48th Stadtfest Lüdenscheid 2026

48 Years of Tradition in the Sauerland

The Stadtfest Lüdenscheid is one of the most traditional city festivals in the Märkischer Kreis and the Sauerland region. It was first celebrated in 1976 and has since — with few exceptions — been an annual meeting place on the second weekend in September for locals and visitors from all over the Sauerland. The 48th edition will take place on September 12th and 13th, 2026, during which the city will also celebrate 50 years of city festival history.

When and Where?

• Dates: Saturday, September 12th, and Sunday, September 13th, 2026 (second weekend in September)
• Location: Lüdenscheid City Center — Marktplatz, Sternplatz, Wilhelmstraße, and side streets
• Admission: Free

What to Expect?

Live Music on Multiple Stages

On three to four stages in the city center, regional bands, cover bands, and DJs will perform a diverse program: Pop, Schlager, Rock, Soul, acoustic sets, and dialect song evenings. The stages are distributed to separate individual style areas — so the Schlager fan isn't standing next to the Rock fan.

Children's and Family Program

A dedicated family area with children's carousels, bouncy castles, face painting stations, hands-on workshops, and small stage acts (clowns, magicians, children's theater). Families are traditionally welcome at the Stadtfest Lüdenscheid.

Club Stands and Culinary Delights

Lüdenscheid clubs, restaurateurs, and initiatives present themselves at stands in the city center: sports clubs, cultural associations, social initiatives, church communities. Food: Sauerland specialties (Pannas, Mettwurst, Schmandkuchen), Bratwurst, fries, crêpes, vegetarian options, local breweries (Iserlohner, Veltins), cocktails.

Showmen

A small Kirmes (funfair) atmosphere with showmen: carousel, ring toss stall, candy stand, wheel of fortune. Distributed across the large squares of the city center.

Lüdenscheid — The Sauerland City

Lüdenscheid is located in the Märkischer Kreis, in the southwestern part of the Sauerland — on a hill between the Volme and Lenne valleys. With around 72,000 inhabitants, the city is the economic and administrative center of the Märkischer Kreis. Known for its lighting industry (hence the nickname "City of Light"), the Phänomenta (interactive science museum), and the Forum Lüdenscheid. The Stadtfest provides the city with a great collective moment once a year.

Organizers

The organizer is the Lüdenscheider Stadtmarketing GmbH (LSM) in cooperation with the City of Lüdenscheid. Registrations for exhibitors and club stands will open in spring 2026 with Katja Schlorff (LSM).