Rottenburg Neckar Festival
Three days of city festival on both banks of the Neckar with live stages, flea market, and punt boat rides
About Neckar Festival Rottenburg
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Three Days of Festival Mile on the Neckar
When the stages along the Neckar are set up on the last weekend of June, Rottenburg's most important city festival of the year begins. The Rottenburg Neckar Festival is known far beyond the city limits — a highlight in the event calendar of the Tübingen district (AGS 08416) and a meeting point for tens of thousands of visitors from all over Baden-Württemberg. The organizer is WTG Rottenburg am Neckar (Wirtschaft, Tourismus, Gastronomie - Economy, Tourism, Gastronomy) in cooperation with Rottenburg's clubs.
Stages and Live Music
The organizers set up stages at several locations along the festival mile, where regional and supra-regional bands play for three days. The musical program ranges from cover rock to pop and Schlager to Swabian brass music. The exact stage schedule will be published on the official website a few weeks before the festival — tradition dictates live performances around the market square, at the Schänzle (city park on the Neckar), and on the Bürgerwache stage.
Flea Market, Craft Market, and Children's Flea Market
On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of stalls line the Neckar. The large flea market on the Neckar bridge and the adjacent streets is one of the main attractions — a real treasure trove for collectors. In parallel, a craft market offers handicrafts, jewelry, and regional products. Specifically for children, there is a children's flea market where the youngest visitors can sell their own toys.
Punt Boat Rides and Water Sports
A Rottenburg specialty: During the festival, punt boats operate on the Neckar — flat wooden boats propelled with a long pole. You can travel between the bridges and experience the festival from the water. Additionally, water sports clubs present demonstrations with canoes and dragon boats.
Culinary Delights from Rottenburg Clubs
The catering is largely handled by local clubs — from the sports club and the fire department to the church choir. Swabian classics like Maultaschen, Saitenwürstle with potato salad, red lentil stew, and of course, regional draft beer. Alongside international specialties — Souvlaki, pizza, Asian wok dishes, and crêpes.
Festival Badge and Free Travel
With the festival badge for €5, you can travel for free on buses and trains throughout the entire Naldo tariff network during the festival weekend and participate in the lottery at the same time. A clever solution, as the city center is largely car-free during the festival.
City on the Neckar with a Bishop's Seat
Rottenburg am Neckar is the bishop's seat of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart and the administrative seat of the Tübingen district. With around 45,000 inhabitants, it is one of the larger towns on the upper Neckar. The historic city center with its half-timbered houses forms the picturesque backdrop for the festival — and St. Martin's Cathedral towers over the hustle and bustle from the hill.
Neckar Festival Rottenburg — edition 2026
Program Outline 2026
The official program for the 51st edition will be published by WTG Rottenburg in spring 2026. Based on experience, the festival follows the following structure, which has been in place for decades:
Friday, June 26, 2026 — 5 PM to 2 AM
- 5 PM: Setup and start of beverage service by participating clubs
- 6 PM: Official opening with keg tapping by the Mayor
- 8 PM–2 AM: Live stages with cover, rock, and pop bands on the Market Square, Schänzle, and Bürgerwache
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — 12 PM to 2 AM
- 12 PM: Opening of the flea market and craft market along the Neckar riverbank
- 2 PM: Punt boat rides on the Neckar
- 3 PM: Children's program with stage show, face painting, and carousel
- 5 PM: Demonstrations by water sports clubs
- 7 PM–2 AM: Main concerts on all festival stages
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — 10 AM to 7 PM
- 10 AM: Morning pint with brass music
- 11 AM: Children's flea market
- 2 PM–6 PM: Family program, club demonstrations, interactive activities
- 7 PM: Festival concludes
Festival Badge €5
Includes: free travel throughout the Naldo network (bus + train) on June 27 and 28, 2026, one lottery ticket, and a souvenir badge. Sold at several stands on the festival grounds.
The specific band lineup for 2026 will be announced gradually from April 2026 on the official website neckarfest-rottenburg.de.
Programme Neckar Festival Rottenburg 2026
Preliminary Program Rottenburg Neckar Festival 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Beverage service begins by Rottenburg clubs
- 6:00 PM — Official opening with keg tapping (Market Square)
- 8:00 PM–2:00 AM — Live music on the Market Square, Schänzle (City Garden), and Bürgerwache stages: Cover rock, pop, Schlager, Swabian brass music (specific band list from April 2026)
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 12:00 PM — Opening of the large flea market along Neckar Bridge and Königstraße
- 12:00 PM — Opening of the craft market with handicrafts and regional products
- 2:00 PM — First punt boat rides between the bridges
- 3:00 PM–5:00 PM — Children's program with stage show, face painting, carousel, bouncy castle
- 5:00 PM — Dragon boat and canoe demonstrations by Rottenburg water sports clubs
- 7:00 PM–2:00 AM — Main stage concerts with the festival's headliners
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Morning pint with brass music (Market Square)
- 11:00 AM–5:00 PM — Children's flea market in the City Garden
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — Family program: stage music, club demonstrations, interactive activities
- 7:00 PM — Official festival conclusion
Program updates and band confirmations on neckarfest-rottenburg.de and from the organizer WTG Rottenburg.
Highlights Neckar Festival Rottenburg 2026
- Opening with keg tapping on Friday evening (6 PM, Market Square)
- Huge flea market on the Neckar Bridge (Sat+Sun)
- Punt boat rides on the Neckar
- Children's flea market on Sunday morning
- Festival badge €5 = Naldo day ticket including lottery
- Dragon boat and canoe demonstrations by water sports clubs
- Three festival stages with live music (Market Square, Schänzle, Bürgerwache)
Prices Neckar Festival Rottenburg 2026
Admission: Festival grounds, stage program, flea market, and punt boat rides are freely accessible.
Festival Badge: €5 (at several sales stands). It includes: free travel on all means of transport in the Naldo network (bus + train) on June 27 and 28, 2026, one lottery ticket, and the souvenir badge.
Food & Drink: Club prices — Saitenwürstle €4 to €6, Maultaschen approx. €8, draft beer €4 (0.3 l). International stands priced individually.
Practical information — Neckar Festival Rottenburg
Getting There
By train: Regional train on the Tübingen–Horb line (RB 63), Rottenburg am Neckar station, then a 5-minute walk to the festival mile. Free travel within the Naldo tariff network with the festival badge. By car: A81 exit Horb, then B28a towards Tübingen. Parking available on the outskirts of the city; the city center is closed during the festival.
Opening Hours
Friday, June 26, 2026: 5 PM–2 AM (Opening at 6 PM). Saturday, June 27, 2026: 12 PM–2 AM. Sunday, June 28, 2026: 10 AM–7 PM.
Admission
Festival grounds are freely accessible. Festival badge €5 (free travel Naldo, lottery ticket). Stage program is free.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses in Rottenburg's old town, in neighboring Tübingen (10 km away), or on the edge of the Swabian Jura. Book well in advance — the festival attracts visitors from across the region.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Neckar Festival Rottenburg al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Neckar Festival Rottenburg
Neckarufer und Innenstadt Rottenburg am Neckar
Neckarufer / Innenstadt, 72108 Rottenburg am Neckar