Schlossfestival Morsbroich

Schlossfestival Morsbroich — Art and Culture Under the Open Sky

From September 11th to 13th, 2026, Morsbroich Castle Park in Leverkusen's Alkenrath district will become the stage for an open, free cultural festival. For three days, musicians, dancers, theatre practitioners, and creatives from the region and beyond will gather around Morsbroich Museum. The Schlossfestival Morsbroich is an initiative by Tanz & Kulturbühne Leverkusen e.V. under the artistic direction of Martina Houben and aims to be an accessible, intergenerational open-air event — an invitation to families, art enthusiasts, and castle park strollers.

Robin Hood as the Artistic Anchor

The program's focus is a specially developed musical production centered around the legend of Robin Hood. Tanz & Kulturbühne Leverkusen combines dance, acting, live music, and visual storytelling into a family-friendly stage play that reinterprets themes of justice, courage, and community within the historic castle park setting. The main production is complemented by other dance and music contributions from the Rhineland — the festival's creative scope is intentionally kept broad.

Morsbroich Castle and Museum

Morsbroich Castle is a baroque moated castle built in the 18th century and has housed the Morsbroich Museum since 1951 — one of Germany's oldest institutions for contemporary art, featuring works by artists such as Gerhard Richter, Joseph Beuys, Yves Klein, and Sigmar Polke. The extensive castle park surrounding the castle is publicly accessible, with ponds, old trees, and sculptures. The setting is ideal for an open-air festival: historic architecture, park romance, a museum aura — all accessible with free entry.

Concept — Culture for All

The Schlossfestival Morsbroich follows a clear guiding principle: art and culture should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income, prior knowledge, or age. Specifically, this means:

• Free admission for the entire program
• Family-friendly — parallel offerings for children, teenagers, and adults
• Open Air — come and go as you please
• Regional Artists — a stage for the Rhineland cultural scene
• Picnic Atmosphere — blankets and folding chairs welcome

Leverkusen-Alkenrath and the Rhineland

Leverkusen is located on the right bank of the Rhine between Cologne and Düsseldorf — primarily known as the headquarters of Bayer and home to the football club Bayer 04. Culturally, the city offers more than meets the eye with the Morsbroich Museum, the Forum (event venue), and an active independent scene. The district of Alkenrath in the northeast is on the edge of the Bergisches Land, with Morsbroich Castle Park as its green heart. Visitors can combine their festival experience with a walk through the expansive park or a detour to nearby Schlebusch.

Tanz & Kulturbühne Leverkusen e.V.

The non-profit association Tanz & Kulturbühne Leverkusen e.V., led by Martina Houben, has been a central player in Leverkusen's independent cultural scene for years. Through its own dance and theatre productions, workshops, and the Marimars Tanztempel school, the association primarily supports young artists and creates space for intergenerational encounters. The Schlossfestival will be the association's artistic flagship event in 2026.