Arkadenfest Bietigheim-Bissingen

52nd Edition in Bietigheim's Old Town

Bietigheim-Bissingen, with around 43,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest towns in the Ludwigsburg district (AGS 08118) — and its historic arcaded old town with half-timbered houses and covered colonnades is among the most beautiful town centers in Württemberg. The Arkadenfest has taken place here since 1974, and in 2026 it will celebrate its 52nd edition. Dates: Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Live Music Under the Arcades

The Arkadenfest is primarily a live music festival. On two stages — the market square and the arcade area — various bands from the region and beyond will perform throughout the weekend. Cover bands, Schlager, rock, jazz, and folk music will alternate. The audience sits between the columns of the arcades or dances in the market square in front of the stage. Early performances start in the afternoon, with the main program beginning in the late afternoon and running until after midnight. In good weather, the market square fills up until closing time on both evenings — creating an atmosphere somewhere between a city festival, a family reunion, and an open-air concert.

Organizers and Tradition

The event is organized by two traditional Bietigheim clubs: Sängerkranz Bietigheim e.V. (founded 1845) and Carl-Benz-Verein „CBV Wobachspatzen". The clubs share the organization, setup and dismantling, and catering — from grilled Maultaschen to Spätzle and Schnitzel, as well as Swabian wines from the Bottwartal valley and Lemberger from the region. The Arkadenfest helps finance a significant portion of the clubs' activities throughout the year. Both clubs have been collaborating for decades — one of the oldest festival partnerships in Württemberg.

The Bietigheim Summer Week

The Arkadenfest traditionally kicks off the Bietigheimer Sommerwoche (Bietigheim Summer Week), which includes further city and district festivals — Bissinger Hocketse, city festivals in the suburbs of Untermberg, Metterzimmern, and Bissingen. Visitors to Bietigheim-Bissingen in the summer should definitely plan their trip around the Arkadenfest weekend — enjoy the old town, live music, local beer, and Swabian food against a historic backdrop. The growing Bietigheim old town, with its burgher houses from the 16th to 18th centuries, is worth a visit even outside of festival days.