44th Kalkwerkfestival

The Kalkwerkfestival is one of the longest-running independent festivals in the Rhein-Lahn district. With now 44 editions, it looks back on a scene history that has grown over four decades, making the festival known far beyond the city limits of Diez. The organizer is the association of the same name, Kalkwerkfestival e.V., which organizes the event entirely on a voluntary basis.

The Altes Kalkwerk (Old Limeworks) at Schaumburger Straße 19 is a former industrial building, now used as a socio-cultural center – with a concert hall, several stage rooms, outdoor areas, an integrated skate park ("Kalkonia"), and rooms for exhibitions and theater. The industrial architecture, the rough walls, the open halls create an atmosphere that DIY festivals rarely achieve with such quality.

The 2026 Program brings together over twenty bands over three days. The stylistic range is enormous: Rock, Metal, Indie, Punk, Folk, Funk – no stylistic focus, but rather a curated cross-section of the German and international independent scene. Confirmed headliners are Queen Of The Hive (Friday), El Flecha Negra (Saturday, Colombian-German Cumbia fusion band), and Hanging Dogs (Sunday).

The Supporting Program sets the Kalkwerkfestival apart from purely musical events: variety shows, theater, exhibitions, and the Kalkonia Skatepark, which is open to skaters all weekend and occasionally hosts contests. A dedicated Children's Program makes the festival family-friendly.

The pricing structure is deliberately socially responsible: Day tickets from €19.10, Weekend combo ticket €50.60, Children under 14 free. The festival sees itself not as a profit-making event, but as a contribution to the cultural life of the region.