Marburg by Night
20th edition of the Marburg illumination project powered by Stadtwerke Marburg
About Marburg by Night
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A City in the Glow of Lights
Marburg's Oberstadt with its narrow alleys, the Elisabethkirche, the steep staircases, and the Landgrafenschloss high above the Lahn river — this is the natural stage onto which Marburg by Night casts its light every year at the end of November. What began in 2006 as a small city marketing format is now one of Germany's most famous illumination projects.
20th Edition — An Anniversary
In 2026, it's the 20th edition since 2006. Powered by Stadtwerke Marburg, the event has long become a brand. Thousands of visitors flock to the university town from the region and beyond — shops stay open longer, restaurants and bars are busy, the city switches into festival mode.
Light and Video on Historic Buildings
The illumination covers the facades of historic buildings, public squares, bridges over the Lahn, and architecturally significant sites. Concerts and light installations in the major churches — Elisabethkirche, Universitätskirche — complement the outdoor scenography. Artists from Germany and abroad are invited anew each year.
Opening of the Christmas City
Marburg by Night traditionally marks the opening of the Marburg Christmas City — the following weekend, the Christmas market around Elisabethkirche, Marktplatz, and Steinweg begins. Those who come to Marburg by Night are thus entering a city that is transitioning into winter and the Advent season.
Marburg by Night — edition 2026
Six hours of light festival: From dusk till midnight, Marburg's city center — castle, Elisabethkirche, Oberstadt alleys, Marktplatz, and the Lahn bridges — transforms into a stage of light. The exact list of installations will be published on the festival website shortly before the event.
Programme Marburg by Night 2026
Friday, November 27, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Lighting begins at all venues
- Light installations and video projections on historic buildings of the Oberstadt, at the Landgrafenschloss, the Elisabethkirche, the Universitätskirche, at the Marktplatz, at the Pilgrimstein, and on the Lahn bridges
- Concerts and sound installations in the major churches
- Shops open late in the Oberstadt («long shopping night»)
- Extended opening hours in restaurants and bars
- 12:00 AM — End of illumination
Surrounding Events
- Marburg by Night marks the opening of the Marburg Christmas City
- Stadtmarketing Marburg and Stadtwerke organize the event together with invited light artists
Highlights Marburg by Night 2026
- 20th anniversary edition since 2006
- Six hours of light art in the Oberstadt and at the castle
- Long shopping night in the city center
- Kick-off of the Marburg Christmas City
- Free admission
Prices Marburg by Night 2026
Admission to all light installations in public spaces is free. Special concert events in the churches may have an admission fee.
Practical information — Marburg by Night
Getting There
Marburg is easily accessible by train (IC/RE from Frankfurt, Kassel). From the main station, take a bus or walk to the Oberstadt. By car: A5/A7, parking garages on the outskirts, then walk — the Oberstadt is a pedestrian zone.
Admission
Free. All light installations in public spaces are accessible free of charge. Admission may be required for some indoor concert events.
Tip
Sturdy footwear: Marburg's Oberstadt is on a slope, with many stairs and cobblestones. The best overview of the city's lights is from the castle.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Marburg by Night
Innenstadt Marburg (historische Oberstadt und Schloss)
Innenstadt / Oberstadt, 35037 Marburg