Senftenberg Harbour Festival

Senftenberg and the Lusatian Lake District

Senftenberg, the district town of Oberspreewald-Lausitz with around 23,000 inhabitants, is the gateway to the Lausitzer Seenland — a unique post-mining landscape in southern Brandenburg and northern Saxony. Where open-cast lignite mines gaped 30 years ago, dozens of lakes have now formed, growing into Europe's largest chain of artificial lakes. Senftenberg lies directly on the Senftenberger See, one of the oldest and largest lakes in this chain.

„5 Lakes. 1 Festival.“ — the Motto

The Senftenberg Harbour Festival has been celebrated annually since 2014 on the first weekend in August. 2026 marks the 12th edition. Venue: Senftenberg Stadthafen (Am Stadthafen 1) — a modern harbour on the Senftenberger See, which has completely overwritten the former opencast mining character. The motto captures the identity: Five lakes surround Senftenberg; they are the most important tourist asset.

Programme: Shanty to Electronic

The Harbour Festival bundles a broad musical spectrum: two stages, main and club stage, with Shanty choirs (fitting the harbour theme), folk and acoustic bands, pop acts, electronic DJs. In addition, Kirmes (carousels, Ferris wheel), Lausitzmarkt with regional exhibitors (cheese, beer, sausage, honey, wood crafts), DRK water rescue with CPR demos, children's face painting, XXL bouncy castle, Aqua-Zorbing. Grand highlight: the large fireworks display on Saturday evening (approx. 10 PM) over the lake.

Admission: €3 Cultural Contribution

The festival charges a symbolic “cultural contribution” of €3 per day (children under 6 and Senftenberg Pass holders free). With this, the organisers signal that the festival is professionally organised and that culture has value — without appearing as a commercial festival. Programme booklet as PDF on hafenfest.info.