87th Allgäu Regional Costume Festival Rettenberg

The most important traditional costume festival in the Allgäu region in 2026

The Allgäu Regional Costume Festival is the central event of the Allgäuer Gauverband — the umbrella organization of the Allgäu mountain costume and heritage associations. It moves annually between member locations and in 2026, in its 87th edition, will be hosted by the Trachtenverein 'Grüntenbuebe' Rettenberg. For the Grüntenbuebe, it is also their own 100th club anniversary — an occasion that makes the 2026 festival particularly festive.

Rettenberg — the 'Bier.Genuss.Dorf'

Rettenberg in the Oberallgäu district (around 4,500 inhabitants) is picturesquely located at the foot of the Grünten (1,738 m) with views of the Iller river and Alpsee lake. Three breweries (Engelbräu, Krone-Bräu, Zötler) make the town the most famous 'Bier.Genuss.Dorf' (Beer.Enjoyment.Village) in Germany. The private brewery Engelbräu — a family business with a long tradition — also supplies the festival tent of the Regional Costume Festival. Anyone looking for authentic Allgäu beer will find it in Rettenberg.

What happens at the Regional Costume Festival

• Parade: On the festival Sunday, a grand costume parade through Rettenberg with costume associations from all over the Allgäu region, and costume groups from Tyrol and Bavaria
• Festive Service: A solemn mass outdoors or in the parish church
• Plattler Competition: The Allgäu Schuhplattler groups compete against each other, judged by a jury
• Dirndldrahn: Competition in traditional couple dancing
• Festival Tent Operations: Engelbräu festival tent with Allgäu delicacies, beer, live music
• Allgäu Feager Concert: On Saturday, August 8, 2026, 9:00 PM in the Kranzegg festival tent (part of Rettenberg) — the most important Allgäu party live band

Districts and Festival Infrastructure

Rettenberg consists of several districts — Rottach, Untermaiselstein, Vorderburg, Emmereis, and Kranzegg. The festival tent is located in Kranzegg, which forms a festival unit with the main town of Rettenberg and the other districts. Visitors to the Regional Costume Festival will experience the entire Rettenberg festival area at the foot of the Grünten.

Allgäu Traditional Costume — Different from Chiemgau

The Allgäu traditional costume differs from that of Upper Bavaria: Men wear short lederhosen with a 'Steg' (a connecting strip), a short grey or dark jacket ('Joppe') with green lapels, and a round hat with a chamois beard ('Gamsbart'). Women wear the Allgäu Dirndl with a characteristic apron and a bodice ('Mieder'). The diversity of these costumes is one of the visual highlights during the Schuhplattler performances and parades.