Speyer Pretzel Festival
87th edition of the second-largest folk festival in the Palatinate with Pretzel Festival Parade, Pretzel Queen crowning, and world record attempt for train pulling
About Speyer Pretzel Festival
The Speyer Pretzel Festival is the second-largest folk festival in the Palatinate after the Bad Dürkheim Wurstmarkt, making it one of Germany's most famous and traditional festivals. Founded in 1910, it boasts a history of 116 years. The 87th edition in 2026 continues this tradition, offering six days of Palatinate festival culture, spectacle, and conviviality.
Highlight: Crowning of the 4th Speyer Pretzel Queen
On Saturday, July 11, 2026, the 4th Speyer Pretzel Queen will be crowned – a representative ambassador for the Pretzel Festival and the city of Speyer for the current year. The Pretzel Queen is a relatively new tradition that adds a modern figure of identification to Speyer's festival culture.
Spectacle: World Record Attempt for Train Pulling
A unique program item is the world record attempt for train pulling on Saturday, July 11, 2026: 111 people will pull a Class 111 diesel locomotive 111 meters. The symbolic combination of numbers – 111 people, Class 111, 111 meters – is the trademark of the Pretzel Festival, combining technical spectacle with Palatinate humor.
Pretzel Festival Parade on Sunday
The Pretzel Festival Parade on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 1:30 PM is one of the largest parades in Southern Germany. It starts in Burgstraße and proceeds to the festival grounds where the event is set up. Dozens of festively decorated floats, music bands, traditional costume groups, clubs, and guards move through Speyer's city center, past the world-famous Imperial Cathedral and through the historic heart of the city.
Auction of the Festival Picture
On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 12 PM, the traditional auction of the festival picture will take place. Each year, a picture is specially created for the Pretzel Festival and publicly auctioned on the last day of the festival – the proceeds go to a charitable cause.
Six Days of Festival Culture
The Pretzel Festival runs from Thursday to Tuesday and offers a complete folk festival program:
- Festival tent with live music, bands, and DJs every festival evening.
- Amusement park with a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, roller coaster, carousel, and dozens of other rides.
- Food mile with Palatinate specialties, international cuisine, Palatinate wine, and beer.
- Family program with a family day and reduced prices.
Verkehrsverein Speyer Events GmbH
The organizer is Verkehrsverein Speyer Events GmbH, ensuring the professional organization of a festival of this magnitude.
Speyer and the Pretzel
Speyer, with its approximately 51,000 inhabitants, is one of Germany's oldest cities. The Imperial Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage site – shapes the city's skyline. The pretzel has been a Palatinate cultural asset for centuries, and the Pretzel Festival honors this baking tradition anew each year.
Speyer Pretzel Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition marks the 87th iteration of this traditional Palatinate folk festival. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected, making the Pretzel Festival a magnet for the region and beyond. The festival grounds offer everything expected of a major folk festival: lively atmosphere in the festival tent, spectacular amusement rides, culinary diversity, and a varied stage program. Highlights include several major events that make the Pretzel Festival famous far beyond the region.
Programme Speyer Pretzel Festival 2026
Thursday, July 9: Festival opening in the evening with keg tapping. Opening of the festival tent and amusement park.
Friday, July 10: First full festival tent event with live music. Amusement park fully operational.
Saturday, July 11: Highlight Day with the crowning of the 4th Speyer Pretzel Queen and the world record attempt for train pulling (111 people pull a Class 111 diesel locomotive over 111 meters). Evening concert program with headliners.
Sunday, July 12: Grand Pretzel Festival Parade starting at 1:30 PM, starting point Burgstraße, route ends at the festival grounds. Dozens of floats, traditional costume groups, music bands, and clubs. Followed by a traditional brunch and festival tent event.
Monday, July 13: Family Day with reduced prices in the amusement park. Festival tent program in the evening.
Tuesday, July 14: Last festival day with the auction of the festival picture at 12 PM (proceeds to a charitable cause). Festival conclusion in the evening.
Highlights Speyer Pretzel Festival 2026
Prices Speyer Pretzel Festival 2026
Practical information — Speyer Pretzel Festival
Date 2026: Thursday, July 9 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026 (87th edition).
Location: Speyer festival grounds and city center.
Admission: free (festival grounds). Individual rides and events are subject to a fee.
Organizer: Verkehrsverein Speyer Events GmbH.
Highlights: Crowning of the 4th Speyer Pretzel Queen Sat, July 11; World record attempt train pulling Sat, July 11; Pretzel Festival Parade Sun, July 12, 1:30 PM; Auction of festival picture Tue, July 14, 12 PM.
Getting there: Speyer is located on the Rhine, approx. 25 km southwest of Mannheim. By car via the A 61 (Speyer-Süd exit) and the B 9. By train: Speyer Hauptbahnhof with regional connections from Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, and Mainz.
Parking: designated parking areas and Park & Ride recommended.
Tip: See the Pretzel Festival Parade on Sunday morning, then explore the amusement park and festival tent.
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