Festivals

The people of Duisburg are especially communicative and love being sociable. It isn’t long before the conversation starts flowing at the numerous festivals held in the city throughout the year. Anybody with an interest in culture will find a rich and diverse range of events in Duisburg.

February/March/April

Duisburger TANZtage

With more than 5,000 dancers, the Duisburger TANZtage is the biggest amateur dance festival in Germany. From hip-hop to show and modern dance to ballet, virtually every form of dance is represented.

A dance formation at the Duisburger TANZTagen

February

Kaas & Kappes

The Dutch and German theatre festival for children and young people has become firmly established on the German festival scene since it was founded in 1999.

March

Duisburger Akzente

This festival runs for several weeks and covers a wide range of disciplines. The programme has focused on cultural and sociopolitical issues ever since it was launched back in 1977.

An art installation at the Duisburger Akzente

April/May/June/July

Klavier-Festival Ruhr

Internationally renowned pianists and budding artists present piano music par excellence at around 80 concerts performed over a period of about three months.

May/June

KinderKulturFestival

The KinderKulturFestival at Duisburg’s Inner Harbour covers a wide range of interests, with music, theatre and plenty of activities for kids.

A film event as part of the KinderKulturFestival

June

Traumzeitfestival

This three-day festival held at the furnace in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord presents stars and other [BN1] discoveries from a wide range of music genres, including indie, pop, rock, jazz and singer-songwriting.

An open-air gig at the Traumzeit Festival

June

Inner Harbour Festival

With the world’s biggest dragon boat fun regatta, the Inner Harbour Festival has evolved into a cult summer festival in recent years.

Drabon boat racing in the harbour basin

June

Extraschicht

The night of industrial heritage in the Ruhr region! Former industrial sites, waste tips and collieries are transformed into spectacular cultural settings.

Extraschicht in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

July

Beecker Kirmes

Around 180 rides and stalls make this traditional funfair in the north of Duisburg the biggest of its kind in the Lower Rhine region.

A ride at the Beecker Kirmes

July

Duisburger Stadtfest

A four-day party in the city centre. Popular bands and other acts provide rousing entertainment on a number of different stages.

Stadtfest stage on Königstraße

July/August

Open-air summer cinema

Carefully chosen films in the special open-air ambience of the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord – a real crowd-puller.

Open-air summer cinema

August/September

RuhrTriennale

The arts festival in the Ruhr Metropolis. Musical theatre, plays, dance, installations and music in the former industrial production halls of the Ruhr Area.

A peformance against an industrial backdrop

August

Ruhrort Port Festival

A big party in the port district of Ruhrort. A special highlight is the breathtaking firework display known as ‘Ruhrort in Flames’.

The Port Festival on the Rhine promenade

August

Duisburg Wine Festival

The winegrowers come to the city to present their wines. For a change, it is not the grain, but rather the grape that sets the tone at the beer tables.

Duisburg Wine Festival on Königstraße

September

Platzhirschfestival

The festival that celebrates diversity in Duisburg’s cool district. Three days of music and creativity on and around Dellplatz.

Platzhirsch Festival on Dellplatz

November

Duisburger Filmwoche

The Duisburger Filmwoche is the festival for German-language documentary films. Two main awards are presented, along with two awards for aspiring talent and a people’s choice award.

November/December

Duisburg Christmas Market

Get into the Christmas spirit at one of the region’s biggest and finest Christmas markets. Christmas trees, lights and lovingly decorated stalls attract visitors from both home and abroad.

Duisburg Christmas Market with big wheel