Öcher Sommerbend 2026

Aachen — the historic imperial city at the Dreiländereck

Aachen, a city in NRW with around 250,000 inhabitants and home to RWTH Aachen University, is located at the border triangle of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Charlemagne made the city the main residence of his empire; to this day, the Aachen Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage) shapes the cityscape. Aachen has a strong Carnival tradition, a vibrant student scene, and its own word for what is called Kirmes elsewhere: "der Bend". The term originates from the Low German "Bend" for festival meadow and is used almost exclusively in Aachen today — a linguistic legacy of the cross-border cultural landscape.

The Öcher Bend — an old Aachen institution

The Öcher Bend is Aachen's largest traditional Volksfest and takes place twice a year on the Bendplatz:

• Öcher Osterbend — the spring edition (April)
• Öcher Sommerbend — the summer edition (August) — featured here

Both events are well-established and attract families from Aachen, the surrounding western areas, Belgian Eupen, and the southern Netherlands.

Bendplatz — the festival grounds on Roermonder Straße

The Bendplatz is located on Roermonder Straße in western Aachen, in close proximity to the Westbahnhof (West Train Station). The grounds are used for various events throughout the year; in spring and summer, it is transformed into a full Volksfest park.

Eleven days of Volksfest program

The Öcher Sommerbend 2026 runs from Friday, August 7th to Sunday, August 17th — eleven days of continuous Volksfest operation. The attractions include:

Thrilling rides

The focus is on the classic Volksfest rides: Ferris wheel, bumper cars, roller coaster, chain carousel, Wilde Maus, pendulum rides. New rides are added each season — the competition among showmen ensures a varied offering.

Culinary delights

The gastronomic offer is classic:

• Sausages and fries at several stalls
• Reibekuchen (potato pancakes) from the region
• Sweets: candied almonds, cotton candy, crêpes, lard pastries, nougat
• Drinks: beer, mulled wine (seasonal), soft drinks, cocktails at Aachen Bend bars

Entertainment for all ages

In addition to rides, there are shooting galleries, lottery stalls, haunted houses, carousels for children, amusement arcades — a complete package of what constitutes a classic German Kirmes.

Family Days with discounts

The organizer Eurogress Aachen has included Family Days in the program — selected weekdays with reduced prices for families (reduced prices for individual rides, special offers). Exact dates will be announced before the festival begins on bend-aachen.de.

Accessibility

A remarkable strength of the Öcher Sommerbend is its genuine accessibility:

• Wheelchair-accessible entrances at gates A, B, and C
• Accessible restrooms on the festival grounds
• Wide paths between rides for wheelchair and stroller users
• Disabled parking spaces in close proximity to the festival grounds

A setup that is not standard in the Kirmes industry and has been established by Eurogress Aachen as a quality standard.

Getting there and practical information

Due to limited parking at the Bendplatz, public transport is strongly recommended:

• ASEAG bus lines 7, 17, 27, 37, 47, and 147 stop at the Bendplatz stop on Roermonder Straße
• Westbahnhof is a 5-minute walk away — regional trains from Cologne, Düren, Dortmund, and Belgium depart from there
• By car: A 4 or B 264 towards Aachen-West, then follow signs for Bendplatz

Note: Opening hours may be adjusted due to severe weather or special occasions — current information is always available on bend-aachen.de or via the official social media channels.