Name: Bouser Maisause – Soapbox Derby 2026
Start: 2026-05-29T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-31T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Hohlstraße Bous

Bouser Maisause

About Bouser Maisause

Over 40 teams, wooden planks on four wheels, a steep incline, and speeds exceeding 50 km/h: The Bouser Maisause is the wildest soapbox derby in Saarland. Every two years on the last weekend of May, Bous's Kirchberg transforms into a race track – children on Bobby-Cars, adults in custom-built vehicles, all wearing helmets and good humour.

Dates 29 May — 31 May 2026

Venue Bous (10044)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Bouser Maisause — edition 2026

The 9th Bouser Maisause takes place from May 29th to 31st, 2026. Three days of soapbox racing through Bous's Hohlstraße with classes for children, teens, and adults, plus night races, a live stage, and club stands.

The 9th edition of the Bouser Maisause runs from Friday, May 29th to Sunday, May 31st, 2026. Organised by the Aktionsgemeinschaft Standort Bous and Initiative 359, who have reorganised the event after the pandemic-related break.

The track runs through Hohlstraße, Winkelstraße, and Kirchberg, which are completely closed for the weekend.

Highlights Bouser Maisause 2026

40+ teams competing in three classes
Night race on Saturday from 9 PM
Bobby-Car class for children aged 6+
Free entry to watch
9th edition since 2006

Programme Bouser Maisause 2026

Friday, May 29, 2026 – Kick-off

afternoon — Setup, technical inspection of vehicles
evening — Opening ceremony at the festival tent, live music

Saturday, May 30, 2026 – Main Race Day

morning — Bobby-Car Class (children aged 6+)
afternoon — Bouser Boliden (soapboxes aged 10+) – the main category with 40+ teams
from approx. 9 PM — Night Race with LED-lit vehicles (highlight since 2024)
afterwards — Live music in the festival tent

Sunday, May 31, 2026 – Finale

morning — Open Class (ages 16+, top speeds over 50 km/h)
afternoon — Final runs for all classes
5 PM — Awards ceremony and closing at the festival tent

Registration and regulations via Aktionsgemeinschaft Standort Bous.

Prices Bouser Maisause 2026

Free entry. Registration for participants with an entry fee via Aktionsgemeinschaft Standort Bous.

Practical information

Practical information — Bouser Maisause

Getting There

Take the Saarbahn line 1 (towards Riegelsberg/Heusweiler) to Saarbrücken Hauptbahnhof, then continue by train (RE/RB) to Bous (Saar). By car, take the A620 (exit Wadgassen or Bous), follow signs for Bous-Mitte.

Parking

During the race, Hohlstraße, Winkelstraße, and Kirchberg are closed. Park at the edge of Bous and along the Saar river roads. Shuttle buses from neighbouring municipalities are recommended.

On Site

Free entry to watch the races. Food and drinks available at club stands. Limited seating – bring a stool or blanket.

Participant Registration

Registration via Aktionsgemeinschaft Standort Bous or Initiative 359. Contact: 06834 830 or [email protected]. Safety equipment mandatory, technical inspection of vehicles before the start.

Tips

The most spectacular crashes happen in the corners – if you want to take photos, position yourself there. The night race on Saturday from 9 PM is the most photogenic highlight.

Saarland Ingenuity on Four Wheels

In 2006, Enzo Messina, co-founder of the 'Aktionsgemeinschaft Standort Bous' (Bous Location Action Group), had an idea: Bous needed a festival that stood out from the classic street festivals of Saarland. The Maisause soapbox derby emerged from brainstorming – a cross-generational event where participation is more important than the commercial aspect. Since then, the event has run every two years, building a loyal fan base in the Saarlouis district.

When is the Next Maisause?

The 9th Bouser Maisause runs from Friday, May 29th to Sunday, May 31st, 2026. Organised by the Aktionsgemeinschaft Standort Bous and the Initiative 359, who have revived the event after a pandemic-related break in 2024.

The Race Track

Races take place on a downhill course through Hohlstraße, Winkelstraße, and Kirchberg in Bous-Mitte. The streets are closed for the weekend. The incline is considerable, the corners challenging, and some vehicles reach speeds over 50 km/h. Safety equipment (helmet, gloves, long suit) is mandatory.

The Classes

Bouser Boliden: Classic soapboxes, ages 10+ – the main category with the most participants
Open Class: Ages 16+, technically more ambitious vehicles, higher speeds
Bobby-Car Class: For children aged 6+ on the classic little plastic racers

Night Race – The Highlight Since 2024

A new feature since its revival in 2024: night races with LED lighting on the vehicles. A spectacular sight, a new program item on Saturday evening.

The Surroundings

During the race weekends, Bous's town centre transforms into a festival mile: Bratwurst and Schwenker (grilled meats) at club stands, beer stalls, live music on a stage, a bouncy castle for the youngest visitors. Bus shuttles from Saarlouis and the neighbouring municipality of Wadgassen ensure safe travel home.

Who Participates?

Over 40 teams have registered in past editions – from Bous itself, the Saarlouis district, the Saarpfalz district, even from Lorraine and Rhineland-Palatinate far from Saarland. The builders are hobby mechanics, clubs, schools, families. Most vehicles are handmade, some elaborately painted, always crafted with love.

Bous and Saarland Identity

Bous is located in the Saar valley, right on the Saar river and near the Saar Loop region. With 7,500 inhabitants, the municipality is manageable, but its club life is intense. The Maisause is more than a race – it's a source of identity for a community that wants to assert its own character between the larger neighbours Saarlouis and Völklingen.