Burgkonzerte Esslingen

Concert Setting: The Medieval Esslingen Castle

The Esslingen Castle has perched above the old town of Esslingen am Neckar (Esslingen district, AGS 08116) since the 13th century. Its 750-meter-long walls, the tall Dicke Turm (Thick Tower), and the inner courtyard form one of Württemberg's best-preserved medieval city castles — and the venue for the Burgkonzerte: open-air concerts with views across the Neckar valley to Esslingen's old town and the vineyards of the Schurwald forest.

Friday, July 24, 2026 — In Extremo

The concert weekend opens on Friday, July 24th, with In Extremo, one of Germany's most successful medieval rock bands. As part of their "Carpe Noctem – Burgentour", the band is playing exclusively at historic castles — a more fitting location is hard to find. The program includes classics from over 25 years of band history (from "Captus est" to "Sterneneisen"), combined with material from their latest album. Signature sound: bagpipes, shawms, hurdy-gurdies, and market pipes meet electric guitars and drums.

Saturday, July 25, 2026 — Gotthard & Krokus

On Saturday, July 25th, a Swiss hard rock double-header follows: Gotthard, one of the most successful Swiss bands ever, and the hard rock pioneers Krokus share the stage. Gotthard brings its anthems like "Anytime, Anywhere" and "Mountain Mama," while Krokus offers classics from 40 years of band history. Both bands on one evening — a constellation rarely seen in Germany.

Program Schedule

Both concerts follow the same schedule: Admission for VIP tickets starts at 5:30 PM, regular admission at 6:00 PM. Concert start at 7:00 PM. As the castle has no fixed seating, all tickets are standing room tickets — VIP tickets additionally grant access to the VIP area with its own bar.

One of the Region's Oldest Concert Series

Concerts at Esslingen Castle have been held since the 1990s — the event series is a regular summer highlight in the greater Stuttgart area. The organizer is easyTicket Service in cooperation with the City of Esslingen. Advance ticket sales are already underway — both 2026 dates are in high demand, as experience shows.