Pumpkin Exhibition Blühendes Barock Ludwigsburg 2026

Over 70 Days of Pumpkin World

From Saturday, August 22, to Sunday, November 1, 2026, the world's largest pumpkin exhibition will be held at Blühendes Barock Ludwigsburg. For over 70 festive days, the historic Baroque garden will transform into a pumpkin-themed world of experience: thousands of pumpkins will be processed into large sculptures, culinary specialties featuring pumpkin will be offered, and a program of competitions, carving events, and a regatta will run on weekends and public holidays.

Motto 2026: „LET'S PLAY"

The 2026 annual motto — „LET'S PLAY" — celebrates games and toy icons. The main sculptures for 2026 reflect the motto: a giant Super Mario figure made of pumpkins, an equally giant Barbie, and an XXL rocking horse will dominate the main exhibition area. In addition, there will be smaller sculpture ensembles with further toy motifs — board games, dice, stuffed animals, classics from the world of children's rooms.

Program — Battle, Carving, Weighing Championship, Regatta

Various program items will be spread throughout the ten-week festival season. The Pumpkin Battle Festival is a sculpture competition where artists carve pumpkin sculptures live. The XXL Pumpkin Carving invites families to design their own Halloween lanterns. The Pumpkin Weighing Championship is the spectacular competition for the heaviest pumpkin in Germany — giant pumpkins weighing well over 500 kilos will be presented here. The Pumpkin Regatta, a traditional highlight, features hollowed-out giant pumpkins competing as boats on the Schlosssee — a quirky and charming event that attracts thousands of spectators annually.

Culinary Delights Around the Pumpkin

The gastronomic concept is consistently pumpkin-focused. Germany's largest pumpkin soup will be served for weeks, along with pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin Spätzle, fried pumpkin with lamb sausages, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cake — and as an alcoholic specialty, the pumpkin Secco, a lightly sweet sparkling wine with pumpkin aroma. These specialties are only available during the exhibition and are a core part of the event's identity.

Extension with the Illuminated Dream Paths

After the official end of the exhibition on November 1, 2026, selected pumpkin sculptures will remain in the park and become part of the Illuminated Dream Paths — the autumn-winter illumination spectacle of Blühendes Barock. The sculptures can be seen illuminated until early December — Halloween atmosphere meets pre-Christmas light magic.

Blühendes Barock Ludwigsburg

Blühendes Barock Ludwigsburg is the approximately 30-hectare palace garden complex of the Ludwigsburg Residence. With over 700,000 visitors annually, it is one of Germany's most visited garden complexes. The pumpkin exhibition — established for over 20 years — is the park's most important seasonal event, alongside the Baroque Garden Days in May. Admission to the pumpkin exhibition is included in the regular Blühendes Barock day ticket, which also grants access to the entire palace garden.