Soest Pub Festival

Soest — historic Hanseatic city celebrates live music

Soest, with around 48,000 inhabitants, is the district town of the Soest district (Arnsberg administrative district, Westphalia), and one of the oldest cities in Westphalia — the historic city center with its city walls, Gothic hall churches, and medieval layout is among the most beautiful in Northern Germany. Once a year, the old town transforms into one large concert stage: the Soest Pub Festival brings live music to 21 pubs and cafés in the city center. The 22nd edition will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

21 Venues, 7 PM to 1 AM

The format is clear: on the festival evening, each of the 21 participating pubs and cafés hosts its own live band — from pop and rock to jazz, blues, folk, and country, to singer-songwriter, funk, and reggae. Genre diversity is the program: those who fancy contemporary pop go to one pub; those who prefer jazz choose the next. Performance times: 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM — six hours of concert variety for one ticket.

Festival Bus with Live Music

The hallmark of the Soest Pub Festival is the festival bus: a bus that commutes between the more distant venues — and becomes a mobile stage on its tour. Its own band plays on the bus, so the journey from one pub to the next becomes a concert experience in itself. Over the years, this concept has created a valuable brand identity for the Soest Pub Festival.

Sold Out in Advance — The Registration Trick

A special feature is the advance ticket limitation: the festival has been regularly sold out in advance for years. Those who missed out in 2026 can hope for the waiting list or aim directly for 2027 — the organizers recommend early registration. Tickets for 2027 (Sat, March 6, 2027) are expected to go on sale in late 2026 / early 2027. The ticket price in 2026 was around €12-15 (very affordable for six hours of live music) — a solidarity community between landlords, organizers, and the audience.

Soest Business Association as Organizer

The organizer is So ist Soest e.V., the local business association representing the city center's gastronomy and retail. The festival serves two functions: firstly, as a cultural highlight for the city itself (audience from Soest and the surrounding area), and secondly, as an economic mobilization format — the participating pubs and cafés benefit from a sold-out evening where the audience moves from one venue to another, consuming in each.

Experience Soest Beyond the Festival

Anyone planning a festival day trip to Soest can combine the afternoon with a city tour through the old town: St. Patrokli Cathedral, Wiesenkirche, city wall, medieval alleys. Soest is easily accessible via the A 44 motorway (Soest-Mitte exit), and by train from Dortmund (RE in 25 min.) or Paderborn (RE in 45 min.). Overnight stays in the historic old town are particularly recommended on festival weekends (book early).