Heidelberg Events
Heidelberg Dances Tango – September 7 – 13
Heidelberg becomes a mecca for tango dancing
From September 7 – 13, 2026, Heidelberg will become an international hub for Argentine tango during the “9th Tango Summer Festival“: live orchestras, international tango stars, workshops, shows, and dance events will bring this UNESCO cultural heritage to the Heidelberg Concert Hall, Heidelberg Castle, the Molkenkur, and the new Tango Center Heidelberg.
Non-dancers are also welcome: On September 12, 2026, Intango invites you to the castle for a free introductory tango class — no prior experience required.
To kick off the festival on September 7, 2026, the new “Tango Center Heidelberg“ at Mary-Somerville-Platz 5 will be officially opened. Mayor Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner will serve as patron — a sign of the festival’s cultural significance and its close connection to the city of Heidelberg.
>>> Further Information and Tickets »
Heidelberger Herbst – September 26 – 27
Unforgettable moments at the “Heidelberger Herbst” Old Town Festival © Heidelberg Marketing, photo: Tobias Schwerdt
As autumn temperatures slowly begin to drop, anticipation is building in Heidelberg for the biggest festival in the region: the Heidelberger Herbst – Heidelberg’s Autumn Festival.
Along the Hauptstraße, in the winding lanes of the Old Town and around the Old Bridge, a colourful festival full of discoveries awaits: traditional flea markets, arts and crafts and market stalls, as well as plenty of opportunities to browse and find something special.
A variety of live acts on several stages provide the musical backdrop. The popular Medieval Market is also once again an integral part of the programme. Food lovers can look forward to a wide selection of regional specialities, inviting visitors to sample and enjoy.
Another highlight is the Family Autumn Festival on Sunday. While younger visitors can look forward to a varied programme of activities, the Sunday shopping event gives adults the chance to take a leisurely stroll through Heidelberg’s shops.
Discover Heidelberg in Air-Conditioned Comfort
Discover Heidelberg easily and comfortably by bus. © Heidelberg Marketing, photo: Tobias Schwerdt
On a public sightseeing tour including a guided visit to Heidelberg Castle, visitors can discover Heidelberg and its famous castle ruins in a relaxed, impressive and, above all, air-conditioned way. Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, participants explore the city’s most beautiful corners on a journey through different districts, into the Neckar Valley, while enjoying fascinating stories about Heidelberg, told by a tour guide.
The tour continues with a walk through the romantic Stückegarten, the historic castle courtyard and past the Great Barrel, ending at the picturesque castle terrace with magnificent views over Heidelberg and, hopefully, a refreshing breeze reaching as far as the Rhine Plain. The funicular railway then takes participants comfortably back down to the Old Town.
The two-hour tour is offered in German on Fridays and Saturdays (except on 26 September 2026). The meeting point is the information board at the bus stop on Neckarmünzplatz.
Further Information & tickets »
Cholud Kassem – Under the Protection of Ritual
Exhibition poster for Cholud Kassem – Under the Protection of Ritual
As part of the exhibition series Retrospectives of Heidelberg Artists, the City of Heidelberg is presenting a solo exhibition by artist Cholud Kassem (*1956) at the Kurpfälzisches Museum from 1 August to 13 September 2026.
Kassem has lived and worked as an independent artist in Heidelberg since 1997. Her works are characterised by a clear and distinctive visual language that runs consistently throughout her different series.
In her work, Kassem combines aesthetic concerns with personal experiences and memories. Born in Iraq and raised in Germany, her life journey continues to provide new inspiration for her artistic practice. The exhibition features paintings, ceramic objects and video works spanning from the early 1990s to the present day. Guided tours of the exhibition with the artist will take place on 9 August and 6 September 2026.
Newly opened: The 3D TrickArt Museum Heidelberg
A new museum in Heidelberg: the 3D TrickArt Museum © LA.MAG
Visitors to Heidelberg will know the Old Bridge as one of the city’s most iconic photo spots. Now, another striking image is drawing attention: a dramatic showdown with the film monster Godzilla on the Old Bridge, spectacularly staged at the new 3D TrickArt Museum Heidelberg.
Within walking distance of the Old Town, 30 permanently installed 3D artworks by Japanese artist Masashi Hattori invite visitors of all ages to explore and interact. The paintings – some featuring spectacular Heidelberg motifs – are designed to come to life through the lens of a camera.
By standing on marked spots, visitors become part of the illusion, creating impressive and playful photo moments. An interactive experience for families, friends, school groups, and anyone who enjoys creative photography.
The new Valerieweg footbridge
The newly reconstructed Valeriewegsteg in Heidelberg © Heidelberg Marketing, photo Eva Bruce
After extensive construction work, the Valeriewegsteg near the historic Altes Karlstorbahnhof in Heidelberg’s Old Town has been completely rebuilt and is now open to the public.
This pedestrian bridge, which connects Heidelberg’s Old Town railway station with the Valerieweg and the Königstuhl hill, has been reconstructed to match the original. It now shines in new splendor and stands as a successful example of how tradition and modern infrastructure blend into Heidelberg’s cityscape.
Crossing the bridge takes visitors onto the Valerieweg, following in the footsteps of Valerie, daughter of Austrian Empress Elisabeth (“Sissi”). The path winds its way past rugged granite cliffs, leading uphill to the Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg, where it meets the Elisabethenweg.
Empress Elisabeth and her daughter Valerie visited Heidelberg several times for extended stays between 1883 and 1890.
Did you know …
… that a hiking adventure begins right in Heidelberg?
