Mühlhäuser Pflaumenblüte

Pflaumenblüte — The Tradition Since 1908

The Mühlhäuser Pflaumenblüte celebrates the city's plum jam tradition — in the 19th century, Mühlhausen was famous for homemade plum jam and plum beer. In 1908, the city organized the first Plum Blossom Festival as a symbol of this identity, and since then, the festival has been celebrated annually at Whitsun, with interruptions. Today, the Pflaumenblüte is the city's most important summer festival — and the social highlight of the Whitsun calendar in North Thuringia.

The Free Imperial City of Mühlhausen

Mühlhausen/Thuringia is one of the most historically significant cities in Central Germany. In the Middle Ages, the city was a Free Imperial City — a city-republic directly subordinate to the emperor — and to this day, it is one of the best-preserved examples of this political constitution. The medieval city wall, the town hall, several city gates, and over 600 half-timbered houses make the old town one of the most impressive in Central Germany. Mühlhausen is also the city of Thomas Müntzer — the reformer and leader of the Peasants' War worked here as a pastor from 1525.

Four Stages, Over 40 Acts

The festival is consistently decentralized: four stages in four central squares of the old town — Untermarkt, Kornmarkt, Obermarkt, and Kuttelgasse. Over 40 acts will perform over the three Whitsun days. The styles range from folk and singer-songwriter to classic pop and rock to electro-pop. The program is designed to be family-friendly and appeals to visitors of all age groups.

Highlights 2026 — ISAAK and Glasperlenspiel

Two headliners stand out in 2026. On the Untermarkt stage on Saturday, May 23, at 11 PM, ISAAK Guderian will perform — the 2024 ESC participant who represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Always on the Run'. ISAAK is one of the most interesting new voices on the German pop scene. The electro-pop duo Glasperlenspiel — Carolin Niemczyk and Daniel Grunenberg — is also a headliner. The band is one of Germany's most successful electro-pop acts.

The 'Schmackadellen' in Kuttelgasse

The culinary heart of the festival is the 'Schmackadellenmarkt' (delicacy market) in the narrow Kuttelgasse. Here, traditional Mühlhausen specialties are sold: Schmackadellen (regional meat specialties), plum jam, homemade bread, and the famous Pflaumenbier from the local Mühlhausen brewery. Kuttelgasse is one of the narrowest alleys in the old town and creates a dense, cozy gourmet experience during the Pflaumenblüte.

Opening and Program Structure

The festival begins on Friday at 6 PM on the Untermarkt with the official opening by Mayor Dr. Johannes Bruns and the Plum Blossom Queen. Afterwards, the four stages will run parallel with their concert programs late into the night. Saturday and Sunday continue with the programs — featuring the headliner performances and a long festival finale on Sunday evening.