88 (Jena–Saalfeld). It's about a 15-minute drive south from the A4 motorway (Jena-Göschwitz exit).

Admission

Admission to most festival week events is free. Individual concerts may require separate tickets.

Tip

Combine your visit with a hike to the Leuchtenburg above Kahla — the castle with the famous "Steg der Wünsche" (Bridge of Wishes) and its porcelain worlds.

A City Celebrates 1150 Years of History

Kahla was first mentioned in a document in the year 876 — reason enough for the small town in the Saale-Holzland district to give itself a festival year in 2026. Throughout the year, concerts, readings, exhibitions, and club festivals recall the eventful history of the former porcelain town at the foot of the Leuchtenburg. The highlight is the festival week from June 1st to 7th, 2026, during which Kahla's historic old town will become the festival grounds.

A Week Full of Events

The festival week is structured thematically: each day is dedicated to different generations and interests. The city center gradually transforms into an open stage where schools, clubs, choirs, and music groups from the Saale-Holzland region showcase what Kahla represents today. Expected highlights include:

Children's Day with hands-on activities, games, and performances
Seniors' Afternoon with musical accompaniment
Cinema Evening under the open sky
Concerts and musical programs in courtyards and churches
City and market strolls with regional exhibitors

Festival Weekend and Grand Parade

On the weekend of June 6th and 7th, 2026, the anniversary will reach its peak. The market square will feature a stage program, food stalls, and a jubilee stand with merchandise from 1 PM to 6 PM. On Sunday, the grand parade will march through the city center: clubs, groups, companies, and dedicated citizens will bring 1150 years of city history to life with images, costumes, music, and floats.

Kahla in the Saale-Holzland

Kahla is nestled between the slopes of the Saale valley and the Leuchtenburg rock. The town looks back on a long tradition as a market and porcelain town. The 2026 city anniversary celebrates this identity: it honors the craftsmanship, club life, and cultural diversity of Thuringia — and invites visitors to experience Kahla's history up close for a weekend.