Klosterfest Bernburg

When the Monastery Becomes a Stage

There are not many events in Bernburg in the Salzlandkreis district that are as closely intertwined with the location as the Klosterfest of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Once a year, the former Benedictine abbey in the Bergstadt opens its gates – not for research or lectures, but for a summer festival that has long become a fixed date in the event calendar of Bernburg and the entire region.

From 4 PM, the monastery courtyard fills up. On several stages spread across the grounds, bands from the university scene and beyond perform: Trompeti with festival music, the student ensemble Die Kühe, the formation Noch ist Zeit, and later in the evening, Länett with handmade rock. In between, there's Irish Folk, Metal sets, and acting performances – the musical spectrum is deliberately broad because the festival is aimed at young and old alike.

More Than Just Music

While the stage in the monastery garden is active, craft workshops, bouncy castles, and face painting cater to the younger audience. Street food stalls line up in the central square, regional breweries serve their drinks, and students from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences – one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Saxony-Anhalt – present their degree programs. Visitors to the Klosterfest get a glimpse into student life on the Bernburg campus.

Getting There Made Easy

To ensure no one has to worry about getting home, the organizers arrange special Klosterfest buses in the surrounding districts. This turns the evening into a relaxed stroll through the centuries-old monastery complex – without any worries about the journey home.

Admission

The Klosterfest is a celebration for Bernburg and its students. Admission is deliberately kept affordable: €5 for adults, €3 for seniors, €2-4 for students with ID. Children under 14 are free. This makes the Klosterfest one of the most affordable open-air events with such a broad musical range in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.