Alsdorf Europe Festival

Europe Comes to Alsdorf

The Alsdorf Europe Festival is the central town festival of Alsdorf, the coal city near Aachen – an event that takes place annually on the 3rd weekend of September and focuses on Alsdorf's town twinning. The provisional dates for 2026 are September 19th to 21st (to be confirmed via alsdorf.de). Each year, one partner country is traditionally highlighted – alternating between the European twin towns.

Programme Structure — Three Days of Celebration

Friday, September 19th, 2026

• 3:00 PM Funfair opening at Annaplatz
• 5:00 PM Beer Barrel Tapping by the Mayor – traditional kick-off
• 6:30 PM Opening of Photo Exhibition “Europe — Identity and Diversity” by the Municipal Photo Club
• Evening programme in the festival tent

Saturday, September 20th, 2026

• 10:00 AM Breakfast at the City Library
• 3:00 PM Senior Afternoon at the Stadthalle
• 6:00 PM Dreiklang Party at Denkmalplatz – large open-air stage with cover bands (including “The Headhunters”)
• 10:00 PM Fireworks in Annapark – visual highlight
• Funfair open
• Flea market

Sunday, September 21st, 2026

• 11:00 AM Grand Parade through the city centre – approx. 1,000 participants with traditional costume groups, music clubs, brotherhoods, twin town delegations
• All-day musical programme on the stage
• Sunday shopping (typical element of such town festivals in the region)
• Funfair and flea market

“You Celebrate, We Drive” — AVV Campaign

The local transport authority AVV (Aachener Verkehrsverbund) has its own travel campaign for the Europe Festival: “You Celebrate, We Drive” – with special buses and discounted ticket options. A smart connection: making the festival accessible, reducing drunk driving.

Photo Exhibition “Europe — Identity and Diversity”

A characteristic component: The photo exhibition by the Municipal Photo Club Alsdorf on the festival theme. A new focus each year — identity, diversity, future, bridges. Opening on Friday, followed by the exhibition throughout the weekend on the festival grounds.

Alsdorf — Coal City in the Aachen Region

Alsdorf, with around 47,500 inhabitants, is located in the Aachen district (Städteregion Aachen), north of the city of Aachen, in the Aachen hard coal mining region. Historically shaped by coal mining and iron industry, today it is a city undergoing structural change. A multicultural medium-sized city with an active twin towns programme — Alsdorf maintains relationships with several European cities, which motivates the Europe Festival.

Venues in the City Centre

• Annaplatz – Funfair with rides and stalls
• Denkmalplatz – Dreiklang Party stage
• Annapark – Fireworks on Saturday evening
• Stadthalle and City Library – Breakfast and Senior Afternoon
• Parade Route – through the entire city centre on Sunday