800 Years of Lebus – City Anniversary

A Small Town, A Grand History

When a city turns 800 years old, it's more than just a round birthday — it's a focal point of remembrance. Lebus on the Oder was granted town rights in 1226 and thus looks back on a history more closely linked to the medieval Diocese of Lebus than any other region of Brandenburg. Exactly 900 years after the founding of the Diocese of Lebus, the city will celebrate its 800th anniversary from July 3rd to 5th, 2026.

Three Days of Festivities

Friday, July 3rd, kicks off with the opening of the special exhibition “Art and Architecture in the Diocese of Lebus” — it honors 900 years of church art history on the Oder. Saturday, July 4th, is dedicated to the grand parade through Lindenstraße: school classes, clubs, historical costumes, floats, and traditional costume groups will march through the city starting at 3 p.m. In the evening, an opening ceremony on stage will inaugurate the festive evening, which will conclude around 10:30 p.m. with spectacular fireworks and a torchlight procession. Sunday, July 5th, will wind down with a celebratory event and a brass band brunch.

The Diocese of Lebus as a Common Thread

From 1124/1125, Lebus was the seat of a medieval diocese that once encompassed large parts of Brandenburg and the present-day Lebus Voivodeship (Poland). Lebus Castle, the Cathedral Hill, and the ecclesiastical buildings give the cityscape its unmistakable character to this day. The 800th-anniversary celebration consciously draws on this historical connection — and combines it with contemporary art and regional identity.

Lebus in the Märkisch-Oderland District

Lebus is located directly on the Oder in the easternmost tip of Brandenburg, in the Märkisch-Oderland district. Today, the town is a quiet, almost dreamlike place with around 3,000 inhabitants — and therein lies its charm. The 800-year festival will transform the city center into a meeting point between history, civic pride, and German-Polish neighborliness for three days.