Bergisch Gladbach City and Culture Festival (with BELKAW City Run)

Bergisch Gladbach – A City with a Cultural Tradition

Bergisch Gladbach, with over 110,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, located directly east of Cologne on the edge of the Bergisches Land region. The city is known for its cultural richness: the Bergisches Museum, Schloss Lerbach, its paper industry history, several theaters, and a vibrant club scene. The City and Culture Festival brings this diversity together once a year in a three-day city festival at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz – the city's central square right next to the historic town hall.

Three Days, Three Profiles

The festival has a clear rhythm. Friday (4:00 PM–11:00 PM): After a late afternoon start, the 29th BELKAW City Run opens the festival at 7:30 PM – runners of all ages start the 10- and 3-kilometer distances around Konrad-Adenauer-Platz. Live music follows until late into the night. Saturday (10:00 AM–11:00 PM): Full festival operation with stage, club mile, and family program. Sunday (10:00 AM–8:00 PM): A relaxed end to the day with Sunday shopping from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM – the city's shops open for festival visitors.

Stage, Clubs, Families

The music stage at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz offers a mix of regional bands, DJ sets, and sing-along formats – free admission to the stage. The club mile, featuring around 50 local organizations (sports clubs, aid organizations, cultural associations, schools), is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM – an important showcase for the city's volunteer engagement. The family area includes a carousel, bungee trampoline, game stations, and face painting.

The BELKAW City Run

The BELKAW City Run is one of the region's oldest running events: in 2026, it will be held for the 29th time. It is organized by Bergisch Gladbacher Energieversorgung (BELKAW) together with the city. Two distances are offered: the 10-kilometer run for ambitious hobby runners and competitive athletes, and the 3-kilometer run for families, students, and beginners. Start and finish point: Konrad-Adenauer-Platz. Followed by stage program and festival evening.

Sunday Shopping

Sunday shopping (1:00 PM–6:00 PM) is an important element of the festival: downtown retailers open their doors to festival visitors, and many shops offer special promotions and tastings. This creates a combination of festival atmosphere and shopping that is important for the local economy every year.

Bergisch Gladbach on a September Weekend

Those traveling for the city festival can also visit the Bergisches Museum, Schloss Lerbach (now a hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant), the Strunder Bach hiking trail, or the nearby Schloss Gimborn. Cologne is 15 minutes away by S-Bahn, and the Bergisches Land region with its hiking trails is right on the doorstep.