Mansfelder Song & Slamfestival

Mansfeld Castle — Lutherland in Saxony-Anhalt

The Luther town of Mansfeld in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz is one of the three major Luther towns in Saxony-Anhalt (along with Eisleben and Wittenberg). Martin Luther grew up here from 1484 to 1497, and went to school here. Mansfeld Castle, an impressive Renaissance complex, towers above the town and is now used as a venue and educational center. The Mansfelder Song & Slamfestival has been held here since 2016 — a summer festival for songwriters and poetry slam artists with a familiar, almost literary atmosphere.

Competition of Words and Songs

The format is unusual: On an August weekend, the festival combines two competitions — a Songwriter Contest, where singer-songwriters compete with their own lyrics and compositions, and a Poetry Slam, where stage poets compete for audience favor in several rounds. The whole event is framed by concerts by established guests — in the past, including Heinz Rudolf Kunze. The castle courtyard becomes a natural amphitheater.

From Slam to Anthology

What makes the festival special: The best texts and songs are later collected in an anthology, and some slam poets and songwriters receive follow-up support. Thus, the festival is not only a stage but also a springboard — nurturing young talent in the classic, patient sense. In recent years, the annual editions have traditionally taken place on the third weekend of August; the exact date for 2026 will be communicated by the Friends of Mansfeld Castle Association.

Mansfelder Land — a landscape with history

Anyone visiting the festival should definitely treat themselves to a full weekend stay: The Mansfelder Land is shaped by mining history (copper shale), Luther memorial sites (Luther's birth and death houses in Eisleben are UNESCO World Heritage sites), the nearby Wettin Castle, and the quiet highlands of the Südharz. An excursion into one of the rather unknown, but culturally and historically top-class corners of Saxony-Anhalt.