Name: Sondershäuser Residenzfest 2026
Start: 2026-06-05T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-07T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Theaterwiese und Innenstadt Sondershausen

Residenzfest

About Residenzfest

Where the Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen once resided, the town celebrates its Residenzfest every year in June: three days of disco party on the palace grounds, car show, craft market, live music, and a big children's festival. The Sondershäuser Stadtlauf (city run) opens the festival days on Thursday; the 23rd edition takes place from June 5th to 7th, 2026.

Dates 05 Jun — 07 Jun 2026

Venue Sondershausen (16065)

Prices 10.00€ — 15.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Residenzfest — edition 2026

The 23rd edition of the Sondershäuser Residenzfest will once again bring thousands of visitors to the former residence town from June 5th to 7th, 2026. Highlights include the Schlossgeflüster party on Friday evening, the car show and live band «Die Dicken Kinder» on Saturday, and the big children's festival on Sunday. The festival days are traditionally opened by the Sondershäuser Stadtlauf on Thursday.

The 2026 edition sticks to the proven three-day format and once again focuses on a mix of party, culture, family, and city events. The premium sponsor is Stadtwerke Sondershausen, supported by regional companies and housing associations.

Highlights Residenzfest 2026

Schlossgeflüster party Friday (DJs Tiefundton, JOL, etc.); Live band «Die Dicken Kinder» Saturday; Car show on the market square; Children's festival Sunday; Sondershäuser Stadtlauf Thursday.

Programme Residenzfest 2026

Thursday, June 4th, 2026

Sondershäuser Stadtlauf (city run) – traditional opening

Friday, June 5th, 2026

Evening – Schlossgeflüster disco party on the palace grounds
DJs: Tiefundton, JOL, Küche 80, Jay Cee, Rob.Bee
Advance sale €10, box office €15

Saturday, June 6th, 2026

10:00 AM–5:00 PM – Car and e-mobility show on the market square
Craft market
Toy bazaar and medieval entertainment
Evening – «Die Dicken Kinder» live on the main stage

Sunday, June 7th, 2026

Big Children's Festival: craft stations, bouncy castles, hands-on activities, dance groups, musical performances by local cultural associations

Prices Residenzfest 2026

Saturday and Sunday programs are free. Schlossgeflüster Friday: Advance sale €10, box office €15.

Practical information

Practical information — Residenzfest

Getting There

Sondershausen is located between Erfurt and Nordhausen, easily accessible via the B 4. From Sondershausen train station, you can reach the market square and Theaterwiese in a 10-minute walk.

Admission

Saturday and Sunday programs are free. For the Schlossgeflüster party on Friday, the advance ticket costs €10, and at the box office, it's €15.

A Former Princely Residence Celebrates

For centuries, Sondershausen was the residence of the Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen – the magnificent palace on the outskirts of town still bears witness to this today. The Sondershäuser Residenzfest, which the town has celebrated every year in June since the early 2000s, builds on this courtly tradition and combines it with a modern city festival character: the palace grounds, Theaterwiese, and city center become a large festival mile.

Three Days, Three Accents

Friday: Schlossgeflüster – a lively disco party on the palace grounds with various DJs
Saturday: Car and e-mobility show on the market square, craft market, live music on the main stage
Sunday: Big children's festival with craft stations, bouncy castles, hands-on activities, and dance group performances

The Sondershäuser Stadtlauf traditionally kicks off the festival days on Thursday.

Sondershausen – Center of the Kyffhäuser District

Sondershausen is the administrative seat of the Kyffhäuserkreis (Kyffhäuser District) in North Thuringia. The town's cityscape and identity are strongly shaped by the former principality and by potash mining, which was carried out here until 1990. The Residenzfest, alongside the palace, is one of the town's most important identifying features.