Celebrations on the market square
Every year on Reformation Day on October 31, Lutherstadt Wittenberg invites you to a joyful celebration on the market square. This celebrates Martin Luther's 95 theses, which, according to tradition, he posted on the castle church in Wittenberg. A colorful market with historical spectacles, stalls and food and drink await visitors. Numerous festive church services and concerts are also held in the town's churches. Come along and be enchanted by the historical spectacle in the old town!
The stores in the city center are open on 31.10. from 12:00 to 17:00.
Public city tour on Reformation Day
The public city tour takes you through the old town of Lutherstadt Wittenberg from the castle church to the Luther House. (without interior tours)
Time: 11:00 / 12:00 / 13:00 and 14:00
Duration: 1.5 hours
Meeting point: Tourist Information Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Schlossplatz 2
Cost: 10.00 euros per person, reduced rate 6.00 euros
Please book in advance.
Compact program overview
Highlights at a glance
- Historical market spectacle - 31.10., 11:00-19:00, Old Town (market, Cranach-Hof, Schlosswiese & Schlossplatz)
- Great procession of lights - 31.10., start 17:00 at Lutherhaus → finish Schlosswiese (finale with music & warming soup)
- Art installation "Wittenberg Sound Theses" - 31.10., 11:00-19:00, Bunkerberg/University Park
Thursday, October 30, 2025
17:00 - Castle Church - English-language Reformation service (with communion) (admission free)
19:30 - Stadtkirche - Concert "Vacation for the soul" (with Jürgen Werth) (admission free)
Friday, October 31, 2025 - Reformation Day
10:00 a.m. - Castle Church - Festive service (sermon: Birgit Neumann-Becker) (admission free)
11:00 a.m. - City Church - Reformation Day service (admission free)
11:00-19:00 - Old Town - Historical market spectacle (music, jugglers, crafts, food & drink) (admission free)
11:00 / 12:00 / 13:00 / 14:00 - Schlossplatz - Public city tour (~1 h each) (€ 9.00 (reduced € 6.00))
11:30 a.m. - Schlosskirche - EKD festive service (sermon: Bishop Kirsten Fehrs) (admission free)
11:00-17:00 - Cranach-Hof, Markt 4 - Exhibition "Cranach World" & special exhibition "A Life for Art - Thea Schleusner" (ticket € 7.00)
12:00 pm - Cranach-Hof, Schlossstraße 1, Malsaal - Lecture "Remembering means preserving - cultural heritage & climate stress" (Volker Demuth) (admission € 5.00)
13:00 - Cranach-Hof, Markt 4 - Guided tour of the Cranach exhibitions (meeting point: ticket office) (admission + €1.00 tour fee)
15:00 - Stadthaus - "Klüngel - das Krokodil mit der Klingel" (musical adventure reading) (advance booking € 8.00 / ticket office € 10.00)
15:00 - LEUCOREA, Audimax - Disputation: "How political can/should a university be?" (Registration required)
15:00 - Cranach-Hof, Markt 4 - Family tour of the Cranach exhibitions (admission + €1.00 tour fee)
16:00 - St. Mary's Church - Corpus Christi Chapel - A cappella concert (sacred songs 16th-17th century) (admission free (donation))
5:00 pm - Start: Lutherhaus → Schlosswiese - Large procession of lights (lanterns, music, torches; finale on the Schlosswiese) (for all generations)
17:00 - Castle Church - Concert "Jesus is the Solid Rock - Ein feste Burg" (Manuel Schienke & Friends) (admission free (donation))
18:00 - Stadthaus - concert "Glaubensreise" (Klaus André Eickhoff & Torsten Harder) (VVK 17,00 € / AK 20,00 €; children up to 12 free)
18:30 - Stadtkirche - Reformation Festival Concert (Wittenberg Motet Choir; works from Desprez to Brahms) (admission free)
11:00-19:00 - Bunkerberg/University Park - 95 sound theses - sound installation (admission free)
Saturday, 01.11. - Sunday, 02.11.2025
01.-02.11. - Evangelische Akademie Sachsen Anhalt e. V. - Luther Study Days: "Between the veneration of relics, the Reformation and the Peasants' War" (participation € 40.00; registration via website)
Practical tips
- Free admission to the historical market spectacle and many church events.
- Stores open: The city center invites you to stroll around during the festival.
- Arrival & parking: Additional parking spaces near the old town; for public transport information, see Tourist Information.
Tip
If you are visiting the candlelight procession with children: arrive at the Lutherhaus in good time (from approx. 16:30), bring lanterns/light ribbons; warm drinks are available at the finish on the Schlosswiese.
