The 55th “Heidelberger Herbst” Old Town Festival

On 26 and 27 September 2026, the Heidelberger Herbst festival will be inviting visitors to enjoy a varied weekend in Heidelberg’s Old Town for the 55th time.

The programme features music, markets, culture, culinary delights and numerous hands-on activities. Alongside many tried-and-tested events, there are also new things to discover this year: The Medieval Market is expanding to cover the entire Universitätsplatz, the Nuzinger Dance School will be performing on the newly redesigned Montpellierplatz, and the Studierendenwerk is celebrating its first-ever ‘Campus Fiesta International’ in the Triplex canteen.

As is tradition, Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner and Mathias Schiemer will open the Heidelberg Autumn Festival on Saturday at 11 am by tapping the first keg of beer on the Marktplatz. Afterwards, a varied programme of music and entertainment across nine stages will set the tone in the Old Town. Added to this are the large flea market, arts and crafts and goods markets, numerous culinary offerings, as well as activities organised by Heidelberg’s clubs, institutions and shops.

This year, the festival is introducing new highlights in several locations. For the first time, the Medieval Market will take over the entire Universitätsplatz. On Montpellierplatz, in front of the restored Stadthalle Heidelberg concert hall, the Nuzinger Dance School will present a programme of workshops and shows. Due to the renovation of the Zeughaus canteen, the Heidelberg Student Union is moving the premiere of its ‘Campus Fiesta International’ to the inner courtyard of the Triplex canteen.

The festival continues on Sunday: alongside markets, stage performances and family activities, the Sunday shopping event from 1 pm to 6 pm invites visitors to stroll and shop in the Old Town.

Markets and cultural program

Saturday, September 26

The well-known Heidelberg Autumn Flea Market in the southern part of the Old Town (Merianstraße and Kettengasse) and in the northern part of the Old Town (Lauerstraße, Dreikönigstraße, Neckarstaden, Am Brückentor and Obere Neckarstraße) offers plenty of opportunities for bargain hunters and collectors to rummage through the stalls from 7 am to 7 pm.

The residents’ flea market has also proved popular; it takes place in Bienenstraße, Untere Neckarstraße, Große Mantelgasse, Heuscheuer, Untere Straße, Neugasse, Landfriedstraße, Karl-Ludwig-Straße, Grabengasse, Ingrimstraße and Mittelbadgasse, also from 7 am to 7 pm.

In the courtyard of the Theodor-Heuss-Schule on Sandgasse, the popular flea market for children up to the age of 15 will be open from 6.30 am to 6 pm. Participation is free of charge and no registration is required.

Also returning is the accessories flea market organised by the German-French Cultural Centre at Mittelbadgasse 7 (on the corner of Ingrimstraße). From 9 am to 5 pm, you’ll find hats, belts, scarves and other accessories, including the so-called ‘cerises sur le gâteau’ – those little extras that add just the right touch to any outfit.

Lossen Fotografie Heidelberg is hosting a pictures and photography flea market in the courtyard at Plöck 32a. From 11 am to 6 pm, historical and contemporary photographs of Heidelberg, exhibition pieces, unique items and other works will be available to purchase at the gallery’s stock clearance sale.

Along Hauptstraße, the arts and crafts and general goods market is open from 10 am to 11 pm, offering the chance for a leisurely stroll through Heidelberg’s shopping mile.

An additional arts and crafts market featuring unique items and fragrant surprises takes place from 9 am to 5 pm in the courtyard of the Kurpfälzisches Museum (Hauptstraße 97).

The popular medieval market will be held for the first time across the entire Universitätsplatz on Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm and on Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. For younger visitors in particular, a visit will be a journey back in time to the world of knights and jugglers.

On the newly redesigned Montpellierplatz, in front of the restored historic Stadthalle Heidelberg concert hall, the Nuzinger Dance School will be presenting a varied dance programme from 10 am to 6 pm – with workshops, shows by the Kids & Teens, and performances by the show dance groups – for visitors to watch and join in. For a break in between, a food and drink area and deckchairs are available at the Stadthalle Heidelberg concert hall.

Not far from there, on the banks of the Neckar at Neckarlauer near the Neckarorten, there will be jazz, Latin and funk with ‘Cluster V’ from 4 pm to 5.30 pm, and acoustic pop with ‘Hongkong ruft’ from 6 pm to 7.30 pm.

