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Baden-Baden’s event calendar is anchored by three race weeks at Iffezheim, a September pop festival, and a well-regarded December Christmas market, on top of a year-round program at the Festspielhaus. Dates below are the usual windows; some shift a few days each year, so confirm before you travel.
Events and Festivals in Baden-Baden: Spring and Summer
Frühjahrsmeeting at Iffezheim
The spring horse-racing meeting runs late May to early June at the Iffezheim racecourse, about 7 km west of town. It’s the opening of the German flat-racing season and draws a mix of locals and visitors. Grandstand tickets start around €10 to €20 depending on the day, and a shuttle bus runs from the center.
Große Woche
The big late-summer race week, held late August to early September, is the social peak of the year. Expect the top German races, a dressy crowd, and higher hotel prices for the week. Book rooms early if you want to attend; see the where to stay in Baden-Baden guide for options near the shuttle routes.
Open-Air Summer Concerts
June to August brings open-air classical and jazz concerts in the Kurhaus gardens and at the Festspielhaus. Many are free or low-cost. July has the longest evenings, with daylight until after 21:30, and the Baden-Baden weather by month page shows July highs of 24.4°C (76°F), warm enough for outdoor seating.
Events and Festivals in Baden-Baden: Autumn
SWR3 New Pop Festival
Held in September, this three-day festival puts German and international pop acts into venues across town, including the Kurhaus and Festspielhaus. Tickets sell per evening, typically €40 to €70. It coincides with mild autumn weather, around 15.7°C (60°F) in September.
Sales and Racing Festival
The October race meeting closes the flat season at Iffezheim. It’s quieter than the Große Woche and a good chance to see racing without the peak-season crowds. Combined with the autumn foliage around the Baden-Baden neighborhoods and Rebland vineyards, mid-October is a strong month to visit.
Events and Festivals in Baden-Baden: Winter
Baden-Baden Christmas Market
The Christkindelsmarkt runs from late November to around 6 January on the Lichtentaler Allee and around the Kurhaus, with stalls for mulled wine, food, and crafts. The thermal baths stay open through it, and the combination of steaming outdoor pools and market lights is the town’s signature winter scene. December is the wettest month at 123 mm, so bring a warm, waterproof layer.
New Year at the Casino and Festspielhaus
New Year’s Eve is a formal affair, with gala dinners and concerts at the Kurhaus and Festspielhaus, and the casino busy until the early hours. Book tickets and tables months ahead.
Events and Festivals in Baden-Baden: Planning
Match your dates to the calendar before you lock in travel. The best time to visit Baden-Baden page pairs the events with the best weather windows, and the things to do in Baden-Baden page covers the attractions you can visit around them.
Transport and arrival are in the Baden-Baden travel tips article, and the main Baden-Baden guide has the quick overview.
