KinderKulturFestival Duisburg

Children's Cultural Festival at the Inner Harbour

When the Springwall at Duisburg's Inner Harbour turns colourful in mid-May, the KinderKulturFestival is here: nine days of theatre, circus, hands-on workshops, and interactive installations — consciously curated for children, their families, and schools. The festival is supported by the City of Duisburg and is considered one of the most distinguished children's cultural festivals in the Ruhr area, comparable in concept and programme depth to the major children's festivals in European cultural capitals.

International Companies as Programme Anchors

The 2026 lineup focuses on international companies with an established reputation for children's entertainment:

• Los Hobos — physical theatre and acrobatics
• Toc de Fusta — interactive wooden installations
• Compagnie Banjocircus — modern children's circus

In addition, there will be local theatre and dance groups from the Ruhr area, workshop offerings from Duisburg's cultural institutions, and hands-on stations for younger children.

Four Programme Strands

• Theatre — stage plays specifically for different age groups (3+, 6+, 10+)
• Circus — performances featuring acrobatics, juggling, and clowning
• Interactive Installations — participatory artworks, often in outdoor spaces
• Workshops — creative workshops, dance, music, theatre education

Duisburg Inner Harbour — The Festival Location

The Inner Harbour is one of Duisburg's most exemplary urban redevelopment stories: a former industrial harbour that became a cultural and leisure mile through IBA Emscher Park and subsequent investments. With its water basins, promenades, harbour edge, and spacious open areas, it is the ideal festival location for open-air performances, installations, and participatory activities. Duisburg is located in the centre of the Ruhr area in North Rhine-Westphalia and uses the festival as a proven format to profile itself as a cultural hub.