Events in Baden-Württemberg this weekend, August 8-9, 2026 (08.08.2026): drones light up the sky over Lake Constance, Ketsch fries its famous river fish, and knights joust in a Renaissance moated castle. Our pick for the weekend: Constance's Seenachtfest, which trades part of its traditional fireworks for a drone show for the first time in its 70-plus-year history. Where would you rather spend your Saturday — lakeside, in a vineyard, or on a jousting field?
Seenachtfest Constance: a Lake Tradition Since 1953
The Seenachtfest in Constance ranks among Germany's largest and most atmospheric lakeside festivals. On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the entire waterfront — Stadtgarten, Konzilvorplatz, Hafenstraße and Klein Venedig — turns into one long promenade of stalls and stages from 3pm onward. 2026 marks a turning point: for the first time, a drone show merges with light art and the classic fireworks display over the lake. Expect large crowds along the shore all evening. More on the Seenachtfest
Backfischfest in Ketsch: 73rd Edition, 150,000 Visitors
From July 31 to August 9, 2026, Ketsch on the Rhine celebrates the 73rd edition of its Backfischfest, one of the Upper Rhine's biggest folk festivals, drawing an estimated 150,000 visitors. A festival tent, wine lounge and funfair run for ten days, alongside the namesake specialty: Rhenish backfisch fried fresh in the pan. A Sunday parade closes out the ten-day run. More on the Backfischfest
Metropolink Festival Heidelberg: Urban Art in a Former US Base
From August 5 to 8, 2026, Patrick-Henry-Village in Heidelberg hosts the 12th edition of Metropolink, one of Germany's most ambitious urban art festivals. Four days of concerts — hip-hop, Afrobeat, electro, indie, with acts including Kokoroko, Charlotte Colace, Kwam.E, Deki Alem, Weval and Grandbrothers — meet large-scale murals painted across the former US military housing site. The final festival day falls on Saturday, August 8. More on Metropolink
Zwingenberg Castle Festival: EVITA for the First Time
The Schlossfestspiele Zwingenberg run their 43rd season from July 30 to August 9, 2026, in the castle courtyard above the Neckar — and for the first time in over 40 years, the programme includes Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical EVITA. Soloists, a festival choir and children's choir, and an 18-piece orchestra carry the roughly two-and-a-half-hour production. The weekend of August 8-9 is among the season's final performance dates. More on the castle festival
Musik im Park Schwetzingen: David Garrett Before a Baroque Backdrop
Schwetzingen's palace garden hosts the 17th edition of Musik im Park from July 30 to August 9, 2026, with eight concerts by well-known names. Uriah Heep and Mother's Finest played Friday, August 7; violinist David Garrett takes the stage Saturday, August 8; Zahide closes the series on Sunday. The baroque garden setting makes this one of the region's most atmospheric concert series. More on Musik im Park
European Church Music Festival, Schwäbisch Gmünd: 38th Edition
For three weeks, from July 17 to August 9, 2026, the Heilig-Kreuz-Münster and around a dozen other churches in Schwäbisch Gmünd turn into concert halls for early music, choral works, jazz and contemporary compositions. The 38th edition, themed "Balance," ranks among Europe's most respected church music festivals. Sunday, August 9, brings the final concerts of this year's run. More on the church music festival
Galgenberg Festival Aalen: 25th Edition by an Old Gasworks
On August 7 and 8, 2026, the Galgenberg Festival in Aalen celebrates its 25th edition — an open-air music festival staged at the industrial landmark of an old gasworks on Hirschbachstraße. The Kulturfreunde Galgenberg association mixes regional bands from the Ostalb district with handpicked newcomers and established acts from German-speaking Europe. The festival wraps up Saturday evening, August 8. More on the Galgenberg Festival
Angelbachtal Knights' Tournament: A Medieval Camp at Eichtersheim Castle
On August 8 and 9, 2026, the moated Renaissance castle park at Eichtersheim turns into a medieval encampment. Three jousting tournaments run each day — Saturday at 2pm, 6pm and 9pm — alongside a large medieval market with craftspeople in period costume, minstrels, jugglers and fire performers. Medieval food and drink are served straight from the market stalls, with plenty to keep families busy for a full afternoon. More on the knights' tournament
Hoolgaaschtfest, Schwäbisch Hall: Torchlight on the City Wall
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Schwäbisch Hall celebrates the Hoolgaaschtfest, honoring the Hoolgaascht, one of the best-known figures in local legend. On the historic city wall by the Langenfelder Tor and in the Pechnasenturm tower, the town gathers for a summer evening of torchlight, colored lanterns and conviviality. In the local Haller dialect, the "Hoolgaascht" is remembered as a fearsome figure from the town's past, honored each year in this unusual way. More on the Hoolgaaschtfest
Löwenstein Music and Wine Festival: Wines from the Weinsberg Valley
On Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9, 2026, the Löwenstein music club hosts its traditional wine and music festival at the Weinhaus Löwenstein. From 6pm Saturday and 10am Sunday, the beer garden and covered terraces pour local wines from the upper Weinsberg valley, alongside food and live music. The festival stays deliberately small and personal — a counterpoint to the region's bigger names. More on the Löwenstein festival
Härdepfel Village Festival, Forchheim: The Potato Takes Center Stage
From August 8 to 10, 2026, the Härdepfel-Dorffest in Forchheim am Kaiserstuhl marks its usual slot on the second August weekend. "Härdepfel" is Alemannic for potato — and gives the festival its theme, celebrating the regionally rooted dish in its traditional preparations. Eight local clubs run their own stalls, with live music on the grounds of the Forchheim Festhalle. It's a festival built entirely around the village community rather than outside headline acts. More on the Härdepfel festival
More dates in the region
From the lakeside festival mile at Lake Constance to the medieval camp in the Kraichgau: Baden-Württemberg offers an unusually wide spread of events this weekend, August 8-9, 2026. Find more dates and locations in our weekend guide for Baden-Württemberg.
