Hörnerfest
Open-Air Festival for Medieval, Folk, Pagan, and Rock
2026
About Hörnerfest
Hörnerfest — edition 2026
The 20th edition of the Hörnerfest promises to be a celebratory event: 29 bands, three full festival days plus a warm-up on Wednesday. Medieval folk, pagan rock, and medieval metal alternate on the main stage and the market stage. Simultaneously, the medieval camp opens with craftspeople, mead service, fire art, and show fights.
Highlights Hörnerfest 2026
Programme Hörnerfest 2026
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
- 8:00 PM — small warm-up on the market stage
Thursday, June 25, 2026 (from 2:00 PM)
- Opening of the main stage
- Bands include: Storm Seeker, Twa Corbies, Whizbow
Friday, June 26, 2026 (from 12:00 PM)
- Medieval market opens
- Bands include: Schandmaul, Vogelfrey, Nachtgeschrei, Haggefugg
Saturday, June 27, 2026 (from 12:00 PM)
- Bands include: Knorkator, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, XIV Dark Centuries, The Keltics, Eden Weint im Grab, Muirsheen Durkin & Friends, Crash Nomada, Itinera, Mythemia, Rauhbein, Ritual Duir, The Blackbeers, The Toshers, Wolfarian, Havets Fenor, Keltania, Nikkijara, Hasenscheisse, Alvader, Entoria
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Dismantling, departure
Prices Hörnerfest 2026
Practical information — Hörnerfest
Getting There
By car via the A23 (Elmshorn/Horst exit). By train to Elmshorn, then by bus or shuttle. Camping directly at the festival grounds included in the ticket.
Tickets 2026
Three-day ticket: €85 incl. camping and parking (plus postage). Advance sales start January 15, 2026, at hoernerfest.com.
Tip
Visit the camp and market during the day, enjoy the stage program in the evening. Waterproof gear and sturdy footwear are essential — the grounds are natural soil.
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.
Where it takes place Hörnerfest
Hörnerfest at a glance
History of Hörnerfest
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Festivals similar to Hörnerfest
Festivals near Brande-Hörnerkirchen
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