Culture on the Courtyard — Gymnasium Petrinum

From the Ruhrfestspielhaus to the Schoolyard — A Season Under Construction

The Recklinghausen summer series "Kultur auffe Rampe" has been a fixture in the event calendar for years — open-air cultural evenings on the ramp of the Ruhrfestspielhaus, every Monday evening in midsummer. However, in 2026, the Ruhrfestspielhaus will be renovated, requiring the series to find an alternative venue: the schoolyard of Gymnasium Petrinum. Under the new name "Kultur aufm Hof", the 2026 season will run — four Monday evenings, jazz, classical music, cabaret, literature. The proven format in a new setting.

The Four Dates in 2026

• Monday, July 27, 2026
• Monday, August 3, 2026
• Monday, August 10, 2026
• Monday, August 17, 2026

Program details — artists, themes, times — will be published in early summer 2026 by the Institute for Cultural Work and the City of Recklinghausen. The evenings are expected to start around 7 or 7:30 PM.

The Concept — Diverse Culture in a Relaxed Atmosphere

The "Kultur aufm Hof / auffe Rampe" series follows a clear curatorial line: four Monday evenings, four different cultural formats, all free to access:

• Jazz music — from classic trio formats to modern improvisations
• Classical music — chamber music, solo concerts, smaller ensembles
• Cabaret — political and literary programs
• Literature — readings, sometimes with musical accompaniment

The idea: Artists from Recklinghausen get a stage, and the audience gets a relaxed summer evening cultural event in the middle of the city — far from the big festival shows, but with direct contact between stage and audience.

Gymnasium Petrinum — The Schoolyard as a Venue

The Gymnasium Petrinum is one of Recklinghausen's most traditional schools — the old classical school, founded in the Middle Ages, with a representative school building and a spacious schoolyard that is well-suited as an open-air venue. A stage, rows of chairs, sound technology, and lighting will be temporarily set up for the four Monday evenings. In case of bad weather, performances will be moved indoors or postponed.

The Ruhrfestspielhaus and its Renovation in 2026

The Ruhrfestspielhaus is the central theater venue for the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen — one of Europe's most renowned theater festivals, held every May/June in Recklinghausen since 1947. The building will undergo major renovations in 2026; therefore, certain events must move to alternative venues. The summer series "Kultur auffe Rampe" becomes "Kultur aufm Hof" — a pragmatic, creative solution.

Recklinghausen as a City of Culture

Despite its identity as a former mining and industrial city, Recklinghausen has a remarkable cultural landscape — with the Ruhrfestspielhaus, the Ruhrfestspiele, the Tierpark, the Icon Museum, several theaters, and an active club scene. The Institute for Cultural Work coordinates municipal cultural activities and, with series like "Kultur auffe Rampe / aufm Hof," provides accessible offerings enjoyed by the general public.