Carillon & Percussion Festival Aschaffenburg
Festival centered around the carillon of Johannisburg Castle and international percussion — concerts in the castle courtyard with live broadcast on LED screen
About Carillon & Percussion
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Carillon & Percussion Festival — Bell Sounds Over Aschaffenburg
The Carillon & Percussion Festival is a young music festival in the city of Aschaffenburg, an independent city on the Bavarian Lower Main in the Lower Franconia administrative region. It was established in 2022 by the Aschaffenburg Cultural Office and takes place annually in June. At its heart is a rarely heard instrument: the carillon in the east tower of the Renaissance castle Johannisburg.
The Carillon of Johannisburg Castle
The carillon was cast in 1969 by the Dutch bell foundry Eijsbouts and hangs at a height of around 62 meters in the east tower of the castle. It consists of 48 bells with a total weight of about 2.175 tons — the largest bell weighs 271 kg, the smallest only 10 kg. Automatic playing mechanisms sound daily at 9:05 AM, 12:05 PM, and 5:05 PM.
Concerts with International Carillonneurs
During the festival, international carillonneurs play the instrument live. Since the carillon is hidden high in the tower, the concerts are broadcast via live stream to a large LED screen in the castle courtyard — allowing the audience to watch the performers at the keys and pedals while the sound floats over the castle square.
Percussion and Handbell Choir
In addition to the carillon, the festival features percussion concerts held at renowned venues such as the Stadttheater, Stadthalle, and Ridingersaal. The Aschaffenburg Handbell Choir also performs, playing arrangements from classical music to jazz and pop. Thus, the festival combines the archaic sound world of bells with contemporary percussion artistry.
Organizers and Sponsors
The organizer is the Aschaffenburg Cultural Office. The festival is supported by, among others, Sparkasse Aschaffenburg-Miltenberg and the Bezirk Unterfranken, and is part of the city's cultural summer program on the Bavarian Lower Main.
Carillon & Percussion — edition 2026
The 2026 edition is scheduled by the Aschaffenburg Cultural Office for the period of June 20 to 28, 2026. For several days, the carillon in the east tower of Johannisburg Castle will sound with international guest performances; the concerts will be streamed live to the LED screen in the castle courtyard. The program will be supplemented by percussion concerts and performances by the Aschaffenburg Handbell Choir. The complete detailed program with artists and times will be published by the Cultural Office.
Programme Carillon & Percussion 2026
Festival Structure June 20–28, 2026
- Carillon concerts with international carillonneurs on the carillon of Johannisburg Castle
- Live broadcast of carillon concerts via stream to the LED screen in the castle courtyard
- Percussion concerts at renowned venues (Stadttheater, Stadthalle, Ridingersaal)
- Performances by the Aschaffenburg Handbell Choir — arrangements from classical to jazz and pop
- Automatic carillon playing mechanisms daily at 9:05 AM, 12:05 PM, and 5:05 PM
Detailed program with artists, venues, and times at kulturamt-aschaffenburg.de.
Highlights Carillon & Percussion 2026
- International carillonneurs at the 48-bell carillon of Johannisburg Castle
- Live broadcast on LED screen in the castle courtyard — performers audible and visible
- Percussion concerts at Stadttheater, Stadthalle, and Ridingersaal
- Aschaffenburg Handbell Choir performing classical, jazz, and pop
- Renaissance backdrop of Johannisburg Castle on the Bavarian Lower Main
Prices Carillon & Percussion 2026
Carillon concerts in the castle courtyard are generally free to attend. Individual percussion concerts at the Stadttheater/Stadthalle require separate tickets — current prices are available from the Aschaffenburg Cultural Office.
Practical information — Carillon & Percussion
Getting There
Aschaffenburg main station is on the Frankfurt–Würzburg line (RE/RB, IC); from the station to Schloss Johannisburg, it's about a 15-minute walk or a short city bus ride. By car, take the A3 (Aschaffenburg-Ost/West exit), with parking garages available in the city center.
Admission
Carillon concerts in the castle courtyard are generally free to attend; individual percussion concerts at the Stadttheater/Stadthalle require separate tickets. Current prices are available from the Aschaffenburg Cultural Office.
Accommodation
Hotels are available in Aschaffenburg's city center and around Schlossplatz.
Contact
Aschaffenburg Cultural Office, Schlossplatz 4, 63739 Aschaffenburg. Program details at kulturamt-aschaffenburg.de/unsere-festivals/carillon-percussion.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Carillon & Percussion
Schloss Johannisburg (Innenhof) und weitere Spielorte
Schlossplatz 4, 63739 Aschaffenburg