Peter & Paul Fest Senftenberg

Senftenberg — Capital of the Lusatian Lake District

Senftenberg in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district, on the border with Saxony, is one of Brandenburg's most unusual cities. Through the flooding of open-cast mine remnants since the 2000s, the former lignite mining region has become the Lusatian Lake District — Europe's largest artificial water landscape. Senftenberg Lake, directly on the outskirts of the city with its 7 km long sandy beach, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The annual city festival falls on the Catholic patronal feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th and is traditionally held on the first weekend in July.

New Concept 2026 — Four Themed Quarters

In 2026, the festival is completely reinventing itself: the classic market is becoming a targeted city experience with four clearly defined themed worlds that you can explore over a weekend. The Culinary Quarter at Altmarkt brings together regional gastronomy, wineries from Saxony, local showmen with arts and crafts, readings, and acoustic live music. The Music Garden at Schloßpark-Center forms the musical center with the main stage where the big acts perform — the headliner in 2026 is pop star Anna-Carina Woitschack. The Next Generation at the old Realschule is aimed at a young audience with bands from the region, DJ sets, and a partly interactive program. The Family Park at Neumarkt bundles amusement rides, bouncy castles, children's activities, and its own children's stage program.

Program — Over 20 Artists on Three Stages

With three stages and more than 20 acts, the Peter & Paul Fest 2026 offers the largest stage program in years. In addition to Anna-Carina Woitschack, the program includes regional pop stars, cover bands, pop and rock formations, as well as a show program with dance and acrobatics. The public viewing of the 2026 Football World Cup is a special highlight — the city is installing a large screen in the Music Garden and broadcasting the parallel World Cup matches live. The international partner cities of Senftenberg are also involved — with performances, culinary stands, and exchange formats.

Past Meets Present

The motto “Past meets Present" is programmatic. The historic city center with its Renaissance fortress Senftenberg, the castle, and the town church of St. Peter and Paul forms the backdrop — modern music, international cuisine, and contemporary show programs create the dynamic tension. The festival is part of the city's identity formation in structural change: from mining to a lake district municipality. Around 25,000 visitors are expected — a significant increase compared to previous years of the classic market format.