Abteifest Wadgassen

A Monastery Courtyard as a Concert Stage

The Premonstratensian Abbey Wadgassen, founded in 1135 and secularized in 1792 during the French Revolution, was one of the most important monastic sites in the Saar region for centuries. Today, remnants of the abbey are preserved – the Abteihof forms the center of the district and is the venue for the annual Abteifest of the Orchesterverein Wadgassen.

When is the Festival Held?

The Abteifest 2026 runs from Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, in the Abteihof. Three days of music, food, and club life under the open sky.

The Orchesterverein Wadgassen

The event is organized by the Orchesterverein Wadgassen e.V., one of the most active clubs in Saarland. The club family includes:

• Large Brass Orchestra with about 50 musicians
• Student Orchestra – nurturing young talent with its own performance program
• Adult Wind Class – re-entry musicians and late beginners

The association is led by Dr. Björn Jakobs (Chair) and Tobias Beck (Deputy Chair) and sees itself as a bridge between music education and concert performance.

What the Abteifest Offers

The program is consistently divided into three parts over the days:

• Partner Associations: Orchestras from Saarland (Saarlouis, Saarbrücken, Lebach) and the Lorraine region perform as guest orchestras
• Own Ensembles: The large brass orchestra, student, and adult classes present their repertoire
• International Bands: Frequent guests from neighboring France, occasionally from Luxembourg or Belgium
• Culinary Delights: Bratwurst, Schwenker, wine, beer – club catering by the orchestra members themselves

Wadgassen – Industry and Monastery Heritage

Wadgassen is a municipality of 18,000 inhabitants in the Saarlouis district, characterized by the glass industry (Villeroy & Boch) and former coal mining. The Abteihof is now a cultural-historical anchor preserving Wadgassen's history. Directly adjacent is the German Newspaper Museum, which cultivates a rare specialized focus.

Character of the Festival

The Abteifest is not a major tourist event, but a club festival with supra-regional appeal. Those who appreciate brass music, enjoy the atmosphere of small club festivals, and want to experience a historic venue will find it here. The audience is mixed – families, seniors, music lovers from across the district – and the atmosphere is convivial.