Name: Rudolstädter Vogelschießen 2026
Start: 2026-08-21T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-30T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Bleichwiese Rudolstadt

Vogelschießen

About Vogelschießen

The Rudolstädter Vogelschießen is Thuringia's largest Volksfest (traditional folk festival) and will celebrate its 304th edition in 2026. For ten days, the Bleichwiese in the residential city of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt transforms into a huge festival mile with over 70 showmen, spectacular rides, and a festival tent. The festival in 2026 is themed «Zeitgeist und Kultur» (Spirit of the Times and Culture) – part of Rudolstadt's 1250th-anniversary city celebration. Since March 2026, the Vogelschießen has also been recognized as intangible UNESCO World Heritage and expects around 500,000 visitors.

Dates 21 Aug — 30 Aug 2026

Venue Rudolstadt (16073)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Vogelschießen — edition 2026

The 304th Rudolstädter Vogelschießen takes place from August 21 to 30, 2026, under the theme «Zeitgeist und Kultur» (Spirit of the Times and Culture). Spectacular new attractions like the 80-meter-high Gravity free-fall tower and the 62-meter-high Gladiator looping carousel, as well as classics like the Europarad and bumper cars, characterize the Bleichwiese. The event is organized by the city of Rudolstadt under the event director Frank Grünert.

Double Anniversary in 2026

The 2026 Vogelschießen is the grand Volksfest in Rudolstadt's anniversary year: 1250 years of city history and, at the same time, the inscription of the festival into the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. The motto «Zeitgeist und Kultur» reflects both occasions.

Bleichwiese – The Festival Mile

70 to 80 showmen set up their stalls on the Bleichwiese. Event director Frank Grünert is responsible for the planning on behalf of the city. Around 500,000 visitors are expected over ten days.

Highlights Vogelschießen 2026

80 m high Gravity free-fall tower (new in 2026), Gladiator Looping (62 m, 90 km/h), Laser Pix, water ride, fireworks display, recognition as UNESCO World Heritage.

Programme Vogelschießen 2026

New Main Attractions 2026

Gravity Free-Fall Tower – 80 m high, 140 km/h descent, rotating gondolas. Spectacular new attraction for 2026.
Gladiator Looping Carousel – 62 m high, 90 km/h.
Laser Pix – Europe's first mobile interactive dark ride with 100 illuminated targets.
Après Ski Party – five-story mobile funhouse with obstacles and water features.
Jim & Jasper's Water Ride – 375 m long splash tour, 355,000 liters of water.

Classics

Europarad (Ferris wheel)
Bumper cars
Children's carousels
Musik-Palast
Bungee trampoline
Skill games and gastronomic offers

Festival Tent – Rolschter

Daily highlights with live music and artist performances. Opening keg tapping, traditional marksmen's Vogelschießen, climax with a fireworks display on Saturday evening.

Prices Vogelschießen 2026

Admission to the festival grounds is free. Rides start from approx. €3; major attractions like Gravity are usually priced higher. Festival tent with its own catering.

Practical information

Practical information — Vogelschießen

Getting There

Train: Rudolstadt station, approx. 15 min. walk to Bleichwiese. Car: A4 / A9, Rudolstadt exit. Parking spaces are signposted, shuttle service from Park-and-Ride on weekends.

Opening Hours

Daily from late afternoon until midnight, weekends from the morning.

Admission

Festival grounds are freely accessible. Rides and catering are charged according to tariff.

A 300-Year-Old Tradition

Rudolstadt has been inviting people to the Vogelschießen since 1722. The old princely marksmen's festival has developed over the centuries into the largest Volksfest in the Free State of Thuringia and now attracts hundreds of thousands from all over Central Germany every year. In the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, it is the undisputed highlight of the summer.

UNESCO World Heritage

In 2026, the Vogelschießen receives special recognition: it was added to the national inventory of intangible UNESCO World Heritage in 2026 – a seal of quality that underscores the festival's importance for Rudolstadt's regional identity. The inscription was awarded in the year of Rudolstadt's 1250th-anniversary city celebration – a double celebration year for the city on the Saale river.

Bleichwiese – Stage for Ferris Wheel, Gravity, and Folk Fun

On the expansive Bleichwiese, a traditional festival site at the foot of the Heidecksburg castle, the Thuringian Showmen's Association sets up an impressive festival mile every year. In addition to classics like the Europarad (Ferris wheel), bumper cars, and bumper cars, spectacular new attractions make headlines every year.

Festival Tent, Club Life, Family

Live music is offered every evening in the large festival tent – the «Rolschter». Marksmen's clubs, local associations, and politics shape the festival with traditional parades and the Vogelschießen itself, which gives the Volksfest its name.