From 11 am, Richard-Hauser-Platz will serve as a showcase for Heidelberg’s twin towns. At approximately 11.45 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm, to mark the 65th anniversary of the town twinning with Montpellier and the 40th anniversary of the Montpellier House, the fanfare band ‘Les Backchichs’ from the French twin town will perform. The fifteen musicians will bring a wide variety of musical styles and get the square moving.

From 11.00 am, due to the renovation of the Zeughaus canteen, the Studierendenwerk will be hosting the ‘Campus Fiesta International’ in the inner courtyard of the Triplex canteen for the first time. Musically, the programme ranges from singer-songwriters and pop through indie, R&B and jazz to funk, reggae and dancehall. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will also be there with an interactive stand where visitors can get involved. Food and cold drinks will also be available.

Anyone looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Heidelberg’s autumn can find a cosy café oasis at the Seniorenzentrum Altstadt, 13 Marstallstraße, from 2 pm to 5 pm, serving homemade cakes, waffles, coffee and sparkling wine. There will also be a small jewellery flea market.

Visitors can also take a break from the hustle and bustle at the ‘Haus der Begegnung’ at Merianstraße 1 from 2 pm to 6 pm. Over a cup of coffee, there’ll be a chance to meet people, relax and strike up a conversation.

At ADORABLE Collections, Heumarkt 11, the up-and-coming artist Thembe will be performing from 6 pm, singing and playing the guitar and harp.

The Herbert A. Jung Art Gallery at Obere Neckarstraße 12 is hosting an exhibition of abstract paintings and portraits from 12 noon to 6 pm.

At the Schmitt & Hahn bookshop at Hauptstraße 8, photographic artist Benedikt Hild will be presenting his ‘Little Worlds’ of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Frankfurt and the Palatinate using tiny figures from 9 am to 3 pm. He will also be selling his photo books and postcards.

Once again this year, a special stamp dedicated to ‘Heidelberg Autumn 2026’ will be issued by the Heidelberg Stamp Collectors’ Association and sold from 11 am to 6 pm at Hauptstraße 25 (in front of Galerie Vogel). It features the oil painting ‘Romantic Heidelberg’ by the Ukrainian artist Stanislav Zvolsky. To go with it, there is a special postmark and a special postcard featuring the same motif.

At the corner of Theaterstraße and Hauptstraße, visitors can win theatre prizes on the Heidelberg Theatre and Orchestra’s wheel of fortune from 11.00 am.

One of the highlights is the ‘open courtyards’ from 7 am to 4 pm at Crêpes und Krimskrams (Bussemergasse 6) and from 8 am at the Wartburghaus student hall of residence (Untere Neckarstraße 21), where visitors can enjoy snacks and browse around.

At Neckarstaden 25, opposite the Stadthalle Heidelberg concert hall, Pier IV will become a floating venue on the River Neckar from 4 pm to 11 pm under the theme ‘I Love HD Autumn’.

Sunday, September 27

The arts and crafts and goods market will take place along the main street from 11 am to 7 pm.

The medieval market will also be open across the whole of Universitätsplatz from 11 am to 7 pm.

From 11 am to 6 pm, the popular children’s flea market for children up to the age of 15 will take place in the courtyard of the Theodor-Heuss-Schule. Participation is free of charge; no registration is required.

The Herbert A. Jung Art Gallery at Obere Neckarstraße 12 will be hosting an exhibition of abstract paintings and portraits from 12 noon to 6 pm.

The Schmitt & Hahn bookshop at Hauptstraße 8 will be presenting Heinz Strunk’s ‘Memories of Heidelberg’ book display from 1 pm to 6 pm.

From 2 pm to 3.30 pm, ‘Jazz am Neckarstrand’ featuring the Julius Steyer Trio can be heard at the Neckarorten opposite the Stadthalle Heidelberg concert hall.

From 11 am, the RNV is celebrating ‘125 Years of Electric Railways in Heidelberg’ with a day of events at the depot on Bergheimer Straße. Among other things, a Rhine-Neckar tram will be christened ‘Heidelberg’. There will also be a shuttle service within Heidelberg’s tram network using historic vehicles.

Stage program on the squares

Saturday, September 26

The official launch of the 55th Heidelberg Autumn by Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner, Mathias Schiemer, Managing Director of Heidelberg Marketing, the ‘Perkeo Fanfare Band’ alongside the guest fanfare band ‘Landknechtszug Laupenheim’, ‘Perkeo’ Thomas Barth and the reigning Wine Queen Larissa Leonhard, Larissa II, traditionally takes place with the tapping of the draught beer barrel at 11 am on the market square.

