Hohenloher Kultursommer — Musikfest Schloss Weikersheim

Hohenloher Kultursommer — 40 Years of Culture in the Region

The Hohenloher Kultursommer is one of the oldest and most renowned cultural summer series in Southern Germany. Since 1987, the association of the same name has organized around 60 concerts and cultural events annually throughout the Hohenlohe region — from Schwäbisch Hall to Künzelsau, Öhringen, Weikersheim, and Bad Mergentheim. A total of approximately 12,500 visitors attend each year, positioning the region as a cultural highlight in Württemberg Franconia. The 40th anniversary edition in 2026 runs from June 6 to September 27 under the motto „Sweet & Spicy — The Spice of Life”.

Musikfest Schloss Weikersheim — The Central Celebration Evening

The Musikfest Schloss Weikersheim is the central celebration evening of the Hohenloher Kultursommer — a strolling concert in the palace courtyard and gardens that distills the festival's essence into an evening's production. In 2026, it will take place on Saturday, July 4, starting at 5 PM. The concept: Various ensembles perform simultaneously in different locations within the palace; guests stroll between venues, enjoying the combination of music, baroque architecture, and atmosphere.

Program July 4, 2026

• Athos Ensemble: performs folk songs, early hits, and classical favorites in the palace courtyard — a mix that acoustically embodies the festival motto „Sweet & Spicy”
• Thomas Roth (medieval fiddle) and Joe Doll (marimba): create an “extraordinary sound experience” in the palace gardens with this unusual instrument combination — the contrast between the historical fiddle and the exotic percussion instrument is programmatic
• Stilt Walkers: move through the palace gardens, providing visual effects
• Illuminated Facades: in the evening, the baroque palace facades will be showcased with light effects
• Cuisine: regional specialties and Hohenlohe wines

Schloss Weikersheim — Baroque Residence

Schloss Weikersheim is one of the most beautiful Renaissance and Baroque palace complexes in Württemberg. The Counts of Hohenlohe — one of the most traditional noble families in Southern Germany — expanded the palace between 1586 and the 18th century. Today, it belongs to the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg. The Palace Gardens are among the best-preserved baroque palace gardens in Germany — symmetrical, with statues, fountains, a famous Sculpture Garden, and an orangery.

Weikersheim and the Hohenlohe Region

Weikersheim (approx. 7,500 inhabitants, Main-Tauber district, AGS 08128) is located in the Württemberg Hohenlohe region, at the transition from the Tauber Valley to the Bauland. The town is the seat of the former residence of the Counts of Hohenlohe and is now a tourist center. The Hohenloher Kultursommer uses Schloss Weikersheim as its central venue; further concerts take place in the surrounding Hohenlohe towns and castles.