Finsterwalde Singers Festival 2026

Brandenburg's Largest Folk Festival — History Since 1899

With over 125 years of history, the Finsterwalde Singers Festival is one of the oldest folk festivals in Brandenburg. It dates back to the famous song "Wir sind die Sänger von Finsterwalde" (We are the Singers from Finsterwalde), which made the town the "City of Singers" in 1899 and continues to shape Finsterwalde's identity to this day. Every two years — on the last weekend of August in odd-numbered years and occasionally in even-numbered years — the town celebrates its Singers Festival with a scale unmatched in Brandenburg outside of Berlin: kilometer-long festival miles, several stages, a parade with thousands of participants, and an opening concert featuring nationally renowned stars.

Opening at the Kulturweberei — Tom Gaebel

The 2026 edition kicks off on Friday evening, August 28, with a high-caliber opening concert at the Kulturweberei. Tom Gaebel & His Trio will present their program "A Swinging Affair! The American Songbook And Beyond" at 8:30 PM (doors open 7:45 PM). Tom Gaebel, arguably Germany's most prominent representative of the classic crooning style of the 1930s to 1950s, blends standards by Sinatra, Bennett, and Cole with his own compositions — accompanied by a reduced piano trio that optimally utilizes the intimate setting of the Weberei. Tickets €55, exclusively available on-site at Katrin Intex & Klamottchen, Große Ringstraße 1.

Parade and Keg Tapping on Saturday

The heart of the Singers Festival is the traditional parade on Saturday afternoon. With thousands of participants in historical and themed costumes, floats, brass bands, and choirs, the parade winds through the city center. The highlight is the ceremonial keg tapping by the Minister-President of the State of Brandenburg — a tradition that elevates the Singers Festival to the status of a state event. After the keg tapping, programs will commence simultaneously on all stages.

Festival Mile, Castle Park, Youth Stage

The festival mile extends across Brandenburger Straße, Leipziger Straße, the market square, and reaches into the Schlosspark (Castle Park). Four main stages will host events over the three days: the main stage at the market square with Schlager and pop acts, the Schlosspark stage with choir and folk music offerings (a tribute to tradition), the youth stage with indie and electronic acts for the younger audience, plus smaller venues with acoustic concerts. Hundreds of stalls are lined up along the entire festival mile — showmen, food vendors, and clubs.

pro agro Regional Market

A special feature of the Singers Festival is the pro agro Regional Market — a concentrated showcase of Brandenburg's food producers and direct marketers. Honey from the Spreewald, cheese from the Uckermark, sausage from the Havelland, beer from Lübben — the market is a must-visit for anyone wanting to discover regional specialties or pick up gifts to take home.

Finsterwalde — The City of Singers

With just under 16,000 inhabitants, Finsterwalde is one of the medium-sized towns in southern Brandenburg. Its fame as the "City of Singers" stems from the aforementioned song from 1899; to this day, choirs, associations, and the chamber music festival (held every March) are central components of the town's cultural identity. The Singers Festival is the largest manifestation of this tradition — and the best occasion for outsiders to get to know the city.