Bad Kötzting Pentecost Festival Week & Folk Festival
A week of traditions centered around Europe's oldest equestrian procession
About Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting
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Pentecost in Bad Kötzting — Traditions since 1412
The Bad Kötzting Pentecost Ride is an equestrian pilgrimage that takes place annually on Whit Monday. It has been documented since 1412, making it one of Bavaria's oldest living traditions. Over 850 riders in their Sunday best process with the relic of Saint Nicholas from Bad Kötzting to the St. Nicholas Church in Steinbühl — a distance of about 7 km. It is the largest equestrian procession in Europe.
A Festival Week, Not Just a Single Day
Unlike pure equestrian processions elsewhere, the Pentecost Ride in Bad Kötzting is embedded in an entire festival week. From Whit Saturday to the following Sunday, the town transforms into a single festival ground: a beer tent with daily brass music, amusement rides, farmers' market, street theatre, and the traditional Pfingstl play in the town square.
Highlights of the Festival Week
- Horse Market on Whit Saturday — old horses and farmers' show in the town area
- Pfingstl Play — street theatre in the town square, featuring the Pfingstl (a figure dressed in birch green) as the main character
- Pentecost Ride on Monday — equestrian procession from Bad Kötzting to Steinbühl followed by a festive church service
- Folk Festival on the Festival Grounds — beer tent, amusement rides, shooting galleries, traditional horse market on the opening day
- Pentecost Ride Museum — open daily, with historical relics and festival clothing
- Art Exhibition in the Church Castle during the festival week
- Closing Fireworks on the last Saturday, approx. 10:30 PM
Bad Kötzting — Gateway to the Bavarian Forest
Bad Kötzting is located in the Lamer Winkel region in the Cham district, on the eastern edge of the Bavarian Forest, on the border with the Czech Republic. With just under 7,500 inhabitants, the town is primarily known as a spa and pilgrimage site. The Pentecost Festival Week attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the region every year — many come from Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate, and the Czech Republic.
Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting — edition 2026
The festival week 2026, officially confirmed by the town of Bad Kötzting, begins on Whit Saturday, May 23, with the traditional Horse Market starting at 8:30 AM, the festival opening in the afternoon, and the Pfingstl Play in the town square in the evening. Whit Sunday features a festive church service, horse breeding shows, and an evening program in the beer tent.
The heart of the festival week beats on Whit Monday, May 25: at 5 AM, the musical wake-up call sounds, at 8 AM, the procession of over 850 riders sets off towards Steinbühl, and at 1:15 PM, the formal reception follows. Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer (Diocese of Regensburg) will celebrate the festive mass. The rest of the week offers children's programs, senior afternoons, business receptions, and continuous festival operations. The grand finale is the festive fireworks on Saturday, May 31, at 10:30 PM.
Programme Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting 2026
Highlights of the 2026 Festival Week
Saturday, May 23 — Opening Day
- 8:30 AM — 12:00 PM — Horse Market (horse and farmers' show)
- 4:00 PM — Festival Opening at the Folk Festival Grounds
- 9:00 PM — Pfingstl Play in the Town Square (street theatre)
Sunday, May 24 — Whit Sunday
- Festive church services, horse breeding shows
- Evening festival tent with live music
Monday, May 25 — Pentecost Ride
- 5:00 AM — Musical Wake-up Call
- 8:00 AM — Departure of the Equestrian Procession (over 850 riders) towards Steinbühl
- 1:15 PM — Reception with Festive Mass, celebrated by Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer
Tuesday — Sunday (May 26 — May 31)
- Daily festival tent program in the Dimpflbräu Festival Tent (Die Weiß-Blau Königstreuen, among others)
- Pfingst-Olm Bierhalle: breakfast service, children's afternoons, DJ evenings
- Art exhibition in the Church Castle (May 17 — June 12)
- Pentecost Ride Museum daily 9:00 AM — 4:00 PM
- Children's programs, senior afternoons, business reception
Saturday, May 31 — Closing
- 10:30 PM — Grand Festival Fireworks
Detailed program: bad-koetzting.de.
Highlights Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting 2026
Prices Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting 2026
Practical information — Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting
Getting There
Cham — Bad Kötzting railway line (terminus Lam), connected to the Bayerische Waldbahn. By car via the B 85 or the A 3 (Straubing exit, then approx. 50 km). Park-and-Ride facilities are set up during the festival week.
Admission
The Pentecost Ride, Horse Market, Pfingstl Play, and festival grounds are freely accessible. Food and drinks in the festival tent are paid for on-site.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses in Bad Kötzting itself (spa hotel area), in Cham, Lam, and the Lamer Winkel region. Reservations should be made well in advance during the festival week.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Pentecost Ride Bad Kötzting
Volksfestplatz und Rathausplatz, Bad Kötzting