Niederrhein Musikfestival — Concerts in Jüchen (Schloss Dyck & Haus Katz)

The 22nd Niederrhein Musikfestival 2026 — Klangräume Rheinland

From August 23 to October 4, 2026, the 22nd edition of the Niederrhein Musikfestival will take place under the motto „Klangräume Rheinland“ (Sound Spaces Rhineland). Six main concerts and two workshop concerts will be spread across extraordinary venues between Kaarst, Jüchen, Grevenbroich, and Bedburg — historic castles, listed historic farmhouses, industrial monuments. Instead of a central festival mile, the format focuses on curated individual evenings: Each concert has its own venue, its own concept, its own artists. Jüchen, with Schloss Dyck and Haus Katz, is the cultural center of the 2026 season — three of the eight events will take place here.

Opening on August 23: „Sound Stories“ at Schloss Dyck

The festival opens on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the courtyard of Schloss Dyck. The concert „Sound Stories — Klanggeschichten“ brings together two exceptional musicians: Stefan Temmingh (recorder) and Margret Koell (harp). On stage: nine recorders and three harps. The program spans six countries and five centuries — from Johann Sebastian Bach to traditional European music, Astor Piazzolla's Tango Nuevo, and a newly composed world premiere by Austrian composer Klaus Lang. Before the concert, the Schloss Dyck Foundation offers a guided park tour: Starting at 4:30 PM, max. 60 places, advance booking required.

August 30: „Ein Siegel aus Rubin“ — Jewish Life Worlds in Songs

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the festival returns to the courtyard of Schloss Dyck. The concert „Ein Siegel aus Rubin“ (A Seal of Ruby) has the subtitle „Klang und Wort – Jüdische Lebenswelten in Liedern“ (Sound and Word – Jewish Life Worlds in Songs). It is a musical and literary exploration of Jewish identity through songs: Yiddish folk songs, Sephardic romances, works from the 20th century (Korngold, Weill), and contemporary settings. Language and music alternate — the concert is a deliberate cultural gesture in a time when Jewish life in Germany requires increased visibility.

Workshop Concerts at Haus Katz Jüchen

Haus Katz in Jüchen is a second venue for the festival — a historic farm complex with a manageable hall size, ideal for workshop concerts: smaller formats where musicians engage in dialogue with the audience, rehearse pieces, and explain backgrounds.

• Saturday, August 29, 2026, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM: Workshop concert „Ein Siegel aus Rubin“ — Preview of the program from August 30 in an intimate setting.
• Sunday, September 13, 2026, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM: Workshop concert „Into the Wild — Klang der Freiheit“ (Sound of Freedom) — a new production of the Niederrhein Musikfestival 2026.

Schloss Dyck — Moated Castle on the Lower Rhine

Schloss Dyck is one of the most important moated castles on the Lower Rhine, located on the western edge of the town of Jüchen. First documented mention in the 11th century, the current buildings are mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Schloss Dyck Foundation manages the ensemble with the castle complex, extensive English landscape park, and summer event series (SchlossSommer). The courtyard is considered an acoustically and atmospherically extraordinary concert venue — natural stone, Renaissance architecture, open view of the castle park.

Jüchen — West of Rhein-Kreis Neuss

The town of Jüchen is located in the southwestern Rhein-Kreis Neuss, with just under 25,000 inhabitants spread across 27 villages. The most important district is Hochneukirch. Jüchen benefits from the cultural pull of the nearby major cities of Mönchengladbach, Neuss, and Düsseldorf — at the same time, the town preserves two cultural anchors with Schloss Dyck and Haus Katz that have a radiance far beyond the Lower Rhine.

The Festival Concept at a Glance

The 2026 season is complemented by the school program in Jüchen, Grevenbroich, Bedburg, and Düsseldorf — young people experience music as a means of self-reflection and intercultural dialogue. The festival is supported by the Schloss Dyck Foundation and a volunteer festival crew. Tickets are available via the festival website.