Name: Pottenstein Procession of Lights 2026
Start: 2026-01-06T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-01-06T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Altstadt Pottenstein und umliegende Felsen

Pottenstein Festival of Lights

About Pottenstein Festival of Lights

On Epiphany, January 6th, the Upper Franconian rock town of Pottenstein transforms into one of the most spectacular traditional showplaces in Franconia. Over 1,000 mountain fires are lit on the rocks and slopes around the town, a solemn procession of lights carries the Blessed Sacrament from St. Bartholomew's Parish Church through the historic old town — up to 20,000 visitors come to Pottenstein every year. The tradition dates back to an Archbishop's decree from 1759 and concludes the parish's Solemn Adoration.

Dates 06 Jan — 06 Jan 2026

Venue Pottenstein (09472)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Pottenstein Festival of Lights — edition 2026

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (Epiphany), Pottenstein will once again celebrate its famous Festival of Lights. Over 1,000 mountain fires will be lit in the late afternoon on the rocks around the old town, while the solemn procession of lights with the Blessed Sacrament moves from St. Bartholomew's Parish Church through the rock town decorated with candles. Up to 20,000 visitors are expected.

Festival of Lights 2026 — Schedule for Epiphany

As every year, the festival day begins with the festive service around 9:00 AM in St. Bartholomew's Parish Church. Hourly adoration prayers take place in the church throughout the day. From late afternoon (approx. 4:30 PM), the mountain fires are lit on the surrounding rocks and heights — over 1,000 fire pits, burning simultaneously for about an hour.

Procession of Lights at 5 PM

At 5:00 PM, the final procession begins: clergy, altar servers, the faithful, and visitors accompany the Blessed Sacrament in a solemn procession from the parish church through the old town, illuminated with candles, light arches, and Bengal fire. Afterwards, the festival day concludes in the Pottenstein taverns.

Highlights Pottenstein Festival of Lights 2026

Over 1,000 mountain fires on the rocks around Pottenstein
Procession of lights at 5 PM from St. Bartholomew's Parish Church
Up to 20,000 expected visitors in a town of 5,000 inhabitants
Tradition since 1759 in unbroken form

Programme Pottenstein Festival of Lights 2026

Epiphany Program, January 6, 2026

9:00 AM — Festive service in St. Bartholomew's Parish Church
Throughout the day — hourly adoration prayers in the church
approx. 4:30 PM — Lighting of over 1,000 mountain fires on the rocks around Pottenstein
5:00 PM — Procession of lights starting from St. Bartholomew's Parish Church with the Blessed Sacrament through the illuminated old town
Followed by a wind-down in the Pottenstein taverns

What You Will See

Over 1,000 mountain fires on the rocks around Pottenstein
Light arches and Bengal fire in the alleys of the old town
Procession with the Blessed Sacrament accompanied by candles and the sound of bells
Taverns along the route are open

Prices Pottenstein Festival of Lights 2026

Free admission. Food and drink available from Pottenstein hosts and stalls along the route. Early arrival by car is recommended due to crowds.

Practical information

Practical information — Pottenstein Festival of Lights

Getting There

By car via the A 9 (exit Pegnitz). Parking on the outskirts of town — due to the crowds on Epiphany, a traffic concept is implemented, local tip: arrive early (before 3 PM). By train: nearest station Pegnitz, then bus or taxi (approx. 15 km).

Admission

Free admission. Food and drink available from Pottenstein hosts and market stalls on the day of the festival.

When is the best time to come?

Mountain fires and procession take place from late afternoon (approx. 5 PM). Due to the crowds, arrival is recommended no earlier than the afternoon. Sturdy footwear and warm clothing are important — January in Upper Franconia.

Tourist Info

Tourist Information Pottenstein, Forchheimer Straße 1. Parent region: Franconian Switzerland (fraenkische-schweiz.com).

A Tradition Since 1759

The Pottenstein Festival of Lights is arguably the most atmospheric traditional event in the Franconian Switzerland. It dates back to a decree by Archbishop Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim from 1759, who ordered the Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the parish of Pottenstein. The conclusion of this Solemn Adoration is celebrated each year on Epiphany (January 6th) with the procession of lights — an unbroken tradition since the 18th century.

The Mountain Fires

What makes the festival unique worldwide: over 1,000 mountain fires are lit on the rocks and slopes around Pottenstein. Logs, brushwood, or fire pits shaped as sacred symbols are placed on the rock ledges and heights, ignited in the late afternoon — and burn down simultaneously for about an hour. The valley around Pottenstein appears like an illuminated rocky arena.

The Procession

In parallel, a solemn procession of lights moves through the historic old town. Clergy, altar servers, and the faithful accompany the Blessed Sacrament from the St. Bartholomew's Parish Church through the alleys of Pottenstein, decorated with candles, light arches, and Bengal fire. Hourly adoration prayers in the church lead over the day to the final service, which is followed by the procession and the winding down in the taverns.

Pottenstein — Rock Town of Franconian Switzerland

Pottenstein is located in the district of Bayreuth in Upper Franconia and is one of the most traditional rock towns in the Franconian Switzerland. Pottenstein Castle towers over the town, surrounded by dramatic limestone rocks — this natural backdrop makes the Festival of Lights possible. With a good 5,000 inhabitants, Pottenstein is overrun many times over on Epiphany: up to 20,000 visitors come from all over Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia, and beyond.

Worth Seeing Even Without a Religious Background

The Pottenstein Festival of Lights is one of the few folk festivals that captivate with their sheer atmosphere, without any contrived staging: cold winter night, rocky backdrop, 1,000 burning fires, the sound of bells. Anyone who wants to see tradition in its original form — without a stage, without an entrance ticket, in an unusual landscape — will find one of the most impressive examples in Southern Germany here.