Name: Berkelfestival Stadtlohn 2026
Start: 2026-05-08T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-10T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Festplatz Innenstadt Stadtlohn (Rathaus, St.-Otger-Kirche, Mühlenstraße)

Berkelfestival

About Berkelfestival

The Berkelfestival is one of the most important town festivals in the western Münsterland region and part of an international festival series along the Berkel river (eight Berkelregion towns, Germany and the Netherlands). Stadtlohn will host its edition from May 6th to 8th, 2026, in the town center around the Town Hall and St. Otger Church. Friday is Youth Day with Hip-Hop and headliner Umse (10:00 PM). Saturday features a children's program and the cover band RECALL from Ahaus. Sunday is dedicated to the Berkel with 'Picnic over the Berkel' and the Beatles tribute band Kaiserkeller. Free admission.

Dates 08 May — 10 May 2026

Venue Stadtlohn (05554)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Berkelfestival — edition 2026

The 2026 Berkelfestival Stadtlohn runs from May 8th to 10th in the town center around the Town Hall and St. Otger Church, and on Sunday extending to the Berkel bridge. Three days of programming: Fri Youth Day (Hip-Hop, headliner Umse), Sat Children's Day + Cover Band RECALL, Sun Picnic over the Berkel + Beatles Tribute Kaiserkeller. Free admission.

Organizers: Stadtmarketing Stadtlohn within the Berkelregion cooperation. Detailed program and site map available at stadtmarketing-stadtlohn.de and berkelfestival.eu.

Highlights Berkelfestival 2026

Friday: Headliner Umse (Hip-Hop) at 10:00 PM
Saturday: Top cover band RECALL from Ahaus
Sunday: 'Picnic over the Berkel' over the river
Beatles Tribute Kaiserkeller on Sunday evening
Part of the Berkelregion cooperation (8 towns D+NL)

Programme Berkelfestival 2026

Program Berkelfestival Stadtlohn 2026

Friday, May 8th, 2026 — Youth Day from 4:00 PM
- Graffiti, photography, sports, beach area
- Hip-Hop stage: NLZN & Roman7, 3Plusss
- 10:00 PM — Headliner: Umse
Saturday, May 9th, 2026 — Children's and Family Day
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM: Children's program (circus show, pirate bouncy castle, puppet theater)
- Extended town center opening hours until 6:00 PM
- Evening: DRUMPETS (local ensemble) and Top Cover Band RECALL from Ahaus from 7:00 PM
Sunday, May 10th, 2026 — Berkel Day
- 9:00 AM–11:30 AM: 'Picnic over the Berkel' — breakfast over the river
- Afternoon: Coffee/cake, regional music groups
- Musical cabaret Brieden & Waschk
- 6:30 PM: Beatles Tribute Kaiserkeller

Festival area: Town center around the Town Hall and St. Otger Church; Sunday extended along Mühlenstraße to the Berkel bridge.

Prices Berkelfestival 2026

Free admission. Food and drinks at stalls at usual festival prices. Picnic breakfast on Sunday recommended with advance booking.

Practical information

Practical information — Berkelfestival

Getting There

By car: Take the A31 motorway, exit Heek, then follow the B70 to Stadtlohn. By train: Stadtlohn station (regional train) — within walking distance of the town center.

Prices

Free admission. Food and drinks at stalls at usual festival prices.

Tip

Sunday's 'Picnic over the Berkel' (9–11:30 AM) — breakfast over the river, a special highlight. Seating is limited, so arriving early is recommended.

A Region Celebrates Its River

The Berkelfestival is more than just a normal town festival: it's part of an international festival series along the Berkel river, which flows from North Rhine-Westphalia into the Netherlands. Eight Berkelregion towns in Germany and the Netherlands annually organize alternating festivals to honor the river, its culture, and its habitat. Stadtlohn will host its 2026 edition from Wednesday, May 6th to Friday, May 8th, 2026 — in the town center around the Town Hall and St. Otger Church, and on Sunday along the Berkel to the Berkel bridge.

Program 2026 — Three Days, Three Focuses

Friday, May 8th — Youth Day

The opening day is dedicated to the town's younger community. Starting at 4:00 PM on the festival grounds:

Graffiti workshops and spray sessions
Photography activities and interactive stations
Sports areas
Beach area with sand and loungers
Hip-Hop lineup: NLZN & Roman7, 3Plusss, headliner Umse starting at 10:00 PM

Saturday, May 9th — Children's and Family Day

A family-oriented day with a special focus on children:

Children's program 2:00 PM–6:00 PM: Circus show, pirate bouncy castle, puppet theater
Extended opening hours for town center shops until 6:00 PM
Evening program: Local ensemble DRUMPETS and top cover band RECALL from Ahaus (from 7:00 PM)

Sunday, May 10th — Berkel Day

On Sunday, the festival area expands along Mühlenstraße to the Berkel bridge:

'Picnic over the Berkel' — Breakfast over the river (9:00 AM–11:30 AM)
Coffee and cake in the afternoon
Musical performances by regional groups
Musical cabaret by Brieden & Waschk
Beatles tribute band Kaiserkeller starting at 6:30 PM

Free Admission

Like all community festivals in the Berkelregion, the Stadtlohn Berkelfestival is completely free. Payment is only required at food stalls and for special workshops.

Stadtlohn in the Westmünsterland

Stadtlohn is a town with nearly 20,000 inhabitants in the Borken district, in the far west of Münsterland, near the Dutch border. The Berkel river flows through the town and shapes its landscape and identity. The Berkelfestival honors this river as a connecting element between the Westmünsterland and the Dutch Achterhoek.

Eight Berkelregion Towns Celebrate

Stadtlohn is one of eight towns in the Berkelregion cooperation that organize festivals to honor the Berkel river. On the German side: Stadtlohn, Vreden, Gescher, Coesfeld, Billerbeck. On the Dutch side: Eibergen, Lochem, Borculo. Detailed programs for all eight towns: berkelfestival.eu.