28th Horb Knight Games
Baden-Württemberg's largest medieval festival — jousting tournaments, medieval market, and over 30,000 visitors
About Knight Games Horb
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Knight Games Horb al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Baden-Württemberg's Largest Medieval Festival
The Horb Knight Games have been held every two years since 1998 and have developed into the largest medieval festival in all of Baden-Württemberg. Over 30,000 visitors travel from all over southern Germany, as well as from France and Switzerland, to immerse themselves in the world of knights, maidens, and minstrels for three days. The venue — the historic Old Town of Horb am Neckar with its half-timbered facades, the Neckar footbridge, and the city wall towers — provides the perfect backdrop.
Historical Reenactments and Knight Tournaments
The heart of the Knight Games are the jousting tournaments with real horses: lance duels, equestrian combat choreography, and show performances take place several times a day in the central tournament arena. Renowned reenactment groups from Germany, Austria, and Poland compete, delivering professional, historically informed stagings.
In addition, the Horb Treaties of 1498 are reenacted — a historical event where King Maximilian I. signed important treaties in Horb. The accompanying parade with King Maximilian's retinue draws thousands to the streets every year.
Medieval Market and Crafts
Over 150 market stalls offer blacksmith work, leather goods, medieval clothing, mead, bows and swords, candles, jewelry, and, of course, hearty food such as wild boar roasted on a spit, stick bread, suckling pig, mead, and beer from clay mugs. Minstrels, jesters, and fire-eaters provide entertainment between the stalls.
Children in the Middle Ages
A dedicated area is aimed at families: Knight games for children, archery, sword workshops, face painting stations, squire tournaments, and a storyteller. Children under 12 have free admission.
Horb as a Setting
Horb am Neckar is located at the southern end of the Black Forest, in the district of Freudenstadt. The city has largely retained its medieval appearance: the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross, the Schurkenturm (Rogue's Tower), the water tower, and the Neckar bridge form the historical framework. A military camp with tents, campfires, and daily medieval life is set up on the Schütteinsel island in the Neckar for the Knight Games.
Knight Games Horb — edition 2026
Three Days of Festivities in the Old Town
The 2026 edition will encompass the entire historic Old Town of Horb am Neckar: Market Square, Collegiate Square, Schurkenturm, Schütteinsel, and the Neckar Bridge. The medieval market stretches for several hundred meters, and the tournament grounds for the equestrian games are centrally located on the Schütteinsel. Throughout the three days, reenactment groups from Germany, Austria, and Poland will present knight tournaments, sword fights, and historical stagings.
Opening and Grand Parade
The festival begins on Friday evening with the ceremonial entry of King Maximilian I. and his retinue into the Old Town. On Saturday afternoon, the grand parade takes place — the most attended program item with numerous groups, horses, and music bands.
Programme Knight Games Horb 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026 — Opening
- 6:00 PM — Admission and opening of the medieval market
- 7:00 PM — Ceremonial opening with the entry of King Maximilian I.
- 8:00 PM — First knight tournament on the Schütteinsel
- 9:30 PM — Fire-eater and jester program
- 10:00 PM — Medieval concert (Krummhörner, hurdy-gurdies, drums)
- until 1:00 AM — Taverns and jesters in the camp
Saturday, June 20, 2026 — Main Day
- 10:00 AM — Market opens, camp open
- 11:00 AM — First daytime tournament (jousting)
- 1:00 PM — Grand parade through the Old Town with King Maximilian, knights, horses, music bands
- 3:00 PM — Children's knight games and squire tournament
- 5:00 PM — Second main equestrian tournament
- 8:00 PM — Medieval concert on the main stage
- 10:00 PM — Night tournament with fire choreography
- until 1:00 AM — Festival winding down
Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Family Day
- 10:00 AM — Medieval church service in the Collegiate Church
- 11:00 AM — Market opens, camp open
- 12:00 PM — Third knight tournament (Grand Show Tournament)
- 2:00 PM — Reenactment of the "Horb Treaties of 1498"
- 3:30 PM — Final equestrian performance
- 5:30 PM — Farewell procession for King Maximilian
- 6:00 PM — End of the 2026 Knight Games
Program updates and the full list of reenactment groups at ritterspiele.info and in the official program PDF.
Highlights Knight Games Horb 2026
- Jousting tournaments on horseback with reenactment groups from three countries
- Grand parade on Saturday afternoon with King Maximilian I.
- Over 150 market and craft stalls
- Camp on the Schütteinsel with medieval daily life
- Children's knight games and squire tournament
- Reenactment of the Horb Treaties of 1498
- Night tournament with fire choreography
Prices Knight Games Horb 2026
Day ticket (entrance fee): €14 adults, €6 concessions (schoolchildren, students, severely disabled). Children under 12 free when accompanied. Three-day passes and family tickets available. Advance sales online via vivenu.com or at Stadtmarketing Horb.
Practical information — Knight Games Horb
Getting There
By train: to Horb am Neckar Hbf (IC and RE stop on the Gäubahn line Stuttgart–Singen), then an 8-minute walk to the festival grounds. By car: A 81 Stuttgart–Singen, exit Horb. Park-and-Ride facilities are signposted, shuttle bus to the festival grounds.
Admission
€14 adults, €6 concessions and children (day ticket/entrance fee). Three-day passes and family tickets available. Children under 12 free when accompanied. Tickets via vivenu.com or on-site.
Festival Hours
Friday 6:00 PM–1:00 AM, Saturday 10:00 AM–1:00 AM, Sunday 10:00 AM–6:00 PM.
Tips
Costumes are rewarded: Those arriving in medieval attire may receive discounts.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Knight Games Horb al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Knight Games Horb
Innenstadt Horb am Neckar
Innenstadt Horb, 72160 Horb am Neckar