Lange KunstNacht Bad Wimpfen

Lange KunstNacht — Bad Wimpfen Shines

The Lange KunstNacht Bad Wimpfen is one of the most beautiful cultural nights in Southern Germany — and for a simple reason: it takes place in one of Germany's most complete medieval old towns. On May 2, 2026, the old town will become an open art gallery between 5 PM and midnight for seven hours: shops, studios, galleries, churches, courtyards, even private living rooms will open their doors. The organizers are the Town of Bad Wimpfen with local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the sponsor is the KulturStiftung der Kreissparkasse Heilbronn.

The Concept — A City as an Exhibition

The program is spread throughout the entire old town:

• Exhibitions in shops, studios, galleries, and private homes
• Readings by German and regional authors in courtyards and indoor spaces
• Swabian sketches and cabaret — a humorous specialty of the Wimpfen night
• Renaissance dances and medieval minstrels in the squares
• High-wire artists in the narrow alleys
• Light installations on historic half-timbered facades — the houses are colorfully illuminated, becoming part of the staging
• Stilt walkers in elaborate costumes will parade through the alleys
• Fire-dance show as a spectacular program highlight late in the evening

The Vernissage at 6 PM — 'Germany's Most Beautiful Old Town'

At 6 PM, the central vernissage will take place, officially opening the art night. The motto for 2026: 'Germany's Most Beautiful Old Town' — a confident, tongue-in-cheek claim that Bad Wimpfen can indeed defend well. The vernissage brings together the artists whose works are exhibited during the night, as well as local politicians and the cultural scene.

The Blue Tower — Freely Accessible

Bad Wimpfen's landmark is the Blue Tower — the only surviving tower of the medieval Imperial Palace of Wimpfen, which in the 12th century was one of the largest imperial palaces of the Holy Roman Empire. During the art night, the Blue Tower is freely accessible — you can climb to its platform and see the old town illuminated from above at night. One of Southern Germany's most impressive city views.

A Special Program Tradition

A Wimpfen specialty: Residents place chairs in front of their doors and invite visitors to linger. This small, almost intimate gesture makes the Lange KunstNacht more than just a cultural event — it becomes a neighborhood gathering where the boundaries between resident, artist, and visitor become permeable for one night.

Bad Wimpfen — The Medieval Imperial Town

Bad Wimpfen is located in the district of Heilbronn on the Neckar River, just under 15 km north of Heilbronn. With just under 7,000 inhabitants, it is a small town — but one with historical substance: the old town with half-timbered houses from the 14th to 18th centuries, the Blue Tower, the Red Tower, the Hohenstaufen reliefs, the narrow medieval town layout, plus the neighboring Wimpfen im Tal monastery — Bad Wimpfen was an imperial city in the Middle Ages, and it still looks almost unchanged today.