10th International Guitar Festival Jüchen

Classical Guitar on the Lower Rhine

Jüchen is a small town in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district (Düsseldorf administrative region), located on the western edge of the Rhenish lignite mining area between Mönchengladbach and Düsseldorf. The town is primarily known for Schloss Dyck, one of the most important moated castles in the Rhineland, and the Klassik Open Air Schloss Dyck. Less well-known, but firmly established in the international guitar world: the International Guitar Festival Jüchen, founded in 2016 by musicians Daniel März and Arne Harder.

Tenth Edition — Anniversary 2026

The 2026 edition is the tenth and therefore an anniversary. Three days of festival programming bring together soloists, ensembles, students, and lecturers of classical guitar from all over the world. Most concerts and masterclasses are held at the Nikolauskloster Jüchen — a historic monastery building with a church suitable for concerts and several event rooms. The final on Sunday traditionally takes place at Schloss Dyck, one of the most magnificent moated castle complexes on the Lower Rhine.

International Guitar Competition

The heart of the festival is the International Guitar Competition, which runs over several rounds and culminates in the final on Sunday at Schloss Dyck. A prominent international jury evaluates the young competition participants from conservatories around the globe. In the 9th edition in 2025, Colombian guitarist Juan Manuel Molano Posada won first prize — he joins a list of international prize winners who are now at home on the stages of the classical guitar world.

Youth Competition and Masterclasses

Parallel to the main competition, there is a youth competition for young guitarists — an important pillar of the festival that promotes the next generation. In addition, there are masterclasses where internationally renowned lecturers pass on their knowledge, as well as exhibitions related to the classical guitar (instrument making, sheet music, publishers). Visitors can experience a rare concentration of top-class guitar music in an intimate monastery setting.

The Organisers: Daniel März and Arne Harder

Behind the festival are the two Jüchen guitarists Daniel März and Arne Harder — both concert guitarists and educators themselves, both deeply networked in the international guitar scene. They founded the festival in 2016 with the idea of establishing a top-class classical guitar event on the Lower Rhine. Ten editions later, the concept has succeeded: applicants come from Colombia, Korea, France, Germany, and many other countries.

Getting to Jüchen

By car via the A 46 (Jüchen exit) or A 44 (Mönchengladbach-Ost exit); around 20 minutes from Mönchengladbach, 30 minutes from Düsseldorf. By train: Jüchen station on the Mönchengladbach-Düsseldorf line, about 3 km from the station to the Nikolauskloster (bus or taxi). Schloss Dyck is located about 4 km northeast of the town — parking is available directly at the castle.