Dorsten Old Town Festival — 775 Years of Dorsten
Three days of festival mile in Dorsten's Old Town for the double anniversary of 775 years of town rights
About Altstadtfest Dorsten 775
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Altstadtfest Dorsten 775 al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
The Double Anniversary 2026
On June 1, 1251, the then Archbishop of Cologne, Konrad von Hochstaden, granted Dorsten town rights — and thus the status that made the city one of the important hubs in Westphalia's Münsterland region. Exactly 775 years later, the city celebrates this act with a three-day Old Town Festival, which simultaneously marks the 50th anniversary of the municipal reorganization. The festival framework is ambitious: the entire Old Town becomes a festival mile, and the program combines history, music, and neighborhood activation.
Wandelkonzerte of the Choir Festival — The Highlight on Saturday
The musical highlight takes place on Saturday, June 13, in the four historic churches of the Old Town:
- St. Agatha (main Catholic church)
- Franciscan Church
- Protestant St. John's Church
- Ursuline Church
At 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:00 PM, and 6:30 PM respectively, each church offers a 20-minute short program — visitors can 'wander' from one church to the next and experience all four choirs in two hours. The concerts are free; donations for the musicians are requested.
Three Days of Festival Mile Through the Old Town
Throughout the weekend, stages, hands-on activities, and gastronomy are spread across Dorsten's pedestrian zone:
- Friday, June 12 — Festival kickoff with official opening and ceremony
- Saturday, June 13 — Main festival day, 'Wandelkonzerte' from 5 p.m., evening program on the stages
- Sunday, June 14 — Sunday shopping, family program, closing ceremony
Dorsten — Gateway to the Münsterland
Dorsten is located in the northern Recklinghausen district in North Rhine-Westphalia, at the transition from the Ruhr area to the Münsterland. With its location on the Lippe River, the Wasserschloss Lembeck (Lembeck moated castle), and its preserved Old Town, Dorsten is one of the most atmospheric medium-sized towns in the western Münsterland. The Old Town Festival is the largest city festival event of the year — and in 2026, with the 775-year anniversary, a historical highlight.
Altstadtfest Dorsten 775 — edition 2026
The 2026 double anniversary edition is more ambitious than a classic Old Town Festival: 775 years of town rights plus 50 years of reorganization. A three-day program architecture with a musical focus on Saturday (wandering concerts in the four historic churches) and a family focus on Sunday (Sunday shopping). The organizer is the Dorsten City Agency.
Programme Altstadtfest Dorsten 775 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026 — Festival Kickoff
- Official opening with the mayor and ceremony
- First stage concerts in the pedestrian zone
- Opening of the gastronomy mile
Saturday, June 13, 2026 — Wandering Concerts and Main Festival Day
- Daytime stage program in the Old Town
- 5:00 PM / 5:30 PM / 6:00 PM / 6:30 PM — Wandering Concerts in four churches:
- St. Agatha
- Franciscan Church
- Protestant St. John's Church
- Ursuline Church
- Evening concerts on the stages
Sunday, June 14, 2026 — Sunday Shopping and Family Program
- Sunday shopping in the city center
- Family program in the Old Town
- Closing ceremony
Highlights Altstadtfest Dorsten 775 2026
- 775 Years of Dorsten — Town rights since 1251
- Wandering concerts in four historic churches
- Three days of festival mile in the Old Town
- Sunday shopping
- Free admission
Prices Altstadtfest Dorsten 775 2026
Free admission. Donations for the choirs of the wandering concerts are requested. Food and drinks are at your own expense.
Practical information — Altstadtfest Dorsten 775
Getting There
Dorsten is accessible by the RB 43 (Emscher-Niederrhein-Bahn) from Dortmund and Gladbeck. By car via the B58 (from Wesel or Marl) or the A31 (Lembeck exit). During the festival, the city center is largely car-free — observe Park-and-Ride options.
Admission
Free admission to all events and 'Wandelkonzerte'. Donations for the choirs are requested.
Tip
The 'Wandelkonzerte' on Saturday are the musical highlight — arrive early and wander in a logical order (e.g., St. Agatha → Franciscan → St. John's → Ursuline). Sunday is a shopping Sunday, with increased visitor numbers.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Altstadtfest Dorsten 775 al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Altstadtfest Dorsten 775
Fußgängerzone und Altstadt Dorsten
Altstadt Dorsten, 46282 Dorsten