| Ruhrfestspiele | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Entrance to the Ruhrfestspielhaus, 2009 | |
| Genre | European theatre, with a focus on political plays |
| Begins | 1 May |
| Ends | mid June |
| Frequency | biennual |
| Location(s) | Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Inaugurated | 1946 |
| Next event | 2016 |
| Organised by | |
| Website | www |
Ruhrfestspiele (Ruhr Festival) in Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is one of the oldest theatre festivals in Europe. Founded after World War II, the festival is a major annual cultural event for the Ruhr area. It always starts on 1 May and is funded by the city of Recklinghausen and the labour union Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB). The festival comprises performances from European performers and theatre companies, and aims to bring different art forms, languages and cultures together. The main venue is the Ruhrfestspielhaus, which has won awards for its architecture.