Name: Herford World Children's Day 2026
Start: 2026-09-19T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-19T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Herforder Innenstadt

World Children's Day Herford

About World Children's Day Herford

Herford World Children's Day transforms the entire city centre of the Hanseatic city into a huge adventure playground for children and families every year. Over 50 clubs, schools, and daycare centres offer hands-on activities, creative workshops, and stage programmes on September 19, 2026, from 11 am to 4 pm. Free admission, accessible routes, family-friendly atmosphere. One of the largest children's festivals in the Herford district and a central element of the Herford city marketing calendar.

Dates 19 Sep — 19 Sep 2026

Venue Herford (05758)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

World Children's Day Herford — edition 2026

World Children's Day 2026 takes place on September 19 from 11 am to 4 pm throughout Herford city centre. Over 50 clubs, schools, and daycare centres have registered by March 31, 2026, and offer a colourful programme of hands-on activities, workshops, and stage performances. Free admission.

What to Expect

The entire pedestrian zone — from the market square to Komturei — transforms for five hours on September 19, 2026, into a giant adventure playground for children aged 3 to 13. Over 50 institutions from the fields of education, sports, art, and social services are creating activity stations.

Registration Status

Clubs, schools, and daycare centres could register until March 31, 2026. Further details about the programme will be communicated in summer 2026 by Pro Herford at herford-erleben.herford.de.

Highlights World Children's Day Herford 2026

Over 50 clubs, schools, and daycare centres with hands-on stations, stage programme, creative workshops, and sports activities — all free of charge.

Programme World Children's Day Herford 2026

Saturday, September 19, 2026 — Herford City Centre

11:00 am — Official opening on the main stage
11:00 am–4:00 pm — Hands-on stations, craft and creative activities throughout the pedestrian zone
11:00 am–4:00 pm — Sports activity offerings from Herford sports clubs
11:00 am–4:00 pm — Stage programme with dance and music performances by daycare centres, schools, and clubs
11:00 am–4:00 pm — Workshops by artists and initiatives
4:00 pm — Official end

The detailed station plan and stage schedule will be published in summer 2026 by Pro Herford. Over 50 registered institutions shape the programme.

Prices World Children's Day Herford 2026

Free admission. Some workshops may have a small material fee.

Practical information

Practical information — World Children's Day Herford

Getting There

By Car: A2 exit Herford. Parking around the city centre — partly closed on event days, early arrival recommended. By Train: Herford Station (IC, RE, RB) — short walk to the city centre.

Admission

Free for children and accompanying persons. Some workshops may have a small material fee.

Tip

Hands-on stations are spread throughout the pedestrian zone — get a map beforehand from herford-erleben.herford.de to make sure you don't miss anything.

A City Centre Becomes a Playground

When the streets of Herford city centre are closed to traffic on September 19, 2026, there's only one thing it can be: World Children's Day. Pro Herford and the City of Herford transform the entire centre into a large experience parcours, specially designed for children aged approx. 3 to 13. Over 50 clubs, schools, daycare centres, and initiatives set up their stands, offering creative, sporting, and musical activities.

What Happens on World Children's Day

Hands-on Stations throughout the pedestrian zone — crafts, painting, face painting, scavenger hunt
Sports Stations from various clubs — from climbing to a mini-parcours
Stage Programme with dance performances, music from daycare centres and schools
Creative Workshops — pottery, printmaking workshop, children's art
Meet over 50 Institutions focused on children and families

One Date, One Statement

World Children's Day is celebrated annually on September 20 and globally commemorates children's rights as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Herford embraces this date and combines it with a large, joyful city festival — a beautiful blend of the political-educational and the playful-colourful. The concept is a model of excellence in Ostwestfalen-Lippe.

Herford in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL)

With around 67,000 inhabitants, Herford is the district town of the district of the same name in North Rhine-Westphalia and is located in the heart of Ostwestfalen-Lippe — framed by Bielefeld, Minden, and the Wiehengebirge hills. Alongside the Hoeker-Fest and the Christmas Market, World Children's Day is one of the central family festivals in the city's event calendar.