Performance Paderborn

Performance Paderborn — Street Art in Festival Format

On September 7th and 8th, 2026, the 20th Performance Paderborn will take place — a milestone anniversary edition of what is claimed to be Germany's largest street art fair. In the Baroque Garden of Neuhaus Castle, around 65 artists will perform across the entire historic garden area, delivering approximately 130 shows over two days. Acrobats on trapezes, female fire artists, jugglers, walk-acts in imaginative costumes, live music, mime, dance theater, acting — the spectrum of contemporary street art is gathered at Performance Paderborn with unparalleled density.

Two Days, Three Functions

Performance Paderborn is more than just a public festival — the format has a clear dual role:

1. Public Festival — Families, tourists, and the residents of Paderborn experience two days of high-quality open-air street art with free admission during festival hours.
2. Cultural Exchange (Kulturbörse) — Organizers, festival directors, city marketing managers, cultural centers, and talent scouts from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France use the festival as a showcase to book acts for their upcoming seasons. Anyone managing an open-air stage, a city festival, or a cultural center attends Performance Paderborn to see and compare.
3. Artist Platform — Artists come to present themselves at a high level to a professional audience and interested public, generate new engagements, and network with each other.

The Atmosphere in the Baroque Garden

The Baroque Garden of Neuhaus Castle is a restored historic garden complex — geometrically structured, with lawn parterres, fountains, paths, and stage platforms. The setting is ideal for street art: artists perform on lawns, stage platforms, hang from trapezes, or build their own structures. You move from one show to the next, discover small performances in side paths, and rest on a bench in between. Program cards and information boards display the performance times of individual acts.

Neuhaus Castle — The Moated Castle on the Outskirts of Paderborn

Neuhaus Castle is a Renaissance moated castle, built starting in the 14th century and significantly expanded in the 16th/17th centuries. It was the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Paderborn. Today, the castle houses a school and a museum, and the surrounding palace park with its baroque garden is publicly accessible. The park was the venue for the NRW State Garden Show in 1994, during which the Baroque Garden was reconstructed and the area enhanced. Since then, Neuhaus Castle has regularly hosted major events — including, besides Performance Paderborn, the Schlosssommer Paderborn with comedy, concerts, and open-air cinema.

20 Years of Performance Paderborn

Performance Paderborn first took place in 2007 — making the 2026 edition the 20th anniversary edition. In two decades, the festival has become the most important German platform for street art; acts performing here are usually among the professionalized European street artists with their own agencies, websites, and fixed tour schedules. The event is organized by the Paderborn Cultural Office in conjunction with the Internationale Kulturbörse Paderborn — a municipal initiative that has established itself as a brand. Contact: Stefan Hermanns, [email protected].

Paderborn — Cathedral City at the Lippe Headwaters

Paderborn, with around 152,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in eastern Westphalia and a university city. Its landmark is the Paderborn Cathedral from the 11th–13th centuries, featuring the famous Three Rabbits Window. The city owes its name to the springs of the Pader River, which emerge in the city center, feeding Germany's shortest river (barely 4 km to its mouth in the Lippe). Neuhaus Castle is located 5 km northwest of the city center, easily accessible by city bus.

What to Bring

• Sturdy shoes for walking on grass and gravel
• Sunscreen / Rain jacket (the festival takes place in all weather)
• Water bottle; food stands are available on-site
• Cash for donations / hat collections by some acts (even though festival entry is free, artists appreciate tips)
• Camera — walk-acts and trapeze performances are particularly good for photos