9th Cottbus Soapbox Derby

Tinker, Roll, Win!

The motto of the 9th Cottbus Soapbox Derby sums it all up: “Tinker, Roll, Win!”. One day in June, a course across the Gelsenkirchener Platz, lots of homemade, engine-less vehicles – and spectators cheering them on.

As Part of the Sachsendorf Community Festival

The race is embedded in the 26th Sachsendorf Community Festival, which takes place from June 12 to 14, 2026, under the Sachsendorf festival tent. Stage program, food stalls, and family activities characterize the entire weekend. The race itself runs on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Who's Racing

The race is open to self-built soapbox cars in several classes. Registrations have been open since February 22, 2026; the deadline is June 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. Helpers are also sought: track marshals, timekeepers, organizational assistants.

Community Culture in Sachsendorf

Sachsendorf is a district of Cottbus, characterized by prefabricated apartment buildings from the GDR era. The Stadtteilladen Sachsendorf-Madlow at Heinrich-Mann-Straße 11 has been the neighborhood project for years, culturally and socially enlivening the residential area. The soapbox derby is its most popular event, attracting families from all over the city.

Brandenburg Folk Culture

The state of Brandenburg, the city of Cottbus as the region's second-largest city, and the Sachsendorf district form a special context: here you can see how a classic neighborhood project can grow into a widely appealing event. The soapbox derby combines GDR tradition (homemade vehicles), maker culture (tinkering and building), and folk festival.