The City of Salzgitter’s Cultural Department has given a positive assessment of the Salzgitter Kultursommer 2026: A total of approximately 11,000 visitors attended the events in the Mühlengarten and in the courtyard of the Städtisches Museum Schloss Salder. This significantly exceeded the Cultural Affairs Department’s target of 10,000 visitors.
The diverse program—featuring major concert evenings, comedy, cultural events, and family activities—drew a broad audience to Schloss Salder. Christian Steiffen, whose concert was organized by the Piekert concert agency, was a particular standout, attracting nearly 3,000 visitors and leading the way in attendance. “Once again, we were able to offer a diverse program and a special atmosphere against the historic backdrop of the Salder Castle Museum. The positive trend in visitor numbers shows that the Kultursommer, with its mix of major concert evenings, comedy, and cultural and family programs, reaches a broad audience,” said project manager Jamina Kniebel.
A Diverse Program at the Mühlengarten
During the first week, the Mühlengarten once again impressed with a program deliberately curated to be diverse. The internationally acclaimed accordion duo “con:trust” kicked things off with “Viva Akkordeon!” They were followed by the “Comedy Ladies,” who once again received a tremendous response from the audience. The ensemble “Havana” then treated the audience to an evening of Afro-Cuban rhythms, before “Aretha – The Queen of Soul” rounded out the concert series at the Mühlengarten with a musical tribute to Aretha Franklin. Up-and-coming artist Emily Rose from Salzgitter performed as the opening act.
The musical program was complemented by cultural and family-oriented activities. Hans Göttmann presented “Erwachsen?!” (All Grown Up?!), a clown-style solo performance for children. The program also featured chanson and literature with “Das Ding oder Dingsda” (That Thing or What’s-It-Called). The traditional city breakfast hosted by the Salzgitter Community Foundation brought the events in the Mühlengarten to a close.
Attendance at the Mühlengarten was particularly encouraging. Compared to the previous year, numbers increased significantly. This confirms the positive development of the venue, which is increasingly establishing itself as an integral part of the Kultursommer.
Department head Hartmut Schölch also has a long history with the venue: as far back as 1998, he was responsible for curating the program for the first Mühlengarten evenings. “I am particularly pleased that the Mühlengarten remains an integral part of the Kultursommer today and has continued to evolve. The current visitor numbers show that we continue to reach a broad audience with our program,” said Schölch.
Big Names and Musical Diversity in the Castle Courtyard
In the courtyard of Salder Castle, the Kultursommer once again showcased its wide musical range and appealed to a diverse audience. Suzi Quatro, an international rock legend, took the stage, while Schiller created an atmospheric concert evening with his electronic music. Max Giesinger brought German-language pop to the stage, and KAMRAD rounded out the program with modern pop and indie pop.
Christian Steiffen delivered a performance that was both musical and humorous, while the Finnish cello-metal band “Apocalyptica” created a special concert evening with their extraordinary sound.
Once again, the castle courtyard offered a diverse mix of rock, pop, electronic music, and unique musical formats. The concerts by Schiller and Christian Steiffen, in particular, drew visitors to Salzgitter from a wider catchment area. Guests traveled from various parts of Germany, including Berlin.
“In addition to the attendance figures, we’re particularly pleased with the atmosphere that developed during the events. We had an audience that was both deeply interested in culture and very well-behaved. The fact that people traveled from other cities and regions to attend the concerts also demonstrates the nationwide appeal of individual events,” said Schölch.
Effective collaboration with partners and emergency responders
A successful Kultursommer is only possible thanks to the collaboration of many participants. The cooperation on the event grounds with THW, the fire department, and the Johanniter went very well again this year.
“We’d like to extend our special thanks to everyone involved who contributed to the success of the Kultursommer, both on stage and behind the scenes. The collaboration with THW, the fire department, and the Johanniter on site was once again outstanding. We would also like to thank our partners, especially the Piekert concert agency and Studio D4, who supported us in making the Kultursommer a reality,” said the project management team.
Kultursommer 2027: First Program Events Announced
After the Kultursommer comes the next Kultursommer: The next Kultursommer Salzgitter kicks off on Wednesday, July 21, 2027. The program for the Mühlengarten has already been largely finalized.
“The challenge and our goal for the Mühlengarten program lie in striking a balance: we want to offer ‘something for everyone’ with as low a barrier to entry as possible, while at the same time maintaining the highest possible standards,” explains project manager Jamina Kniebel.
The 2027 season will kick off with the folk music ensemble “Maxjoseph.” The “Comedy Ladies” will also remain a staple of the Kultursommer program and will return once again to the Mühlengarten. Other events already planned include Charly Gitanos with “Ein Stück Spanien” and the “Indiegarten,” whose lineup is yet to be announced.
Sunday is traditionally reserved for family- and culture-oriented programming. Plans include a children’s play by the Trotz-Alledem Theater and a reading featuring chanson and cabaret.