Kultursommer Arnsberg 2026

From Art Summer to Cultural Festival

Since 1990, Kultursommer Arnsberg has evolved from the original art summer into a multidisciplinary cultural festival. Organized by the Cultural Office of the City of Arnsberg, it spans more than three months and permeates the entire city with cultural events. The slogan EXPERIENCE – PARTICIPATE – MARVEL describes the program idea: cultural encounter instead of passive consumer culture.

Open-Air Stages and Special Venues

The program takes place at various venues: the Schlossberg with its castle ruins above the city, the historic Altstadt (Sauerland glass roof), the Marktplatz, as well as the Theaterhaus an der Ruhr and the Kulturschmiede — a former forge in the Altstadt, now used as an event space. This geographical distribution makes the Kultursommer a kind of treasure hunt through Arnsberg.

Multidisciplinary Program

Concerts (pop, rock, jazz, classical, world music), exhibitions (sculptures, photography, painting), theater, readings, workshops, acrobatics, and comedy form a broad spectrum. Over the three months, around 30–40 individual events are spread out — from large events on the Marktplatz to intimate readings in the Kulturschmiede. Performing artists come from national and international spheres, as well as from the Hochsauerland region itself.

Around 10,000 Visitors Annually

The Kultursommer attracts around 10,000 visitors annually from Arnsberg, the Hochsauerlandkreis, and beyond. With this reach, it is one of the most important cultural summer events in South Westphalia — a deliberate cultural policy initiative that provides high-quality programming to the rural area.

Arnsberg in the Hochsauerlandkreis

Arnsberg is the district town of the Hochsauerlandkreis and, with around 73,000 inhabitants, the fourth-largest city in South Westphalia. The historic Altstadt with its castle ruins, bell tower, and narrow alleys on the Schlossberg offers a particularly atmospheric festival backdrop. Tickets are available via Reservix.