Kaiser-Karl-Fest Übach-Palenberg
44th edition of the Übach-Palenberg town festival in the Palenberg district
2026
About Kaiser-Karl-Fest
Kaiser-Karl-Fest — edition 2026
Kaiser-Karl-Fest 2026 — 44th Edition
From September 18 to 20, 2026, Pro Übach e.V. will open the traditional town festival in the Palenberg district for the 44th time. Three days of festivities characterize the town centre with a stage program on Aachener Straße, market and showmen stalls on Kirchstraße, and catering areas.
The format follows the proven program structure of previous years: Friday with Mallorca vibes, Saturday as the main program day with Theater Traumkarussell and the cover band Fahrerflucht, Sunday as family day and open shopping Sunday. In 2026, as in 2025, fireworks will be omitted — for climate and animal protection reasons.
Highlights Kaiser-Karl-Fest 2026
- 44th edition of the Übach-Palenberg town festival
- Mallorca vibes on Friday with Schlager acts
- Cover band Fahrerflucht on Saturday at 7:45 PM
- Theater Traumkarussell on all three days
- Open Shopping Sunday and Family Day
- No fireworks in 2026 (climate and animal protection)
Programme Kaiser-Karl-Fest 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026 (from 3:00 PM)
- 3:00 PM: Opening on the stage on Aachener Straße
- Afternoon/Evening: Mallorca Party with Schlager and Ballermann acts (2026 program to be published by Pro Übach)
- Catering and operation of stalls
Saturday, September 19, 2026 (from 1:00 PM)
- 1:00 PM: Opening of showmen stalls and rides on upper Kirchstraße (Shaker, Jaguar Trip, bumper cars, children's carousels)
- Afternoon: Theater Traumkarussell with choreographies
- Family program and catering during the day
- 7:45 PM: Cover band Fahrerflucht on the main stage
- Evening: Dancing program until late
Sunday, September 20, 2026 (from 11:00 AM)
- 11:00 AM: Open Shopping Sunday in the shops
- During the day: Market with handicrafts and lifestyle products
- Afternoon: Theater Traumkarussell with family program
- Family day with showmen's area for children
Note: In 2026, the festival fireworks will be omitted, as in 2025 — for climate and animal protection reasons.
Prices Kaiser-Karl-Fest 2026
Free admission. Stage program is free. Showmen's rides at showmen's prices, food and drinks at the on-site stalls.
Practical information — Kaiser-Karl-Fest
Getting There
Übach-Palenberg is located about 30 km west of Aachen. By car via the A 4 (exit Übach-Palenberg). By train via RE 4 or RB 33 to Übach-Palenberg station, then walk to the festival grounds in the Palenberg district.
Program
Friday, September 18, 2026: from 3:00 PM. Saturday, September 19, 2026: from 1:00 PM. Sunday, September 20, 2026: from 11:00 AM (open shopping Sunday).
Admission
Free admission. Stage program and festival mile are freely accessible. Showmen's rides at showmen's prices.
Town Festival in Übach-Palenberg
The Kaiser-Karl-Fest is the traditional town festival of Übach-Palenberg in the western Heinsberg district, near the Dutch border. Named after Charlemagne — the region's historical connection to the Carolingian Empire — it celebrates its 44th edition in 2026. The date is the third weekend in September, from September 18 to 20. The organizer is Pro Übach e.V., the municipality's town marketing initiative.
Three Days of Festivities in Palenberg Town Centre
The festival takes place in the Palenberg district — along Aachener Straße and Kirchstraße, the central axes of the district. Three days of festivities characterize the town centre with a stage program, market stalls, showmen, and catering.
Friday with Mallorca Vibes
Friday opens the festival. In recent years — and also in 2025 — a Mallorca party started at 3 PM on the stage on Aachener Straße with established 'Ballermann' acts like Pia Sangria and Peter Milski. A similar opening is expected again in 2026, with a focus on Schlager and Mallorca vibes in the evening.
Saturday — Main Program Day
Stalls open at 1 PM on Saturday. During the day, there will be performances by Theater Traumkarussell, family programs, and hands-on activities for children. Rides will be set up on Kirchstraße — Shaker, Jaguar Trip, bumper cars, and children's carousels. Evening highlight (also in 2025): the cover band Fahrerflucht, an established regional live act, starting at 7:45 PM.
Sunday — Market Day and Open Shopping Sunday
Shops open at 11 AM on Sunday for the open shopping day, while market and handicraft areas run parallel on the lower Kirchstraße and Aachener Straße. Theater Traumkarussell will perform again in the early afternoon with choreographies. Sunday is family day.
No Fireworks in 2026
A program change introduced in 2025 and likely to continue in 2026: no more fireworks. Pro Übach justified the decision in 2025 by stating that it was being omitted for climate and animal protection reasons. This ecological program adjustment is part of a broader trend among German town festivals to reflect on their programming.
Übach-Palenberg in the Aachen Region
Übach-Palenberg, a town of around 24,000 inhabitants in the western Heinsberg district, is located directly on the Dutch border west of Aachen. With a history of open-cast mining and a mining past, the town today cultivates its cultural identity through recurring events like the Kaiser-Karl-Fest.
Where it takes place Kaiser-Karl-Fest
Kaiser-Karl-Fest at a glance
History of Kaiser-Karl-Fest
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