Lichterfest Schloss Benrath

A Summer Evening of Water, Light, and Symphony

For years, the Lichterfest Schloss Benrath has been the elegant summer highlight in the south of Düsseldorf. If you imagine a warm July evening with classical music under the open sky, this is it: the late Baroque Schloss Benrath, one of North Rhine-Westphalia's most significant palace complexes, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage network of Rhine palace constructions and was built between 1755 and 1773 under Elector Carl Theodor. Its Spiegelweiher – the large rectangular water basin in front of the palace – becomes a stage once a year.

Concert with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker

The musical centerpiece is the two-hour open-air concert by the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, one of NRW's leading orchestras (home venue: Tonhalle Düsseldorf). Starting at 10 PM, the musicians will perform on a specially erected stage at the Spiegelweiher – with an intermission. The repertoire includes classical works, film music, and summery pieces; the exact program is traditionally announced a few weeks in advance. Professional PA amplification ensures excellent acoustics.

Water and Light Choreography

What sets the Lichterfest apart from a regular concert evening is the synchronized water and light choreography on the Spiegelweiher. Throughout the concert, fountains, illuminated water curtains, and color spotlights create changing patterns in time with the music. The illumination of the palace facade and the park trees complements the show; LED installations along the avenues and mapping projections on the central palace axis create a total work of art of sound and light.

Fireworks as a Grand Finale

In 2026, the fireworks will once again be the emotional climax of the evening. Immediately after the final piece of the concert, pyrotechnics will ascend into the summer sky above the palace – synchronized with the concluding symphony. It is one of the few major fireworks displays in Düsseldorf, alongside the Japan Day fireworks, and is considered one of the most spectacular in NRW, thanks to the baroque backdrop.

Picnic in the Palace Park

The picnic culture is characteristic of the Lichterfest. The palace park opens at 6 PM, and many guests bring blankets, champagne coolers, and homemade delicacies. The Premium ticket offers a prepared picnic basket with catering, prime elevated seating, and VIP access. Standard seating is available on the lawns around the Spiegelweiher and along the baroque avenues.

Düsseldorf-Benrath as the Venue

The palace is located in the southern part of Düsseldorf, in the Benrath district, and is easily accessible by S-Bahn line S6 or U-Bahn line U72 – the latter stops directly at the palace gate. The Schloss und Park Benrath Foundation manages the palace, the Museum of European Garden Art, and the Natural History Museum. The Lichterfest is the largest event of the year and the primary source of funding for the palace's preservation.