SommerMusik Schloss Rheydt

20 Years of SommerMusik in the Renaissance Castle

SommerMusik Schloss Rheydt has been Mönchengladbach's musical summer highlight since 2006. From August 21 to 30, 2026, the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary: ten concert evenings in the courtyard of the Renaissance castle, curated by Günter vom Dorp (voilakonzerte.de). The 2026 lineup combines international pop stars, classical music, a family program, and local Mönchengladbach celebrities — over 80% of all tickets are already sold.

Tony Hadley, Katie Melua, The Dead South

The opening on August 21 features Tony Hadley, former lead singer of Spandau Ballet and the voice behind “True” and “Gold.” More international highlights:

• Aug 22 — One Night in Sweden: the official ABBA tribute show, completely sold out
• Aug 23 — Culcha Candela: Reggae-hip-hop classics from Berlin
• Aug 26 — The Dead South: Canadian bluegrass pioneers with “In Hell I'll Be in Good Company”
• Aug 27 — Katie Melua: the Georgian-British singer (“Closest Thing to Crazy”)

Family Concert with Heavysaurus

For the first time in the festival's history, there will be a family concert in 2026: On Monday, August 24, at 2:00 PM, the Finnish dinosaur rockers Heavysaurus will perform for children aged 3 and up. Tickets are deliberately priced affordably for families, with special children's activities around the stage.

Classical Open Air with Heritage Sinfonietta Roermond

On August 25, the castle courtyard transforms into a concert arena for classical music: The Heritage Sinfonietta from Roermond, Netherlands, will perform a classical open-air program — an evening that connects the festival tradition with the culture of the neighboring Netherlands.

Local Heroes and Festival Finale

The final three concerts are a mix of Mönchengladbach focus and pop finale:

• Aug 28 — Köbes Underground: the backing band of Bläck Fööss, Kölsch rock
• Aug 29 — FUN & Friends: the Mönchengladbach local hero with guest acts
• Aug 30 — Giovanni Zarrella: pop-schlager star, sold out

Schloss Rheydt — Renaissance Architecture in the Lower Rhine

Schloss Rheydt is the only completely preserved Renaissance castle in the Lower Rhine region. Built in the 16th century, it now houses the Mönchengladbach City Museum with collections on city and noble history. The castle courtyard, surrounded by moats, provides an extraordinary concert backdrop with perfect acoustics — SommerMusik is the most important open-air concert series in the Lower Rhine.