The weekend of July 25 and 26, 2026 puts a stage back in the spotlight that has been writing rock history for almost 50 years: Rockpalast returns to the open-air stage at the Loreley cliff. At the same time, Zweibruecken opens its old town to more than 100,000 guests for the biggest city festival in the southwestern Palatinate.
Near Kruft, a castle ruin turns into a sea of lantern light for one weekend. In Moerschied, an open-air theatre season closes out with a Karl May adventure, and in Ludwigshafen, the street theatre festival marks its 25th anniversary.
Our favourite this time is the lantern festival at Burg Olbrueck. Where else do stilt walkers, magicians and a lively market meet a medieval ruin lit by candlelight after dark?
Add a rolling rally museum in Daun, a wine-hiking festival along a trail with the curious name "monkey swing" near Ilbesheim, and the 61st edition of a Moselle wine festival in Hatzenport. Ten picks for a weekend between the Rhine, the Moselle, the Palatinate and the Eifel.
Rockpalast Open Air at the Loreley: a legend returns to the cliffside stage
On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Rockpalast plays the open-air stage at the Loreley cliff above Sankt Goarshausen once again. Since the late 1970s, WDR's Rockpalast has repeatedly turned this spot into a stage for major rock history. From Frank Zappa to Joe Jackson to Coldplay, generations of musicians have played here, leaving behind TV recordings still quoted today.
The rock face above the Rhine adds an extra layer of resonance to every show. Anyone who wants to hear rock history rather than just read about it will struggle to find a better setting than the Loreley.
The classic concert date of the weekend.
Stadtfest Zweibruecken: eight stages for the biggest party in the southwestern Palatinate
From July 24 to 26, 2026, the entire old town of Zweibruecken turns into one big festival ground. Eight stages carry a three-day programme of rock, pop and regional music. Considered the city's biggest festival event of the year, it traditionally draws more than 100,000 visitors from across the Palatinate.
For anyone after a festival with no single theme, this is simply the largest gathering of stages, stalls and crowds anywhere in the state this weekend.
The heavyweight among the weekend's folk festivals.
Horizonte World Music Festival Koblenz: samba, desert sounds and swing at the fortress
From July 24 to 26, 2026, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress high above the Rhine turns into a colourful festival ground for the Horizonte World Music Festival. Over three days, Brazilian samba, Tanzanian Gnoma tradition, Malian desert sounds and Latin American swing all share the same stage. It's considered one of Germany's most established world-music open-airs.
Where else do you hear music from three continents in a single weekend, framed by fortress walls overlooking the Rhine?
The weekend's most far-travelled musical option.
Fury in the Slaughterhouse at Trier's Roman amphitheatre
On July 25, 2026, the Hanover band Fury in the Slaughterhouse plays Trier's Roman amphitheatre. Fronted by brothers Kai and Thorsten Wingenfelder, the band has shaped German-language rock since the late 1980s. Hits like "Won't Forget These Days," "Time to Wonder" and "Radio Orchid" are all part of the night's set.
The roughly 1,800-year-old arena, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, gives the concert a backdrop no stadium can match.
Rock sound between ancient stone tiers.
Lantern Festival at Burg Olbrueck: the high point of the Night of the Volcanoes
From July 25 to 26, 2026, the grounds around Burg Olbrueck near Kruft turn into a magical summer party. From 2pm, magicians, stilt walkers and a lively market fill the programme, with live music on stage. The lantern festival closes out the ten-day Night of the Volcanoes, which has run since July 17 across the entire region around Laacher See lake, from Mendig through Plaidt to Nickenich.
At night, candlelight gives the ruin a look rarely seen elsewhere in the volcanic Eifel.
The most atmospheric closing note of a long festival week.
25 years of street theatre in Ludwigshafen: fan favourites make a comeback
From July 24 to 26, 2026, the International Street Theatre Festival Ludwigshafen celebrates its 25th anniversary. For three days, the old town becomes an open-air stage for acrobatics, contemporary circus and international street theatre. For the anniversary edition, several audience favourites from past years return to Ludwigshafen.
Unlike a concert stage, there's no fixed audience here: walk down any street and you'll simply stumble into the next act.
An anniversary for families and passers-by alike.
ADAC Eifel Rally Festival Daun: 160 historic cars as a rolling museum
Through Saturday, July 25, 2026, Daun in the volcanic Eifel turns into a vast open-air museum for the ADAC Eifel Rally Festival. More than 160 historic rally cars spanning five decades line Leopoldstrasse, from Group B monsters to rally classics. It's billed as the world's biggest rolling rally museum.
Anyone who prefers motorsport history up close rather than on a screen gets three days of free access to cars usually kept behind museum glass.
The alternative for anyone who wants some horsepower between the wine and the rock music.
Karl May Festival Moerschied: the season's last weekend with Winnetou 2
The 2026 season of the Karl May Festival Moerschied ends on July 26, 2026, making this weekend the last chance to catch "Winnetou 2" on the open-air stage in the Birkenfeld district. The volunteer troupe combines elaborate sets, horsemanship and stunts into one big story.
The stage is considered one of the most established Karl May venues in southwestern Germany.
The final curtain of a long summer season.
61st Wein- und Heimatfest Hatzenport: four days on the Moselle promenade
From July 24 to 27, 2026, the Moselle village of Hatzenport celebrates the 61st edition of its wine and heritage festival. The riverside promenade of this village, tucked between steep vineyard slopes, turns into a festival mile with wine stalls, a marquee and live music. Opening hours run Friday from 6pm, Saturday from 6pm, and Sunday from as early as 9am.
One of the most reliable addresses for classic Moselle festival atmosphere without a packed programme booklet.
Tradition that has worked for six decades running.
Kalmitfest on the "monkey swing" trail: wine hiking with a view over the Rhine plain
On Saturday, July 25 (from 2pm) and Sunday, July 26, 2026 (from noon), six winemakers pour their wines along the Wingertweg trail nicknamed "Affenschaukel" (monkey swing) for the Ilbesheim Kalmitfest. The stations sit below the Kleine Kalmit, a hill with a wide view over the Rhine plain.
The trail's odd name is a curious hook. The view at the end of the hike is the reason the detour pays off.
The quietest, most scenic wine format on this list.
For more events across Germany, see our agenda for this weekend. Enjoy the summer weekend in Rhineland-Palatinate.
