Zöppkesmarkt Solingen — City Festival
Traditional Solingen City Festival in the City Centre — Songwriter Stage, Street Music, Showmen
About Zöppkesmarkt
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Solingen's Traditional City Festival in an Uncertain Season
For decades, the Zöppkesmarkt has been Solingen's major city festival — a city-wide event featuring showman attractions, stage programmes, and street music in the city centre. For 2026, the city intends to hold the festival again from September 11th to 13th — but the date is overshadowed by an open question regarding the organiser: The previous organiser, Gesellschaft zur Förderung der traditionellen Solinger Brauchtums UG, terminated the contract effective March 30th, 2026. The city has launched a public tender process, and the Schaustellerverband Rhein-Ruhr has submitted its application.
The City's Concept — Songwriters and Street Music
If the festival takes place in 2026, the proven concept is to be implemented:
- Songwriter and Street Music Stage — small-scale live acts on several squares in the city centre
- Showman Attractions — rides, stalls, classic fairground attractions on the main squares
- Club Stands — local Solingen clubs with catering stands and hands-on activities
- Sunday Shopping — combined market Sunday
Solingen — The "Blade City" in the Bergisches Land
Solingen is the "Blade City" — world-renowned for knives, scissors, and cutlery — and is located in the Bergisches Land region of North Rhine-Westphalia, forming the "Bergisches Städtedreieck" (Bergisch Triangle Cities) along with Wuppertal and Remscheid. The Zöppkesmarkt is conceived as a city festival celebrating Solingen's industrial and craft self-confidence. The name derives from the Lower Rhenish word "Zöppke" (onion) — originally a market day around Solingen's city centre with an onion market element.
2026 Status — To Be Determined
As of May 2026, the tender process is not yet complete. The City of Solingen communicates "optimism" that the festival will take place on the planned date — detailed programmes and the organiser will be announced shortly. Those wishing to visit the festival in 2026 should check the website solingen.de in advance for current updates.
Zöppkesmarkt — edition 2026
The 2026 edition is under special circumstances: The previous organiser, Gesellschaft zur Förderung der traditionellen Solinger Brauchtums UG, terminated the contract effective March 30th, 2026. The city has launched a public tender process — as of May 2026, the showmen's association Rhein-Ruhr is a candidate. The city is "optimistic" that the festival can take place, and the final programme will be announced shortly.
Programme Zöppkesmarkt 2026
Planned Concept (subject to organiser award)
- Songwriter and street music stages in several city centre squares
- Showman attractions — rides, stalls, classic fairground operations
- Club stands with catering and hands-on activities
- Sunday shopping
Programme details and stage line-ups will be published after the tender process is completed.
Highlights Zöppkesmarkt 2026
- Traditional Solingen city festival in the city centre
- Focus on songwriters and street music
- Showman attractions and club stands
- Sunday shopping
Prices Zöppkesmarkt 2026
Free admission. Showman attractions, food, and drinks are subject to charges.
Practical information — Zöppkesmarkt
Getting There
Solingen Hauptbahnhof (main station) is accessible via S 7 (suburban train) and RE lines from Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Wuppertal. From the station, it's a 5-minute walk to the city centre. By car, take the A3 (Solingen exit) or A46.
Admission
Free admission. Showman attractions and food/drinks are subject to charges.
Tip
Due to the uncertain organiser situation in 2026: check the status on solingen.de before travelling. Sunday is usually combined with Sunday shopping — expect higher crowds in the city centre accordingly.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Zöppkesmarkt al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Zöppkesmarkt
Innenstadt Solingen
Innenstadt Solingen, 42651 Solingen