Kalkar Knight Games

Medieval times on the ramparts

The Kalkar Knight Games are the spring highlight of the Hanseatic city of Kalkar on the Lower Rhine. In 2026, the medieval spectacle will take place on May 9th and 10th on the ramparts at Schwanenhorst / festival meadow at Josefsplatz. Free admission — the city of Kalkar has been organizing the medieval weekend for years in combination with the regional market and chair trading under the motto "Finally May".

Medieval market with craftsmen and jesters

The medieval market is the centerpiece: blacksmiths, glassblowers, basket weavers, potters, leather workers, jewelers, and felt artists work live on their creations. Jesters, jugglers, and musicians (hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, shawm, drums) roam the market. In the taverns, mead (honey wine), beer from wooden barrels, and the locally brewed Mühlenbier are served — the food ranges from suckling pig and tarte flambée to pea soup.

Hands-on activities for children

The medieval program offers many hands-on opportunities for children: archery for beginners, coin striking, felting small figures, pottery on the wheel, and children's dances to medieval music. Parents can explore the market in peace while the children are entertained.

Knight tournaments on Sunday

The knight tournaments are the theatrical highlight — riders in full armor compete against each other in spectacular jousts (lance duels) and combat scenes. The fights are carefully choreographed, with high spectacle value and plenty of sparks. Times in 2026: Sunday 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM.

"Finally May" supporting program

The medieval weekend is embedded in the city's action weekend "Finally May":

• Regional market with products from the Lower Rhine region — cheese, sausage, honey, bread, wine, vegetables
• Chair trading — used furniture, antiques, bric-a-brac (typical Lower Rhine tradition)
• Bicycle auction in some years
• Sustainability initiatives by the city administration

Kalkar — Hanseatic city on the Lower Rhine

Kalkar is a Hanseatic city on the Lower Rhine in the district of Kleve in North Rhine-Westphalia, with around 14,000 inhabitants. The medieval townscape is well-preserved — the St. Nicolai Church with its world-famous late Gothic carved altars and the historic town hall on the market square make the city a tourist destination. The ramparts at Schwanenhorst are the former city fortifications — today a green park area around the city center, a perfect backdrop for a medieval festival.

Lower Rhine in spring

The Lower Rhine is particularly charming in May — flat land, wide meadows, poplar avenues, brick houses, and its own rhythm of life. The Kalkar Knight Games attract thousands of visitors from the district of Kleve, the neighboring district of Wesel, from nearby Dutch Gelderland, and from the entire Lower Rhine tourism area.