Later on, the programme on the Marktplatz begins with the ‘SRH Big Band’, who will be keeping the mood lively from 11.30 am to 2 pm. Afterwards, from 3 pm to 6.30 pm, fans of Afrobeat and folk will be in for a treat with ‘TR!BUBU’. From 7 pm, the band FATE will be performing rock, pop and party songs from past decades.

On Karlsplatz, below the castle, the stage show kicks off with ‘the Nannys’ from 11 am to 2 pm, featuring swing and rock ’n’ roll. From 3 pm to 6.30 pm, ‘Buffalo High’ will be playing hard rock, before the AC/DC tribute band ‘Dirty Deeds’ brings the evening to a close from 7.30 pm to 11 pm.

The Allgäu region is the guest of honour at the Kornmarkt. From 11 am to 5 pm, the Heidelberg brass band and the Odenwald alphorn players will take turns performing brass music. From 6 pm to 11 pm, “Die Mückenlocher” will rock the stage.

At the Fischmarkt, KIST will be bringing rock history back to life from 7 pm to 11 pm.

The Nepomuk Terrace will be all about the DJ sets from halle02: From 11 am to 3 pm with the ‘New Morning Society’, from 3 pm to 6 pm with Vino & Vinyl, from 6.30 pm to 8 pm with Anikay, from 8 pm to 9.30 pm with Antigen b2b Teknofobia, before the Speedboys bring the evening to a close with a live set from 9.30 pm to 11 pm.

The ‘Campus Fiesta International’ is taking place in the Triplex canteen. Lea Thun will kick off the varied stage programme at 11 am with rock and pop, whilst ‘Five Minutes for Charlie’ will bring the event to a close at 9.30 pm with jazz and funk.

For the first time, the Medieval Market will take over the entire Universitätsplatz, offering an entertaining spectacle on its stage from 11.00 am to 11.00 pm, featuring juggling, jugglers, medieval music and a fire show.

Theaterplatz will become “Metropolink’s Garden” – an open space for new sounds, art and socialising, with a programme of live music, DJ sets, light art and dance in public spaces – in collaboration with the Karlstorbahnhof and the Berlin-based İÇ İÇE Festival for Anatolian music.

Friedrich-Ebert-Platz will become the ‘sports ground’ for over ten Heidelberg sports clubs, which will be showcasing their activities from 11 am to 7 pm with plenty of hands-on stations and performances.

Sunday, 27 September

The “Autumn Sunday” will be heralded on Karlsplatz from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. by an ecumenical service with Olivia Constanzo and Vincenco Petracca. Afterwards, from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Bienenstraße choir will perform their repertoire. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Huub Dutch Duo will keep the mood lively before Tribubu heralds the end of the Heidelberg Autumn Weekend at 4 p.m. with energetic world music.

At the Kornmarkt, the Handschuhsheim Orchestra Association will perform from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. and the Mückenlocher #partybandderregion from 3:30 to 7 p.m. under the motto “The Allgäu visits Heidelberg.”

At the Fischmarkt, Jack Corrigal & Jens Lorbeer will give you goose bumps with their intense tones and passionate singing starting at 1 p.m.

At the Heumarkt, ROBO-TA-TA, the rapping Robo-ta, will be performing an extraordinary children’s program from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., and singer-songwriter BÄR & Band will be playing for the whole family from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Rock4Kids feat. Sprachzünder will play on the front university square from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., before KIST brings Heidelberg Autumn to a rocking close from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The medieval market on the rear university square will transport guests of all ages back to times long past. An exciting program of juggling, comedy, and music will begin at 11 a.m., before the medieval market concludes at 5:15 p.m. with farewell songs from all participants.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., more than ten Heidelberg sports clubs will be presenting themselves on Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, DJ Boulevard Bou will be spinning tunes, and athletes will be demonstrating their skills in front of the stage. A wide range of food and beverages will round out the offerings.

Children’s program

Saturday, 26 September 2026

Outside Galerie Vogel at Hauptstraße 25, the Stamp Collectors’ Society is organising a guessing game for children and teenagers from 11 am to 6 pm, with philatelic prizes. There will also be the popular ‘stamp rummage box’.

On Montpellierplatz, in front of the Stadthalle Heidelberg concert hall, the Nuzinger Dance School is organising workshops for children and teenagers at 2 pm and 3 pm, with a ‘Kids on Stage’ performance in between.

