Castle Rock Festival

An Era Ends — 26 Years of Castle Rock

When the last Castle Rock Festival at Schloß Broich kicks off on July 3rd and 4th, 2026, a chapter in German dark music history will close. Since 2002, the festival has made the Mülheim castle backdrop a mandatory annual destination for West Germany's Gothic, Darkwave, and Metal scene. The 24th edition is the last — the organizers are saying goodbye after 26 years.

Star-Studded Lineup for the Finale

Friday, July 3rd, 2026 (Doors open 3:00 PM)

• Tanzwut — Industrial-Medieval classics
• Nachtblut — Dark Metal from Berlin
• Snow White Blood
• Die Legende von Nord

Saturday, July 4th, 2026 (Doors open 11:30 AM)

• Lord of the Lost — Germany's Eurovision representative 2023, Hamburg-based Dark Rock headliners
• Crematory — Pioneers of German Gothic Metal
• Heimataerde — Medieval Electro-Industrial
• All for Metal — Power Metal Allstars
• Sagenbringer, Haggefugg, Wisborg, Eigensinn, Elli Berlin
• Performances from 12 PM to 10 PM

Schloß Broich — Atmospheric Setting

Schloß Broich is one of the oldest preserved defensive structures in West Germany — originally from the 9th century. The fortress wall atmosphere, the light sandstone buildings, and the historic courtyards give the festival a stage presence that no interchangeable festival field can provide. This very mix of medieval architecture and modern dark music defines the Castle Rock character.

Tickets, Restrictions, Logistics

• Friday Ticket — from €47.50
• Saturday Ticket — from €58.50
• 2-Day Festival Ticket — from €83.50
• Tickets via adticket.de
• Prohibited: Bottles, glass containers, recording devices, pyrotechnics
• Children under 13 accompanied by parents are free
• Photos for private use allowed, professional photography forbidden
• Wheelchair spaces available (sanitary accessibility limited)

Mülheim an der Ruhr — Industrial Culture Meets Castle

Mülheim is an independent city in the western Ruhr area in North Rhine-Westphalia, located between Essen, Duisburg, and Oberhausen. The city is known nationwide for its industrial history (Mannesmann, Thyssen) and its cultural landscape — Schloß Broich, the Camera Obscura Museum, and the Ringlokschuppen area are its cultural highlights. With the end of Castle Rock in 2026, the city loses one of its most prominent musical brands.