Hörnerfest

From a Farmstead to a Festival

The Hörnerfest has been held since 2007 on a former farmstead in Brande-Hörnerkirchen — a village of 1,700 inhabitants in the Pinneberg district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, about 35 km north of Hamburg on the A23 motorway. What began as a small medieval gathering has developed into one of the leading pagan and medieval rock festivals in Northern Germany. In 2026, the Hörnerfest will celebrate its 20th edition.

Musical Spectrum: From Folk to Heavy Metal

With around 30 bands, the festival covers a broad genre spectrum ranging from medieval folk and pagan rock to medieval metal. Typical headliners include Knorkator, Schandmaul, and Die Apokalyptischen Reiter. In addition, the Hörnerfest presents pirate metal, Celtic metal, and folk acts that are rarely heard with such density elsewhere.

More Than a Concert — Living History

What distinguishes the Hörnerfest from purely musical festivals is its medieval camp. A complete medieval village with blacksmiths, weavers, leatherworkers, mead and honey wine stalls is set up on the extensive festival grounds. Visitors can try their hand at archery, axe and knife throwing, or watch jugglers, fire eaters, and storytellers. The market sells robes, handcrafted goods, and swords.

Atmosphere and Ethos

The festival explicitly positions itself as an 'apolitical festival' and emphasizes a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere. Camping and parking are included in the ticket price. In the Pinneberg district of Schleswig-Holstein, the Hörnerfest is considered a cultural summer highlight, attracting visitors from all over Germany and Scandinavia far beyond the region.