Klosterfestival OWL — Marienmünster Abbey

Ostwestfalen-Lippe Monastery Landscape — A Network of Historic Sites

The Ostwestfalen-Lippe Monastery Landscape network connects over a dozen historic monastery and collegiate churches between the Weser and Teutoburg Forest — from Corvey (UNESCO World Heritage) through Marienmünster and Bursfelde to Dalheim, Falkenhagen, and Maria im Weinberg in Warburg. The joint festival in 2026 runs from June 24 to August 23, 2026: two months of curated programming featuring music, art, theatre, and hikes. The artistic director is Hans Hermann Jansen; the Marienmünster Cultural Foundation is one of the supporting organizations.

Marienmünster Abbey — Main Venue

The Baroque Marienmünster Abbey in the Höxter district is the center of the 2026 festival. It will host several concerts, organ vespers, and theatre performances — for example, the Musical Marienvesper on August 15, 2026, at 7:30 PM, featuring Uta Singer (mezzo-soprano) and Volker Jänig (organ), performing works by Giovanni Paolo Cima, Dietrich Buxtehude, Matthias Weckmann, Damijan Močnik, and Heinrich Schütz. Admission to the vespers is free; a collection will be taken at the exit.

Program Highlights 2026

• Organ Vespers in several monasteries — works from the early Baroque to modern times
• Jazz Concerts in the resonant spaces of historic monastery churches
• Bach Hikes by bicycle and on foot between venues, with musical interludes
• Holiday Theatre for families during the summer break
• Spatial Installations in the church interiors
• 'Humanitas' — an art project by the pickArt group, exploring the relationship between humans and religious tradition
• Maria im Weinberg in Warburg will become an art venue from June 14, 2026

'Zeit' Magazine — The Printed Program

A 48-page, illustrated program magazine titled 'Zeit' will be published in May 2026 and will be available free of charge in libraries, tourist information centers, and participating monasteries. It describes the venues, programs, and background of the monastery landscape as a 'colorful kaleidoscope' of cultural activities centered around the region's monastic heritage.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Corvey in the Festival

The former imperial abbey of Corvey near Höxter has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014. Its Carolingian Westwork is among the oldest architectural testimonies in Germany. In the 2026 Klosterfestival, Corvey is one of the most significant venues and a symbol of the connection between heritage preservation and contemporary culture.

Marienmünster — Town in the Höxter District

Marienmünster (approx. 5,000 inhabitants) is located in southern Ostwestfalen, nestled in the hills between the Weser and the Eggegebirge. The former Benedictine abbey, with its Baroque buildings and famous organ, is now a parish and concert church. Its location away from major transport routes makes attending the festival a small journey into a contemplative cultural landscape.