Duckstein Festival Lübeck

Lübeck — UNESCO World Heritage on the Trave

Lübeck is the old Hanseatic city on the Trave, whose historic old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. In summer, the Trave river itself becomes the stage: between the Radisson BLU Senator Hotel on one side and the Music and Congress Hall (MUK) on the other, an open-air festival site is created for ten days. The floating stage (Floating Stage) on the Trave is the visual and acoustic centre — an extraordinary production that shapes the cityscape in August.

International Street Theatre

The artistic heart of the festival is formed by the international street theatre troupes invited every summer. Acrobatics, stilt walking, clowning, dance theatre, puppet and marionette theatre, a blend of performance and concert — the troupes come from France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and many other countries. Their stage is the public space, the audience gathers spontaneously, and admission is free. It's a democratic, accessible art experience — and that's precisely what defines the character of the Duckstein Festival.

Arts and Crafts Market and Upscale Gastronomy

Parallel to the stage programmes, an arts and crafts market with selected exhibitors sets up along the Trave riverbank — pottery, glass art, textiles, jewellery, woodwork. The gastronomy is deliberately upscale, not the classic Volksfest standard: stalls with North German cuisine, Franconian specialities, international bowls, wine bars, and of course, Duckstein beer — the amber beer from Königslutter am Elm that gives the festival its name.

Opening Hours and Location

The festival runs daily:

• Monday to Friday — 6 PM to 12 AM
• Saturday and Sunday — 4 PM to 12 AM

The location between Senator Bridge and MUK is within walking distance of Lübeck Central Station and the Old Town — a significant advantage. The atmosphere benefits from the evening light over the Trave and the view of the Old Town silhouette with the towers of St. Mary's Church.

Free Admission, High-Quality Programme

Admission to the festival is free. Food, drinks, and purchases at the arts and crafts market are subject to charge, as usual. This makes the Duckstein Festival a summer event accessible to all generations — and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from Lübeck, all of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Mecklenburg over the ten days.