29th Stadtfest Hoyerswerda — Mešcanski swjedzen

29th Edition — A Quarter Century of Tradition

The Stadtfest Hoyerswerda has taken place annually on the second weekend of September since 1997, firmly anchoring it in the Lausitz festival calendar. In 2026, the festival will celebrate its 29th edition. During this time, the Stadtfest has evolved into the largest open-air event in the entire Lausitz region: what began in 1997 as a modest city anniversary is now a cross-generational festival with over 25 hours of programming on the main stage and a festival area spanning several squares and streets in Hoyerswerda's Neustadt.

The Sorbian-Influenced Lausitz

Hoyerswerda is located in the Sorbian settlement area of Lower Lusatia, in the Bautzen district of the state of Saxony. The Stadtfest therefore also bears a Sorbian name — Mešcanski swjedzen — and integrates Sorbian traditions, music, and associations into the program. Sorbian bands, traditional costume groups, and folk dances are integral parts, and the signage of the festival grounds is bilingual. This commitment to Sorbian identity is an important signal, especially in a city that has been significantly shaped by GDR-era housing construction and the structural changes of the lignite mining region.

Main Stage at the Lausitzhalle

The main stage of the Stadtfest is located directly in front of the Lausitzhalle on Lausitzer Platz and offers over 25 hours of live entertainment from Friday to Sunday: Schlager stars, rock bands, cover bands, Sorbian folk groups, children's programs, comedy acts, and the traditional stage finale on Sunday evening with the grand fireworks display. Admission is free — a deliberate decision by the city to make the festival accessible to all citizens. It is one of the few Volksfests (public festivals) in the Lausitz region that can be enjoyed without an entrance fee.

Stadtfest with City Run, Children's Town, and Street Theater

Beyond the stage program, the Stadtfest offers a broad range of accompanying events: The HOYWOJ CityLAUF is a fun run through the city center, attracting athletes and hobby runners from across the region. The International Street Theater Festival brings performance artists from several European countries to Hoyerswerda's city center. The HoykiWojki Children's Town is a dedicated initiative for families — a «mini-city» with professions, its own currency, and game mechanics, playfully teaching children about urban life. The VBH Silver Lake Beach Volleyball Tournament takes place concurrently at the nearby Silbersee lake.

Fireworks and Festival Finale

Sunday evening traditionally culminates in the grand fireworks display over Lausitzer Platz — the festive conclusion of a three-day Volksfest (public festival). Afterwards, the festival concludes with the stage finale, and the market stalls and amusement rides begin to dismantle. The atmosphere is often sentimental — many families and Hoyerswerda residents only meet at this one festival of the year.