Historic Town Festival Dinkelsbühl – Life in an Old Town

2026 Program

The Historic Town Festival Dinkelsbühl follows a fixed dramaturgy over two days each year. Citizens and guest groups from all over Southern Germany wear historical costumes, and the market squares become scenes of a Free Imperial City from the 14th to 19th centuries. The Stadtkapelle Dinkelsbühl and the famous Knabenkapelle play marches and dance music. Combat demonstrations by the Fratres Armorum, folk dances, and the Wilde Horde wander through the alleys.

In 2026, the town festival coincides with the Tag des offenen Denkmals (Open Monument Day) (motto: Power and Splendor), with additional guided tours of the city wall along the largely preserved medieval fortifications.

Expected Program

• Saturday, September 5th, 2026 — Opening of the town festival at Altrathausplatz, kickoff with the Stadtkapelle and parade of historical groups, farmers' and small livestock market, craft demonstrations, combat demonstrations by the Fratres Armorum
• Saturday evening — Camp life in the old town with campfires, musicians, dances in the market squares, and sword demonstrations by torchlight
• Sunday, September 6th, 2026 — Festival service, parade through the old town, Tag des offenen Denkmals (Open Monument Day) with city wall tours, repetition of market programs
• Sunday evening — Festival finale at the Minster and in the market squares with final musical performances

The exact hourly schedule and participating guest groups will be published by the Dinkelsbühl Tourist Service approximately eight weeks before the town festival on tourismus-dinkelsbuehl.de.

Getting Here

By car via the A7 (exit Dinkelsbühl/Fichtenau) or the A6 (exit Aurach). By train to Crailsheim or Ansbach, then take bus 805 to Dinkelsbühl. Parking available outside the old town walls (P1 to P5).

Admission

Completely free. Food, drinks, and craft products are paid for directly at the market stalls.

Tips

Dinkelsbühl is located on the famous Romantic Road. An overnight stay in a historic inn extends the experience. Reservations for hotels are recommended, as the town festival attracts many day visitors.