Name: Biikebrennen Sylt 2026
Start: 2026-02-21T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-21T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Neun Standorte inselweit (Archsum, Keitum, Morsum, Rantum, Tinnum, Westerland, Hörnum, Kampen, Wenningstedt, List)

Biike Sylt

About Biike Sylt

On February 21st – the eve of St. Peter's Day – the Biike bonfires blaze across Sylt. At nine locations – Archsum, Keitum, Morsum, Rantum, Tinnum, Westerland, Hörnum, Kampen, Wenningstedt-Braderup, and List – the volunteer fire brigades light the man-high wood fires. Speeches in German and Frisian follow, after which a traditional kale meal (Grünkohlessen) is served in Sylt's restaurants. In 2014, UNESCO recognized Biikebrennen as an intangible cultural heritage of Germany – Sylt celebrates the tradition in perhaps its most concentrated form.

Dates 21 Feb — 21 Feb 2026

Venue Sylt (01054)

Prices Free

Status Finished

Edition 2026

Biike Sylt — edition 2026

The Biikebrennen Sylt 2026 took place on Saturday, February 21st, island-wide at nine locations: Archsum, Keitum, Morsum, Rantum, Tinnum, Westerland, Hörnum, Kampen, Wenningstedt-Braderup, and List. The volunteer fire brigades lit the man-high Biike bonfires around evening; speeches in German and Sölring (island Frisian) preceded the ceremony. Afterwards, a traditional kale meal (Grünkohlessen) was served in Sylt's restaurants. Wood delivery to collection points from February 13th–15th, 2026.

2026 Edition Island-Wide

In 2026, the municipality of Sylt published a tabular overview of the exact lighting times at the nine locations. In Westerland, traffic restrictions were in effect from 3:00 PM; the Sylt public transport services implemented diversions for bus routes. Dogs were explicitly not welcome.

Highlights Biike Sylt 2026

Island-wide Biike bonfires at nine locations
Speeches in German and Sölring
UNESCO cultural heritage Biikebrennen
Traditional kale meal afterwards

Programme Biike Sylt 2026

Saturday, February 21, 2026 — Island-Wide

Biike bonfires at nine locations: Archsum, Keitum, Morsum, Rantum, Tinnum, Westerland, Hörnum, Kampen, Wenningstedt-Braderup, and List
Exact lighting times were available in the PDF overview from the municipality of Sylt – most Biikefeuer were lit between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM
Speeches in German and Sölring (island Frisian) at each fire
Followed by a kale meal (Grünkohlessen) in Sylt's restaurants

Wood Delivery

February 13th–15th, 2026, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM – wood acceptance at collection points

Traffic

From 3:00 PM, traffic restrictions in Westerland, bus diversions

Prices Biike Sylt 2026

Participation in the Biikefeuer is free. Donations for the fire brigades are welcome. Kale meal in restaurants according to the menu.

Practical information

Practical information — Biike Sylt

Getting There

By car via the Niebüll–Westerland car train. By train (IC/RE) directly to Westerland. On the island, use the Sylt public transport buses to reach the locations.

Wood Delivery

For the Biikefeuer, wood can be donated by Sylt residents – collection points accept wood from February 13th to 15th, 2026 (Friday to Sunday), 8:00 AM–4:00 PM at the respective collection sites.

Traffic

From 3:00 PM on February 21st, traffic restrictions and bus diversions are in effect in Westerland.

Admission

Free.

A Frisian Ancient Tradition

The Biikebrennen (Frisian "Biike" = fire signal) is one of the oldest customs on the North Frisian coast. Historically, the Frisians bid farewell to their whalers, who set sail in early March, with a man-high bonfire on the beach. Over the centuries, the ritual of departure, pagan spring fire, and the Christian St. Peter's Day merged into today's Biikebrennen. In 2014, UNESCO recognized the custom as intangible cultural heritage of Germany. Sylt – the largest North Frisian island – cultivates the tradition particularly intensively: each municipality, each district lights its own fire.

Nine Locations on the Island

On February 21st, the Biikefeuer run parallel at nine locations across the island (ten if you include List). The volunteer fire brigades are the organizers; the exact lighting times are announced by the municipality of Sylt in an overview via PDF on the municipal website. The speeches are held in German and Sölring (the island's Frisian dialect) – a highlight of Frisian language preservation each year.

Where to Experience the Biikebrennen

Archsum, Keitum, Morsum – the traditionally Frisian east of the island
Tinnum, Westerland – island center and main town
Rantum – narrowest part of the island between the mudflats and the North Sea
Hörnum – southern tip, at Hörnum harbor
Kampen, Wenningstedt-Braderup – north with its own character
List – the far north, almost Denmark

The Kale Meal Afterwards

After the fire, it's traditional to gather for a kale meal (Grünkohlessen) in Sylt's restaurants – kale with Kassler (smoked pork), Mettwurst or Pinkel (types of sausage), and fried potatoes. Reservations on St. Peter's Eve are essential: on Sylt, all restaurants are fully booked, and many offer a special Biike menu.

Practical Information

The municipality of Sylt explicitly points out: Dogs are not welcome (for safety and stress reasons due to the fire and crowds). In Westerland, traffic restrictions and bus route diversions apply from 3 PM on February 21st – check in advance.