International Teddy and Doll Festival Sonneberg
Three days of collector's meeting in the historic toy town of Sonneberg with exhibitions, competitions, and workshops
About Teddy and Doll Festival
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Sonneberg — the Toy Town
Sonneberg is the old German «Toy Town». In the 19th century, the town in southern Thuringia exported around 20% of the global toy trade — dolls, teddy bears, wooden toys, and tin toys shaped global trade «Made in Sonneberg». The town's German Toy Museum showcases the history of this tradition. The International Teddy and Doll Festival is the annual celebration of this tradition — from May 14th to 16th, 2026, the 2026 edition will take place in the ice rink at SonneBad.
Exhibitions, Competitions, and Workshops
The festival combines several program strands:
- Exhibitions by national and international exhibitors present collector's items, vintage dolls, teddy bears, accessories, and accoutrements
- A Teddy and Doll Competition awards the best pieces in several categories
- Workshops on building dolls and teddy bears, restoring historical toys, and collector's topics
- Sales, exchanges, and advice on historical and contemporary collector's toys
The festival is aimed equally at experienced collectors and interested visitors who want to familiarize themselves with the world of dolls and teddy bears.
Cooperation with Neustadt bei Coburg
The festival takes place as part of a long-standing cooperation with Neustadt bei Coburg — both towns belong to the southern Thuringian-Franconian toy region, whose tradition has grown across state borders. The cooperation opens up the possibility of experiencing toy routes across the Thuringian-Bavarian border — from the Sonneberg Toy Museum to the Coburg Toy Museum.
Sonneberg in the Thuringian Slate Mountains
The district town of Sonneberg (around 23,000 inhabitants) is located in the Sonneberg district, on the southern edge of the Thuringian Slate Mountains, directly on the Bavarian border. The town combines industrial history, toy tradition, and low mountain landscape. Those visiting the festival should definitely plan a detour to the German Toy Museum (on Schaubergweg, one of the most important European toy museums).
Teddy and Doll Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 edition takes place in the ice rink at SonneBad and lasts for three days. Exhibitors from all over Germany and neighboring countries showcase their collections for experienced collectors and curious visitors. The festival is the annual main event of Sonneberg's toy town tradition and is organized in cooperation with Neustadt bei Coburg.
Programme Teddy and Doll Festival 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026 — 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Festival Opening
- Exhibitor displays
- Presentation of competition entries
- First workshops
- Accompanying lectures on toy history
Friday, May 15, 2026 — 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Full exhibition operation
- In-depth workshops on building dolls and teddy bears
- Advice from experienced collectors
- Exchange and sales points
Saturday, May 16, 2026 — 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Final day of the exhibition
- Results of the Teddy and Doll Competition
- Award ceremonies
- Festival closing
Special Offers
- Workshops for building your own dolls and teddy bears
- Restoration workshops for historical toys
- Collector's advice and sales
- Connection to the German Toy Museum (separate admission)
Highlights Teddy and Doll Festival 2026
- Three days of collector's meeting at the SonneBad ice rink
- Exhibitors from all over Germany and abroad
- Teddy and Doll Competition in several categories
- Workshops on building dolls and teddy bears
- Restoration workshops
- Sonneberg's toy town tradition
- Cooperation with Neustadt bei Coburg
- Proximity to the German Toy Museum
Prices Teddy and Doll Festival 2026
Admission for visitors at moderate prices — exact rates will be communicated via the Tourist Information Office. Exhibitors can register via sonneberg-tourismus.de. Workshops partially at extra cost.
Practical information — Teddy and Doll Festival
Date 2026
Thursday, May 14th to Saturday, May 16th, 2026.
Opening Hours
Thursday, May 14th: 10 AM - 5 PM. Friday, May 15th: 10 AM - 4 PM. Saturday, May 16th: 10 AM - 2 PM.
Location
Eishalle am SonneBad Sonneberg, 96515 Sonneberg.
Exhibitor Registration
Registration for exhibitors via the Tourist Information Office of the Toy Town Sonneberg (Bahnhofsplatz 3, 96515 Sonneberg, Tel. 03675 702711, [email protected]). Registration form available at sonneberg-tourismus.de.
Getting There
By train: Süd-Thüringen-Bahn to Sonneberg, then approx. 10 min. walk. By car: A73 to exit Sonneberg-Süd.
Accompanying Program
Visit to the German Toy Museum on Schaubergweg (separate admission fee). Toy town guided tours via the Tourist Information Office.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Teddy and Doll Festival al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Teddy and Doll Festival
Eishalle am SonneBad Sonneberg
Eishalle am SonneBad, 96515 Sonneberg