16th Bicycle Concert of the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival

Culture by Bike in One Day

The Bicycle Concert of the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival is one of Germany's most original concert ideas — and at the same time one of the most ecologically consistent. Instead of transporting the audience between venues by car and coach, they travel themselves, on their own bicycles or rented ones, from concert venue to concert venue. A bike tour that leads through Potsdam's UNESCO World Heritage landscape — Sanssouci Palace, Cecilienhof Palace, the New Palace, Babelsberg Park — and offers a mini-concert at each stop. The 16th edition on June 21, 2026, is embedded in the 2026 Music Festival themed "Light" (June 12–28).

Several Tours — from 34 to 46 km

Participants can choose from several offered tours. The shortest route covers around 34 km with 4–5 concert stops, while the longer option covers 46 km with up to 7 stops. The tour runs along the Havel lakes, through the World Heritage parks, and along former border paths. Each stop is precisely planned — there is time for cycling, sightseeing, and picnicking between concerts. Those who don't want to cycle the entire tour can join or leave at individual stops. Different difficulty levels cater to families (shorter tour, flat terrain) and athletic adults (longer tour, some inclines).

Palaces, Churches, Breweries

The concert venues are as diverse as they are original. Classical concerts in the palaces (Sanssouci Picture Gallery, New Palace, Cecilienhof), choir concerts in churches (Church of Peace, French Church), chamber music mini-concerts in pavilions and on bridges, jazzy improvisations in a brewery (Forsthaus Templin or Meierei im Neuen Garten — Potsdam's traditional brewery), and by the water. The styles change to suit the location — the Music Festival's programming is of the highest standard here.

Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival 2026 — Theme "Light"

The Bicycle Concert is part of the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival 2026, which takes place under the theme "Light" from June 12 to 28. The festival, founded in 1990 and now one of the most important festivals for Early and New Music in Germany, incorporates Potsdam's World Heritage sites into its programming — concerts in palaces, churches, and parks, with a mix of historically informed performance practice, classical music, and contemporary crossover formats. The "Light" theme in 2026 alludes to the summer solstice and Potsdam's Enlightenment tradition.

Registration and Travel

Register via the festival website fahrradkonzert.musikfestspiele-potsdam.de or musikfestspiele-potsdam.de/en/program/program-2026/bicycle-concert.html. Tours start staggered in the morning from a central starting point in Potsdam (usually Sanssouci entrance or Park at Cecilienhof Palace). Bring your own bicycle; bicycle rentals are available at Potsdam Hbf and at the park entrance.