Kamener Altstadtfestival

From Altstadtparty to Altstadtfestival

The city of Kamen is taking a bold step in 2026: the previous one-evening Altstadtparty is becoming the Kamener Altstadtfestival – two days of live music on the Alter Markt in Kamen's city center, with a significantly expanded program and a broader range of genres. The festival clearly positions itself as a signal for the local cultural scene and bridges a gap between events in the Ruhr area-West (Bochum, Essen) and Münsterland.

Alter Markt – The Heart of Kamen's City Center

The venue is the Alter Markt, the historic city center of Kamen. Surrounded by half-timbered and sandstone houses, with the St. Marien Church in the background, the square offers an atmospheric backdrop for an urban festival. Free admission – a conscious emphasis on low barriers to entry.

Friday, July 3rd – Indie and Pop

The Friday program focuses on Indie, Alternative, Pop, and Soul:

• 5:00 PM — Straight Ahead, music school band of the city of Kamen (Rock covers for the opener)
• 7:00 PM — Captain Horst, Indie/Alternative band
• 8:30 PM — Marathonmann, Post-Hardcore band from Munich
• 10:00 PM — Cäthe, Pop-Rock singer
• 11:30 PM — KC & The Soul Brothers, Soul classics until midnight

Saturday, July 4th – Acoustic, Punk, and Rap

Saturday is aimed at a younger audience and mixes punk and rap:

• 5:00 PM — Les D'Acchords, Acoustic cover band (Opening)
• 7:00 PM — The Scabs, Punk Rock band
• 8:30 PM — Goose Park, Pop-Punk band
• 10:00 PM — Dein Couseng, Rapper from the Ruhr area
• 11:30 PM — VITA, Rapper from Leipzig

Genre Diversity as the Program

The festival management describes the program itself as "from Rock and Punk to Pop, Rap, and Soul." In doing so, the festival explicitly positions itself against the genre specialization of many comparable city festivals – the idea is to reach as many target groups as possible over the two festival days.

Free Admission and Free Catering

As with the predecessor event Altstadtparty, admission is completely free. Catering is provided by local restaurateurs and stall operators – food and drinks are paid for individually.

Kamen – Small Town in the Unna District

Kamen is located in the Kreis Unna, east of Dortmund. With just under 43,000 inhabitants, Kamen is manageable but has remarkable activities in the areas of city marketing and culture. The 2026 Altstadtfestival is part of a broader effort to profile the city center as a cultural location – with a focus on a younger audience and musical diversity.

Getting There

Travel to Kamen by train (S-Bahn S4 or regional train from Dortmund) or by car via A1/A2 (exit Kamen-Kreuz). Parking around the Alter Markt and in the city center parking garages.