Mühlhäuser kleinKUNSTsommer

Performance Art in the Courtyards of the Medieval Imperial City

The Mühlhäuser kleinKUNSTsommer is a summer event series in the city of Mühlhausen/Thuringia, presenting cabaret, theatre, performance art, and music in the historic city centre. In the summer of 2026 (July and August), the 15th edition will take place — an established address for performance art in the North Thuringian city, which is considered «Thuringia's best-preserved medieval townscape».

Three Venues in the Old Town

The festival uses three central venues in Mühlhausen's city centre:

• Syndikatshof (Neue Strasse 11) — the main stage in the historic courtyard, with excellent acoustics and atmospheric sandstone setting
• 3K-Theaterwerkstatt (Unter der Linde 7) — innovative theatre space for ambitious programming
• Rathaushof (Ratsstrasse 19) — venue for the Sunday stage, classic performance art atmosphere

2026 Programme — Cabaret, Comedy, and Music

The 2026 programme combines national cabaret stars with artists from Thuringia. Confirmed acts include:

• Ulf Annel & Mr. Speedfinger — «Annelsurium mit Boogie drumherum» (Best Of from the «Puffbohnen-Legende», satirical pieces and humorous texts from Ulf Annel's work at the Erfurt cabaret «Die Arche»)
• Further programme items: musical cabaret with satirical new songs, acoustic folk-rock with unusual instruments, stand-up comedy on socio-political issues, political rock music, historical-contemporary theatre

Detailed programme with all performance dates, shows, and venues will be published during the festival week on muehlhausen.de and at the Tourist Information Centre.

Mühlhausen — City of Luther and Imperial City

The former imperial city of Mühlhausen/Thuringia (approx. 36,000 inhabitants) is the district capital of the Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis district in the state of Thuringia. Famous as the place of activity for the reformer and Peasants' War leader Thomas Müntzer, who here in 1525 shaped the most radical phase of the Reformation. The city boasts Thuringia's best-preserved medieval townscape with an almost completely intact city wall (2.8 km), three medieval churches, and the characteristic city centre with its narrow alleys and half-timbered houses. This backdrop provides the kleinKUNSTsommer with an atmospheric, unique performance environment.