Rudolstadt Town Anniversary Celebration Week — 1250 Years

Double Anniversary 776 / 1326 / 2026

Rudolstadt has an extraordinary occasion in 2026: two anniversaries coincide. The first documented mention of the settlement «Rudolfestat» is recorded in the Hersfeld inventory around the year 776 — during the time of Charlemagne. 1250 years lie between then and now. The second anniversary: 700 years of town rights. In 1326, Rudolstadt was first explicitly referred to as a town by Count Heinrich II of Weimar-Orlamünde — the legal basis for self-governance, market rights, and minting rights. With the town charter of 1404 (Count Günther XXVIII of Schwarzburg), this status was further expanded. Both dates combine in 2026 for a double anniversary, which the city celebrates with a year-round program.

Celebration Week September 6th–13th — Highlight of the Anniversary Year

The centerpiece of the town anniversary is a celebration week in September: from September 6th to 13th, 2026, the city transforms into a single festival stage. The opening on September 6th is a theatre festival and ceremony at the Schiller Theatre Rudolstadt with the Thüringer Symphoniker — an ambitious musical introduction with orchestral works linked to the city's history. On September 7th, a large open-air exhibition opens in the old town, running until October 11th, telling the story of Rudolstadt over 1250 years — with historical documents, photos, staged scenes, and interactive stations distributed across the market square and the city center.

Culture Marathon — 12 Hours 50 Minutes of Programming

The highlight of the celebration week is the Culture Marathon on September 12th: 12 hours and 50 minutes of programming — symbolically representing 1250 years of Rudolstadt — spread across numerous locations throughout the city. From the early morning hours until late at night, concerts, theatre, readings, dance, performances, city tours, and film screenings alternate. Stages will be set up on the market square, at Heidecksburg Castle, in the city park, in churches, and halls. The concept: not a single major event, but a dense mosaic of small and large program items that turn the entire city into a festival stage. Over 100 artists, associations, initiatives, and cultural institutions are involved.

Accompanying Program Throughout the Year — Heidecksburg, Head of the Week, Rudolstadt Moves

The celebration week in September is just the peak. A dense accompanying program is spread throughout the year 2026: «Head of the Week» presents a historical personality from Rudolstadt's history each week, «Rudolstadt Moves» organizes sports and wellness activities for the anniversary. A major anniversary exhibition is running at the Residenzschloss Heidecksburg (seat of the Princes of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt from the 17th to 19th centuries). A special anniversary product line (wine, beer, chocolate, souvenirs) is available in stores. And of course, the traditional Rudolstadt-Festival takes place in July — Germany's largest folk and world music festival, which has been held here since 1991.

Rudolstadt — Cultural City in the Saale Valley

Rudolstadt is a city with around 22,000 inhabitants in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district in the state of Thuringia. The city is located in the Saale valley, between Saalfeld and Jena. In 1788, Friedrich Schiller first met the Lengefeld sisters here — Charlotte, whom he later married, and Caroline, with whom he formed a close intellectual friendship. The Schiller House is now a museum. Heidecksburg Castle, one of the largest and most beautiful palace complexes in Thuringia, now houses art collections and museums. With the Rudolstadt-Festival, the city has also developed a strong cultural identity as a city of world and folk music since the 1990s. The double anniversary in 2026 is an opportunity to experience all these facets in a concentrated way.