Landeskinderturnfest 2026 Heilbronn

The Major Children's Sports Festival of the Swabian Gymnastics Federation

The Landeskinderturnfest 2026 is the central event of the Swabian Gymnastics Federation for young gymnasts. Up to 4,000 participants aged 6 to 15 from all over Germany will travel to Heilbronn from July 24th to 26th, 2026 — three days of sport, competitions, encounters, and a festive atmosphere in the largest city in northern Württemberg.

The Three Pillars — Sport, Fun, Encounters

The festival promotes the motto "Sport, Fun, and Unforgettable Encounters". Behind this lies a clearly structured concept: serious competitions in ten disciplines, a dense supporting program with hands-on activities and games, and above all, the opportunity for young gymnasts to meet friends from all over Germany.

Disciplines — Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Sports Gymnastics, Team Competitions

The competitions comprise more than ten disciplines:

• Artistic Gymnastics (All-around competition on various apparatus)
• Rhythmic Sports Gymnastics
• Team Competitions
• Optional exercises for individual styles
• Various children's gymnastics special disciplines

This breadth aims to integrate as many talents and styles as possible — from rhythmic movement fun for the six-year-olds to disciplined competition for the ambitious 15-year-olds.

Opening Ceremony at Kiliansplatz

The kick-off on Friday, July 24th, 2026, will be the opening ceremony at Kiliansplatz — the central square of Heilbronn's city center in front of the Kilianskirche. Here, clubs will present themselves, and stage programs and show performances will set the mood for the festival weekend for participants and visitors.

Ten Schools, Twelve Competition Venues

The competitions are spread across ten schools and twelve competition venues in Heilbronn. This decentralized logistics is necessary to conduct the multitude of disciplines and age groups simultaneously — while also integrating the Heilbronn schools, which are open during the summer holidays. The city of Heilbronn supports the festival logistically and accommodates the young athletes in communal accommodations, schools, and hotels.

20,000 Visitors Expected

In addition to the 4,000 participants, a total of up to 20,000 visitors are expected — parents, grandparents, siblings, club members, and interested spectators from Heilbronn and the region. This makes the Landeskinderturnfest one of the largest sporting events of the year in Baden-Württemberg.

Swabian Gymnastics Federation — The Organizer

The organizer is the Swabian Gymnastics Federation (STB), one of the largest sports federations in Baden-Württemberg, based in Stuttgart. The STB Youth division is responsible for the conception and execution of the Landeskinderturnfest. Violence prevention and a safe environment for young athletes are of high importance in the concept.

Heilbronn as Host

Heilbronn, with its approximately 130,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in northern Württemberg and the seventh-largest city in Baden-Württemberg. Known as a city on the Neckar, a wine city (Trollinger-Lemberger region), and since the BUGA 2019 also as an architecturally interesting city with modern urban quarters. The infrastructural prerequisites (schools, sports halls, public transport) make Heilbronn an ideal host for a major sports festival.