1150 Years Sömmerda City Anniversary

Sömmerda — 1150 Years of City History

Sömmerda is a small district town in the Sömmerda district in the state of Thuringia, located on the middle reaches of the Unstrut river. The town was first documented in 876 — and in 2026, Sömmerda will celebrate its 1150th anniversary with a grand festival week. Historically, the town is significant as the place of work for Nikolaus Dreyse (1787–1867), the inventor of the needle gun — the town's industry shaped its appearance from the 19th century onwards. Today, around 19,000 people live in Sömmerda.

Week-long Festival Week May 18–24, 2026

The festival week spans seven days and combines cultural events, exhibitions, and social gatherings. Seven venues will be used: Obermarkt as the central stage, Stadtpark for concerts, Uferterrassen on the Unstrut river, Anger for the historical market, Rohrhammerplatz, Dreyse-Haus as a historical museum, and the Rathaus with special exhibitions.

Festival Weekend May 22–24 — Glasperlenspiel and Samu

The highlight of the festival week is the festival weekend from May 22nd to 24th. On the main stage, Glasperlenspiel (electropop duo Carolin Niemczyk/Daniel Grunenberg) and Samu will perform — both well-known acts on the German pop scene. In parallel, there will be a historical market area with craftspeople in traditional costume, a large parade will march through the city center, and museum exhibitions will offer insights into the 1150-year history.

Free Shuttle Bus and District Festivals

A free shuttle bus will connect all districts with the city center during the festival weekend — also to Buttstädt, Rastenberg, and Weißensee. In parallel, anniversary celebrations will take place in the districts of Frohndorf and Wenigensömmern. Citizens and associations can submit their own ideas by the festival day at [email protected].