Lübeck Folk and Remembrance Festival

A Tradition Since 1848 — Born from the Revolutionary Spirit

The Lübeck Folk and Remembrance Festival has an unusual history: it dates back to 1848, the year of the bourgeois revolution. A General Prize Shoot was held for the first time back then on the Bürgerschützenhof outside the Holstentor — not an ordinary shooting competition, but a political demonstration for civil self-determination. This gave rise to the festival that the Hanseatic city has celebrated almost uninterruptedly ever since. The shooting competitions are no longer part of the festival today — what remains is the dual-name principle: Folk Festival (entertainment part) plus Remembrance Festival (political-historical occasion).

Location: Car Park in Front of the MUK, Old Town

Today, the festival takes place on the car park in front of the MUK (Musik- und Kongresshalle Lübeck) — right on the banks of the Trave, with a view of the historic Old Town silhouette. This waterside location, in front of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lübeck's Brick Gothic architecture, is its special charm: while visitors enjoy rides and market stalls, they gaze at the towers of St. Mary's Church, the Cathedral, and the Holstentor.

Programme: 10 Days of Variety

Over the ten festival days, various offerings are spread out for all age groups:

• Rides — from the Ferris wheel and Wave Flyer to roller coasters and classic children's rides like carousels and miniature railways
• Culinary Stands — candied almonds, crêpes, bratwurst, Lübeck specialities like fish rolls and Lübeck marzipan
• Market and Game Stalls — ring toss, shooting gallery, lottery stalls, food crafts
• Family-Friendly Atmosphere — dedicated daytime slots for families (afternoon) and adults (evening)

Highlight: Parade on Sunday, June 21st

The absolute highlight of the festival is the Folk Festival Parade, which traditionally takes place on the first festival weekend — in 2026 on Sunday, June 21st. With floats, music bands, traditional costume groups, and historically costumed participants, the parade winds its way through Lübeck's city centre. The motto for 2026: "A Festival of Freedom" — a direct reference to its roots in the revolutionary year 1848.

Fireworks Displays on Fridays

Another fixed programme element is the fireworks displays on both Fridays of the festival period (June 19th and 26th, 2026). They rise above the Trave, their reflections on the water and against the Old Town silhouette are among the most photogenic moments of Lübeck's summer festival season.

Lübeck in the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Lübeck is an independent Hanseatic city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and, with around 220,000 inhabitants, the second-largest city in the state after Kiel. The Lübeck Folk and Remembrance Festival is one of the largest folk festivals in the state — and one of the most traditional in all of Northern Germany.