54th Waldstadt Tattoo Iserlohn — International Music Parade

One of North Rhine-Westphalia's Oldest Music Parades

The Waldstadt Tattoo Iserlohn — known until a few years ago as Musikparade Iserlohn — is one of the oldest and most established International Music Parades in the Sauerland region and in North Rhine-Westphalia. The 54th edition on Saturday, July 4, 2026, starting at 5:00 PM in the Hemberg Stadium offers around 150 minutes of musical spectacle at the highest level.

500 Musicians from Several Nations

Every year, the organizers bring over 500 musicians from several countries to Iserlohn — from British pipes and drums bands and Dutch show formations to German marching bands and police orchestras. Many of the participating ensembles regularly perform at the WMC Kerkrade — the world's most prestigious competition for brass and marching music. The musical program combines:

• British marching music traditions (Highland Bagpipes, classic Brass Bands)
• Dutch show bands with choreographed formations
• Pop classics in marching music arrangements
• Broadway themes (West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables)
• German police and Bundeswehr music corps

The Hemberg Stadium as a Stage

The Hemberg Stadium on Immermannstraße is Iserlohn's central sports venue, offering space on its pitch for the elaborate formations of the Tattoo ensembles. The grandstand seats several thousand spectators — making the Tattoo one of the largest open-air music parades in the Sauerland.

Part of the Bürgerschützenfest

The Waldstadt Tattoo is part of the larger Iserlohn Bürgerschützenfest, which traditionally takes place around Alexanderhöhe. Those arriving for the Tattoo weekend can extend their stay into a festival weekend: marksmen's festival atmosphere, beer tents, parades, and culinary Sauerland specialties complement the musical program.

Iserlohn — The "Forest City" in the Sauerland

Iserlohn, with around 92,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Märkischer Kreis district in North Rhine-Westphalia and is located in the northern Sauerland. The nickname "Waldstadt" (Forest City) — which gives the Tattoo its name — refers to the exceptionally high proportion of forest in the city area (around 50%). The city is well-connected via the A46 motorway and the Iserlohn main train station (RB line).