43rd Westphalian Hanseatic Day Hamm

The Hanse Lives — Hamm in the Anniversary Year of 800 Years

Hamm is celebrating its 800th city anniversary in 2026. The 43rd Westphalian Hanseatic Day is strategically placed within this anniversary celebration — the annual gathering of the Westphalian Hanseatic League, an association of around 40 historical Hanseatic cities in the Westphalian region. The event is organized by the City of Hamm in cooperation with the Westphalian Hanseatic League. For two days, the Hamm city center will transform into an open-air forum of markets, stages, children's programs, and a mobility day.

When: Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, 2026

The festive weekend lasts two days:

• Saturday, April 11, 2026: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Market and stage program, evening concert from 8:00 PM
• Sunday, April 12, 2026: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Mobility Day with extended Sunday shopping hours, market, and family program

Hanse Market on Santa-Monica-Platz

The heart of the Hanseatic Day is the Hanse Market on Santa-Monica-Platz in the Hamm city center. Over 30 Westphalian Hanseatic cities will be represented with their own stands: Soest, Lippstadt, Dortmund, Münster, Paderborn, Werl, Warendorf, and many more. Each city will present regional specialties, tourism information, artisanal products, and its Hanseatic tradition. Those who want to discover Westphalian Pumpernickel, Lippstädter salmon, or Soester beer will have a rare opportunity here.

Münchener Freiheit on Saturday Evening

The musical highlight is the concert by Münchener Freiheit on Saturday evening starting at 8:00 PM on the main stage. The 80s pop band from Munich will bring their hits live to the Hamm city center — including classics like Ohne dich (schlaf ich heut Nacht nicht ein) and Verlieben, verloren, vergessen, verzeihn. Free admission, open-air in front of the historic Pauluskirche.

Children's Paradise on Martin-Luther-Platz

The Children's Paradise on Martin-Luther-Platz is specially set up for families:

• Bouncy castles and play stations
• Craft activities and face painting
• Graffiti workshops for teenagers
• Participatory concerts and sing-along songs
• Historical costumes and dress-up stations
• Activities related to the 800th anniversary of Hamm

The neighboring Gustav-Lübcke-Museum complements the offerings with fairy tale tours, craft activities, and historical reenactments.

Sunday — Mobility Day and Extended Shopping Hours

Sunday is transformed into a Mobility Day: car, bicycle, and public transport exhibitors will present future mobility concepts. Simultaneously, the Hamm city center will open for extended Sunday shopping (1:00 PM–6:00 PM). Those who missed the Hanse Market on Saturday can explore it in a more relaxed atmosphere on Sunday.

800 Years of Hamm

Hamm is celebrating its 800th city anniversary in 2026 — the city was founded in 1226 by Count Adolf I of the Mark. A series of events accompanies the anniversary year: historical city tours, special exhibitions at the Gustav-Lübcke-Museum, ceremonies, concerts. The Westphalian Hanseatic Day fits seamlessly into this program — Hamm's Hanseatic tradition dates back to the 14th century when the city was a member of the Hanseatic League and profited from trade on the Lippe River.

Westphalian Hanseatic League — The Regional Remembrance of History

The Westphalian Hanseatic League is an association of cities that brings together the historical Westphalian Hanseatic cities today for cultural and tourism purposes. Each year, a member city hosts the Hanseatic Day — in 2026, it's Hamm's turn. Previous host cities: Soest, Lippstadt, Werl, Brilon, Münster, Paderborn. Following the tradition of moving the event, the Hanseatic Day travels to a different city each year, promotes regional Pumpernickel tourism, and strengthens the region's identity.

Discover Hamm — Tips Beyond the Festival

Visitors to the Hanseatic Day can easily combine their trip with other Hamm attractions: the famous Maximilianpark with its glass elephant (15 min by bus), the Hindu Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple (Europe's second-largest Hindu temple), or a walk along the Lippe River. Hamm is a Westphalian industrial city that has transformed in recent decades into a green railway city with art, gardens, and multiculturalism — it's particularly worth exploring in this anniversary year.