At the ‘Platz des Sports’ on Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, Heidelberg sports clubs will be showcasing their activities from 11 am to 7 pm with hands-on activities and performances.

In the courtyard of the Theodor-Heuss-Schule, the popular flea market for children up to the age of 15 will take place from 6.30 am to 6 pm. Participation is free of charge; no registration is required.

At the children’s event organised by Stadtwerke Heidelberg, children can paint bags at the ENERGIEladen at Hauptstraße 120 from 10 am to 6 pm.

The Medieval Market will be held for the first time across the entire Universitätsplatz from 11 am to 11 pm.

Sunday, 27 September 2026

At the ‘Platz des Sports’ on Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, Heidelberg’s sports clubs will be showcasing their activities from 11 am to 5 pm with hands-on activities and performances.

In the courtyard of the Theodor-Heuss-Schule, the popular flea market for children up to the age of 15 will take place from 11 am to 6 pm. Entry is free and no registration is required.

Young and old alike can gain an insight into the work of the Peperoni Children’s and Youth Circus from 12 noon to 6 pm on Richard-Hauser-Platz. Every hour from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm, the young artists will perform a short circus programme featuring a colourful mix of acrobatics, balancing acts, juggling and aerial acts. After each show, visitors can get a taste of the circus atmosphere.

The Medieval Market will be held for the first time across the entire Universitätsplatz from 11 am to 7 pm.

Rock4Kids feat. Sprachzünder will be giving a rousing concert on Karlsplatz from 12 noon to 3 pm, featuring pop and rock songs from the radio and TV as well as their own compositions. With face painting and glitter tattoos available from 11 am to 4 pm, the kids can get the perfect look to go with it.

On Marktplatz, Kornmarkt and Karlsplatz, the hospital clowns will be entertaining visitors of all ages with lots of laughter from 1 pm to 3 pm!

As part of Shopping Sunday, from 1 pm to 6 pm, many shops will be running a wide range of activities for children.

Shopping Sunday

In addition to the ‘Heidelberger Herbst’ programme, ‘Shopping Sunday’ takes place on Sunday. From 1 pm to 6 pm, the participating shops – all decorated in an autumnal theme – will open their doors for visitors to browse, stroll and shop. Special offers, discounts and little surprises round off the programme. The side streets in particular are home to numerous unique, owner-run shops.

A wide range of entertainment options for children and a diverse selection of culinary delights round off the Sunday programme for families. Detailed information on Shopping Sunday is available in the Pro Heidelberg promotional leaflet and at www.proheidelberg.de.

General information material

All the latest information on the individual programme items and promotions is available at www.heidelberg-marketing.de. A digital event leaflet can be downloaded from there and via QR code signs in the event area. As in previous years, the Heidelberg4you social media channels will provide updates on the event programme.

Safe Space

At the Heidelberger Herbst, low-threshold support points are available for people who are confronted with sexual violence, harassment, discrimination, threats or suspected use of knockout drugs at the festival, or who feel unsafe. There, those affected will receive trained support, a place to rest and, if necessary, a referral to further support services. The support points, including a safe space in the Town Hall and the German Red Cross stands on Akademiestraße and Hauptstraße, are marked with a logo. Additionally, staff wearing identification are on hand to assist.

Traffic and parking

There are currently disruption caused by roadworks at several locations within Heidelberg city centre and on Deutsche Bahn routes. Please check for updates well in advance of your journey to avoid any inconvenience, and follow the on-site information and diversion signs.

Visitors are asked to travel by public transport or to give the city centre a wide berth. If travelling by S-Bahn, you can use either Heidelberg Central Station or the Altstadt S-Bahn station (near Karlstor). Whilst several tram and bus services run at increased frequency from the central station towards the event site, the site is within walking distance of the Altstadt S-Bahn station.

Parking in the city centre is very limited. Visitors who still wish to travel by car are advised to use the car parks designated for the event at Messplatz on Kirchheimer Weg (free of charge). From there, tram line 26 runs regularly to Bismarckplatz and back.

During the event weekend, alternative parking spaces will be provided for people with disabilities: on Untere Neckarstraße near Krahnenplatz and on the B37, below the Alte Brücke.

Within Heidelberg city limits, several paid parking spaces are available in multi-storey car parks. All multi-storey car parks, including their current occupancy levels, can be viewed at www.parken.heidelberg.de.

Visitors and local residents are also asked to park their bicycles only at designated bicycle racks across all event areas. Pre-marked bicycle racks will be removed in the run-up to the event.