Altstadtfest Görlitz and Jakuby-Fest Zgorzelec

A Twin City Celebrates

Görlitz and Zgorzelec are a special city: In 1945, at the end of World War II, it was divided by the new Polish western border. What was a single German Görlitz before 1945 is today Görlitz (Germany) and Zgorzelec (Poland) – two cities separated by the Neisse, connected by the Old Town Bridge. Since the EU enlargement in 2004, both cities have pursued many joint projects; the Altstadtfest is one of the largest. It is celebrated simultaneously on both sides of the border – as the Altstadtfest in Görlitz, and as the Jakuby-Fest (for St. James) in Zgorzelec.

August 28–30, 2026 — Three Days of Festival Mile

Three days of folk festival on both sides of the Neisse. Stages are spread across Görlitz's market square, Obermarkt, Untermarkt, Demianiplatz, and other squares, as well as Zgorzelec's market square and the riverside area. Visitors shuttle back and forth across the Old Town Bridge; border controls have been abolished since Poland joined Schengen in 2007 – the historical occasion and German-Polish coexistence are thus made tangible in the festival calendar.

Several Hundred Exhibitors and Artists

The historic alleys of Görlitz – one of Germany's most beautiful preserved old towns with over 4,000 listed buildings – fill with hundreds of market stalls: craftsmen, regional food, arts and crafts, antiques, books, bric-a-brac. Live music from folk to funk, street theater, children's theater, walking acts, medieval market stalls, regional and international cuisine, beer and wine gardens – hardly any form of entertainment is missing. The atmosphere mixes German city festival, Polish Jakubowy folk festival, and Central European festival culture.

Görlitz — Hollywood Backdrop and UNESCO World Heritage Candidate

Görlitz is known not only for its Altstadtfest but also for its film backdrop: "Görliwood" stands for the fact that numerous international film productions have been shot here – Grand Budapest Hotel, Inglourious Basterds, The Reader, Goethe!, Around the World in 80 Days, and many more. The almost completely preserved historic old town with Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Wilhelminian-style architecture makes the city a unique European backdrop. The city has been striving for UNESCO World Heritage status for years. During the Altstadtfest, this architectural splendor becomes the festival grounds – a rare combination.

Saxony, Eastern Germany, and Polish Neighborhood

Görlitz is the easternmost city in Germany. The Altstadtfest embodies German-Polish neighborliness – both city administrations coordinate, artists from both countries perform together on stage, programs are hosted bilingually, and thousands of Poles and Germans populate the Old Town alleys. For many visiting families from Saxony and Lower Silesia, the Altstadtfest is the annual end-of-summer celebration.