Ochsenfest Poppenweiler 2026

The Ox — The Culinary Landmark

The Ochsenfest Poppenweiler owes its name to its central festival actor: a whole ox, roasted over a charcoal grill for four festival days. A tradition that has shaped the Ludwigsburg district festival for over 65 years and forms the culinary link for all four festival days. The next edition runs from July 24th to 27th, 2026 — as always in an even-numbered year.

Over 65 Years of Tradition, Biennial Rhythm

The Musikverein Poppenweiler e.V. has been organizing the Ochsenfest since the late 1950s, always in even-numbered years. This biennial rhythm makes each edition a special event — the anticipation between festival years grows with the preparations. In 2026, the festival committee will again begin setup, program planning, and logistics weeks in advance.

Live Bands and Ochsenfest Olympiad

Over ten music groups perform on the four festival days — brass bands, party bands, cover bands, and DJ acts. A central highlight is the "Ochsenfest-Olympiade" with sporty and fun disciplines related to the Ochsenfest tradition: stein holding, sawing competition, tug-of-war, "Ochsen-Gaudi" with its own games. The family program includes bouncy castles, face painting, and game stations.

Poppenweiler — District of Ludwigsburg

Poppenweiler is a district in the north of Ludwigsburg on the Neckar — a traditional wine-growing region with its own history as an independent municipality until 1975. Today, Poppenweiler belongs to the Große Kreisstadt Ludwigsburg, but it has retained its village charm. The Ochsenfest is one of the district's most important anchors of identity.

Festival Grounds on Erdmannhäuser Straße

The festival grounds are located at Erdmannhäuser Straße 11 on the eastern outskirts of Poppenweiler. On the spacious area, the members of the music association set up the festival tent, the ox grill, several catering stands, and stages for the music program. The size of the grounds allows for thousands of visitors to be accommodated simultaneously.

Tickets and Friday Night Party

While catering and most of the program are free to enter, there is a separate Friday night party with separate ticket sales. Tickets are available in advance; current information on ochsenfest.com. Helpers for setup, festival operation, and dismantling are regularly sought — voluntary participation is part of the festival tradition.