Sommer in Lauf
Two weeks of open-air culture in the Spitalhof
About Sommer in Lauf
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Sommer in Lauf al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
A Festival with Character
"Sommer in Lauf" is the open-air cultural festival of the Middle Franconian town of Lauf an der Pegnitz. For two weeks in mid-July, the town, the municipal library, and the cultural association arteschock e.V. use the historic Spitalhof as a venue for a diverse program of live music, literature, slams, and open-air cinema. The festival was revived after the Corona break to bring culture back to where it belongs: public spaces, right among the people.
The Spitalhof as the Heartpiece
The venue is the historic Spitalhof in Lauf's old town – a listed ensemble of sandstone and half-timbered buildings, which usually appears rather tranquil and transforms into an open-air stage during the festival. The acoustics of the narrow courtyard and the warm lighting of the summer evenings give the festival a very unique atmosphere. In case of bad weather, events are moved to the Kulturhaus.
Program Between Concerts and Literature
The festival thrives on its mix: Klezmer, pop, soul, and blues are featured alongside readings by well-known authors, poetry slam evenings, and the arteschock summer cinema. Also included is the series "Lesen unterm Sternenhimmel" (Reading Under the Stars), a format of the Lauf Summer Literature Days, which presents novels, crime thrillers, and non-fiction books under the open sky. The festival traditionally concludes with a sing-along concert. The quality is high, yet the format remains small and personal.
Lauf an der Pegnitz – Town of Hospitals
Lauf is located in the Nürnberger Land district, nestled in the Pegnitz valley, about 25 kilometers east of Nuremberg. The historic Spitalhof is one of the oldest preserved buildings in the town and symbolizes the medieval tradition of care and preservation – a fitting location for a festival that understands culture as a communal experience.
An Intimate Event
With around 12 program items per edition and approximately 2,000 visitors spread over two weeks, "Sommer in Lauf" is not a mass festival. Tickets are affordable, many events sell out, and the atmosphere is more like that of a large cultural workshop than a commercial open-air event. This is precisely what makes it so appealing.
Sommer in Lauf — edition 2026
The 2026 Edition
Two weeks of open-air culture await you between July 16 and 31, 2026, in the Lauf Spitalhof. The festival maintains its proven mix: concerts of various styles, literary readings, poetry slams, and the summer cinema curated by arteschock.
Organizers
The Lauf Municipal Library and the cultural association arteschock e.V. organize the festival together with the City of Lauf. The Lauf Summer Literature Days "Lesen unterm Sternenhimmel" are integrated in their 6th edition.
Programme Sommer in Lauf 2026
2026 Program Structure
The complete 2026 program is usually published in May/June on the official website sommer-in-lauf.de. Based on past experience, the festival typically includes the following program pillars:
- Opening Concert on the first festival day, often featuring a regional band from the Franconian area
- Summer Literature Days "Lesen unterm Sternenhimmel" with three to four author readings of current novels and non-fiction books
- Poetry Slam Evening with national slam artists and emerging talents from Lauf's Christoph-Jacob-Treu-Gymnasium
- arteschock Summer Cinema – about six films on different evenings, comedies, romance, and arthouse
- Sing-along Concert "Hopp Sing" to conclude the festival
Concerts and concert slots are curated by the Municipal Library and arteschock; the lineup of announced acts is revealed gradually on the website.
Highlights Sommer in Lauf 2026
- 6th edition of the Summer Literature Days "Lesen unterm Sternenhimmel"
- arteschock Summer Cinema with a curated program
- Poetry Slam evening with national guests
- Sing-along concert "Hopp Sing" to conclude
- Venue: listed Spitalhof in Lauf's old town
Prices Sommer in Lauf 2026
Individual events range from €8 to €20, depending on the format. Combo tickets and early bird discounts are available through the Municipal Library and arteschock. Booking via the festival website and the city's ticket hotline.
Practical information — Sommer in Lauf
Getting There
Take the S-Bahn line S1 from Nuremberg Central Station to Lauf (links der Pegnitz), journey time around 20 minutes. From the station, it's about a 10-minute walk to the Spitalhof. By car, take the A9 motorway (exit Nuremberg-Mögeldorf). Parking in the old town is limited – Park & Ride is recommended.
Tickets
Events can be booked individually through the Lauf Municipal Library and the arteschock online portal. Most concerts and readings cost between €12 and €18, with summer cinema being cheaper. Early booking is recommended, as many evenings sell out.
In Case of Rain
Events will be moved to the Kulturhaus Lauf – postponements will be communicated at short notice on the festival website.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Sommer in Lauf al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Sommer in Lauf
Spitalhof Lauf
Spitalhof, Spitalstraße, 91207 Lauf an der Pegnitz