Breathtaking views along the Neckarsteig © TG Odenwald
If you are looking to set off on a multi-day hiking adventure, you can start right here in Heidelberg: the Neckarsteig begins in the heart of the city and winds its way for around 127 kilometers to Bad Wimpfen. Right from the start, the trail leads past Heidelberg Castle and up to the King’s Chair mountain (Königstuhl) before continuing on to Neckargemünd. Over nine stages, hikers encounter castles and palaces, peaceful forests, impressive gorges, vineyards and ever-changing views of the Neckar.
And there is even more to discover along the way: the free „Zeigmal app“ has recently turned this certified quality hiking trail into an exciting journey through time. At 68 stops along the route, audio features, historical images and background information tell the stories of the places and people along the way. Augmented reality even brings the past back to life.
In this way, the Neckarsteig combines nature, the joy of hiking and history in a whole new way.
Did you know …
…what the “Hackteufel” is?
Romantic Steingasse, home to the Hackteufel restaurant © Heidelberg Marketing, photo by Philipp Rothe
As the story goes, one Pentecost the devil came to the Neckar valley in search of souls. Standing on a rock by the river, he delivered his Pentecost sermon and promised the people along the banks abundant catches of fish and protection from flooding. Curious, some Heidelberg residents climbed up the rocky path. But then the bells of the Church of the Holy Spirit rang out through the valley: “Don’t believe him… don’t believe him…!” – and the people climbed into their rafts and set off for church instead.
Enraged, the devil hurled boulders after them, which came to rest in the riverbed. To this day, the resulting dangerous shallow between the lock and the Old Bridge is known as the “Hackteufel.”
The name “Hackteufel” was later given to an inn in Steingasse.
Did you know …
… that the Bunsen burner was invented in Heidelberg?
Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen, born on March 30, 1811 in Göttingen, died on August 16, 1899 in Heidelberg, was a German chemist. Together with Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, he discovered caesium and rubidium in 1861 and developed spectral analysis, which can be used to detect chemical elements in a highly specific manner. For this purpose, Bunsen perfected a particular gas torch, which had previously been invented by Michael Faraday and would later be called the Bunsen burner. During his time at the University of Heidelberg, Bunsen taught well over 3,000 students. In his honor, a statue was erected in the anatomy garden.
You can even take a Bunsen tour of Heidelberg.
One of his students was the chemist Henry Roscoe. About Robert Bunsen, he said: “As an investigator, he was great. As a teacher, even greater. As a man and friend, he was greatest.”
Did you know …
Charles Francois de Graimberg (1774 – 1864) in a portrait by Guido Schmitt, 1902 © Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg
… that a Frenchman, Charles de Graimberg, saved the Heidelberg Castle ruins?
Charles de Graimberg came to Heidelberg in 1810 to make copperplate engravings of the castle ruins and the town – and remained in Heidelberg until his death in 1864. Back then, he was shocked to discover that the people of Heidelberg were using the ruins as a quarry for their houses and the castle garden as a potato field. Furthermore, a contract had already been signed with a demolition company.
He campaigned for the preservation of the ruins with personal commitment and his own money, paid guards, even took up residence in the castle and his copperplate engravings made Heidelberg known to a broad public. He was successful.
And so, thanks to Charles de Graimberg, we can still marvel at this world-famous symbol of Romanticism today.
Did you know …
The Heidelberg Town Hall carillon was inaugurated in 1961 © City of Heidelberg
… that Heidelberg’s Town Hall has its own carillon?
The carillon at Heidelberg’s Town Hall is one of the city’s most charming landmarks – a musical symbol and a living piece of local history. Made up of 26 finely cast bronze bells from the renowned Schilling Bell Foundry in Heidelberg, the carillon has been enchanting the Old Town for over 60 years with its distinctive sound.
It was officially inaugurated on 10 December 1961, and since then, it has played a three-minute melody three times a day – at 11:55 a.m., 3:55 p.m., and 6:55 p.m. With a selection of around 50 programmed tunes across five seasonal and thematic categories – summer, Advent, Christmas, „secular“, and a May programme – the carillon is a musical companion throughout the year.
The largest bell weighs 60 kilograms and lays the foundation for the melodies, while the full set of bells together weighs a solid 800 kilograms.
Did you know …
The founding document of Heidelberg University from 1386 © Photo by Steffen Schmid
… that the founding document of Heidelberg University is still preserved?
Prince Elector Rupert I founded Heidelberg University in 1386. He established it with papal approval in his residence city. The founding rector was the Dutchman Marsilius von Inghen, who came to Heidelberg from the University of Paris.
It is now the oldest university in Germany and, at the time, was the third university in the Holy Roman Empire, after Prague and Vienna – but unlike the other two, it was already a full university with faculties of medicine, law, theology, and philosophy.
The founding document, dated October 01, 1386, specified that the new university should be organized after the model of Paris. It has been preserved to this day and is one of the treasures of the University of Heidelberg’s archive.
Did you know …
… that Heidelberg is the most sustainable city in Germany?
The latest city ranking by business magazine WirtschaftsWoche concludes that Heidelberg is the most sustainable and future-oriented city in Germany.
Among other things, Heidelberg impresses with its passive house district Bahnstadt, the new energy storage facility in Pfaffengrund and the lowest youth unemployment rate.
Furthermore, the ranking highlights the high value that science and research, education and training have for Heidelberg. Every fifth euro in the city’s budget is invested for the benefit of children and young people, and around 70% of employees in Heidelberg work in knowledge-intensive services.