Hohenloher Kultursommer

40 Years of Hohenloher Kultursommer

The Hohenloher Kultursommer was founded in 1986 by the Hohenlohekreis district administration to open up the region's cultural treasures to a wider audience. What began as a concert series in a few castles has grown into one of the most important cultural festivals in Southern Germany — attracting around 25,000 visitors annually with a dense program between June and September. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary with a special edition in terms of scope, diversity, and programming depth.

54 Concerts at 48 Venues

The venue concept is the DNA of the Hohenloher Kultursommer: Instead of a single festival stage, the festival utilizes the region's historic locations. 48 venues spread across three districts — including:

• Schloss Neuenstein (Renaissance castle, seat of the Hohenlohe Central Archive)
• Kocherfreibad Künzelsau (Open-air concerts by the water)
• Kloster Schöntal (Baroque monastery church with excellent acoustics)
• Zehntkeller Dörzbach-Hohebach (historic wine press cellar)
• Schloss Bartenstein, Schloss Langenburg, Schloss Weikersheim
• Stiftskirche Öhringen, Kirche Pfedelbach, Kelter Künzelsau

This diversity ensures that each concert has its own unique character — the acoustics of a baroque monastery church differ fundamentally from those of a Renaissance castle courtyard or an outdoor swimming pool.

Program Profile — Classical to World Music

The 2026 program, featuring 105 soloists and ensembles, includes:

• Classical — Symphony concerts, chamber music, string quartets, piano recitals
• Early Music — Renaissance and Baroque ensembles on period instruments
• Jazz — from classic big band sets to modern jazz combos
• World Music — Klezmer, Tango, Flamenco, Balkan brass bands
• Crossover — Classical with jazz, pop classics, new music
• Vocal Music — Choirs, a cappella ensembles, solo singing

Artistic direction and program design are managed by a team under the Hohenlohekreis district administrator and a curator/artistic director. The 40th anniversary in 2026 will feature additional highlights: a retrospective of the most important artists from the first four decades and several commissioned works.

Hohenlohe — the Secret Cultural Landscape of Southern Germany

Hohenlohe is a historic region in North Württemberg, whose noble families (the Princes of Hohenlohe) left behind an extraordinary density of castles and abbeys from the 16th to 18th centuries. Today, the area is spread across the districts of Hohenlohekreis (with Künzelsau, Öhringen, Weikersheim, AGS 08126), Schwäbisch Hall, and parts of the Landkreis Heilbronn. The region is characterized by agriculture and medium-sized businesses — and is unique culturally due to the close connection between noble estates, viticulture, and monastic life. The Kultursommer makes this connection tangible.

Tickets and Advance Booking

Advance booking for 2026 started on February 9, 2026. Tickets from €16 for most concerts, discounts for pupils/students, children under 14 free at many concerts. Festival subscriptions and themed passes (e.g., "Castle Concerts", "Classical Pass") are available. Online via the festival website and at advance booking offices in the district administrations.