Geldern Street Art Festival

World's Largest Street Painting Festival

The Geldern Street Art Festival is considered the largest festival for street painting (pavement painting) and 3D pavement art worldwide. In 2026, the 46th edition takes place on the weekend of August 29 and 30 in the city center of Geldern on the Lower Rhine. Since 1981, international street painters have been transforming the pedestrian zone into a kilometer-long open-air gallery of chalk artworks — a tradition that has brought international attention to the city.

Four Parallel Competitions

The festival combines four competitions that run concurrently over the weekend:

• International Street Painting Competition — the centerpiece. Categories for children, youth, and adults. Artists work live on the ground for two days — chalk, pastel, pigment on asphalt and pavement.
• Street Music Competition — singers, bands, and musicians perform at fixed locations in the city center.
• Street Theater and Cabaret — mimes, jugglers, acrobats, fire artists, improv theater.
• Masterclass — invitation competition for the international elite of street painters ("the best of the best"). Participants receive a fixed fee; selection criteria: originality, craftsmanship, aesthetic coherence.

500–600 Artists from Around the World

A total of 500 to 600 artists from over 30 nations participate. The 2025 Masterclass brought together professionals from Mexico, Japan, Germany, Italy, USA, and other countries — including internationally renowned 3D pavement artists whose anamorphic works appear to rise three-dimensionally from the ground when viewed from the correct angle.

The Works Are Ephemeral

The special appeal: all works are ephemeral. They disappear at the latest after the next rain or cleanup. Those who want to photograph or experience the artworks have only this one weekend. This ephemerality is part of the aesthetic statement and makes the festival a true live experience.

Geldern — Lower Rhine at the End of the Summer Holidays

Geldern is located in the Kleve district on the lower Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia, near the Dutch border. The former ducal city with around 33,000 inhabitants becomes a destination for thousands of visitors from the region, Belgium, the Netherlands, and all of Germany during the festival weekend in August. The festival traditionally takes place at the end of the NRW summer holidays — perfect for a last family outing before school starts.

Tradition Since 1981

The city of Geldern is one of the pioneers of street art in Europe. The festival originated in 1981 and gradually developed into a flagship event for pavement painting. The organizer is the Cultural Office of the City of Geldern (Issumer Tor 36) — registrations for the Masterclass are accepted in German and English.