90. Bietigheimer Pferdemarkt
Largest Horse Market in Southern Germany — 90th Edition of a 234-Year-Old Tradition in the Ludwigsburg District
About Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026
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From Market Rights Granted in 1792 to the 90th Edition
The Bietigheimer Pferdemarkt dates back to market privileges granted to the city of Bietigheim by Duke Karl Eugen of Württemberg in 1792 — originally as a horse and cattle market. Over the generations, this 234-year-old market has become the largest folk festival (Volksfest) in the Ludwigsburg district, combining the tradition of equestrian sports with modern tournaments, festival activities, and city culture. In 2026, the city will celebrate the 90th edition from September 4 to 8.
Show Jumping and Dressage Competitions — Seven S-Level Events
The sporting core of the Pferdemarkt is the five-day show jumping and dressage competition with events up to S** class. Seven S-level events are on the program; the highlight is the Grand Prix of the City of Bietigheim-Bissingen, an S** show jumping competition on Sunday afternoon. In addition, horse breeding awards take place — on Sunday for ponies and small horses, on Monday for breeding, working, and riding horses from Swabian, German, and international breeds.
Parade, Fireworks, and Amusement Park
A central emotional highlight is the parade on Monday: horse-drawn carriages, club groups, traditional costume wearers, music bands, and historical wagons parade from the city center through Bietigheim's old town to the Enz viaduct — one of the market's iconic postcard views. In addition, the market fills the entire city with a festival tent, a market, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel, a garden and home exhibition, and fireworks. Estimated visitor numbers: around 250,000 over the five days.
Bietigheim-Bissingen in the Ludwigsburg District
Bietigheim-Bissingen, with around 43,000 inhabitants, is located in the Ludwigsburg district in the state of Baden-Württemberg, on the Enz river and the characteristic Enz viaduct of the Württemberg Western Railway. The city is an important economic hub (Schwäbische Hüttenwerke, Porsche site, EnBW) and is culturally characterized by its preserved Renaissance old town with the Hornmoldhaus and market square. The Pferdemarkt is the city's defining annual major event — known beyond the region and widely rooted in the population.
Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026 — edition 2026
Program 2026 — Five Days of Major Events
The city of Bietigheim-Bissingen is organizing the 90th edition in its established format: five consecutive festival days around the festival grounds at the viaduct, in the city center, and in the equestrian areas. The structural separation — sports area with riding and jumping arenas at the viaduct, festival tent area for catering, amusement park, market in the old town — gives the Pferdemarkt its density and diversity.
The sporting program — show jumping and dressage competition with seven S-level events, Grand Prix of the City on Sunday — follows German equestrian sport standards and attracts riders and horses from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and sometimes internationally to Bietigheim. The horse awards on Sunday (ponies, small horses) and Monday (breeding, working, riding horses) are a platform for Southern German horse breeding.
Programme Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026
- Festival opening with keg tapping in the festival tent
- Start of show jumping and dressage competition
- Amusement park and market open
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- S-level events of the show jumping and dressage competition
- Festival tent program with live music
- Grand fireworks in the evening
Sunday, September 6, 2026
- Horse breeding awards for ponies and small horses
- Grand Prix of the City of Bietigheim-Bissingen — S** show jumping competition in the afternoon
- Festival tent program
Monday, September 7, 2026 — Parade Day
- Horse breeding awards for breeding, working, and riding horses
- Grand Parade with horse-drawn carriages, clubs, traditional costumes, music bands — through the old town to the Enz viaduct
- Festival tent dance in the evening
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- Market day with the market
- Festival tent conclusion and end of the festival
Highlights Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026 2026
- 90th edition of the Bietigheimer Pferdemarkt — 234 years of market rights (since 1792)
- Largest horse market in Southern Germany
- Show jumping and dressage competition with 7 S-level events — Grand Prix of the City on Sunday (S**)
- Horse breeding awards Sunday (ponies) and Monday (breeding/riding horses)
- Grand parade on Monday through the old town to the Enz viaduct
- Grand fireworks on Saturday evening
- Festival tent, market, amusement park with Ferris wheel, garden and home exhibition
- Approx. 250,000 expected visitors
Prices Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026 2026
Admission to the festival grounds, market, and amusement park is free. Grandstand tickets for the show jumping and dressage competition (especially the Grand Prix on Sunday) are subject to a fee. Prices and reservations via bietigheim-bissingen.de or the box offices at the festival grounds. Admission to the festival tent is free, consumption at festival tent prices (liter of beer approx. 11–13 Euros, meals 8–22 Euros).
Practical information — Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026
Getting There
Bietigheim-Bissingen is accessible via the A 81 (Stuttgart–Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg-Nord exit) and the B 27. By train, IC and regional trains stop at Bietigheim-Bissingen station (junction of the Stuttgart–Würzburg line). From the station, it's a few minutes' walk to the festival grounds at the viaduct. Park-and-Ride is recommended — city center parking is very limited during the festival days.
Program Dates 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026: Festival opening with keg tapping in the festival tent. Saturday–Sunday, September 5/6: Show jumping and dressage competition, horse awards, fireworks Saturday evening, Grand Prix Sunday afternoon. Monday, September 7: Parade through the old town to the viaduct. Tuesday, September 8: Market day, festival conclusion. Detailed program at bietigheim-bissingen.de.
Admission
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Grandstand tickets for the show jumping and dressage competition (Grand Prix Sunday) are subject to a fee, available online and at the box office. The market and amusement park are freely accessible.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026 al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Pferdemarkt Bietigheim 2026
Festplatz am Viadukt + Altstadt Bietigheim
Festplatz am Viadukt, Holzgartenstraße, 74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen