23th - 27th of September 2026 alphornfestival 2026

The majestic mountains, the crisp Alpine air, and the unique sound of the alphorns - that’s the Alphorn Festival in the Kleinwalsertal. In 2026, from September 23th to 27th, the Kleinwalsertal will once again transform into a vast stage of sound, as musicians and alphorn groups from near and far play their instruments and tradition creates truly spine-tingling moments.

our highlights what you shouldn't miss

program 2026

Friday, September 25 alphorntechno with loisach marci

Man in traditional attire with an Alphorn on a rock in the mountains, looking upward, with clouds and trees in the background. | © Loisach Marci • Anton Ostler

What happens when ancient alphorn melodies meet deep bass, driving beats, and electronic sounds? A completely new musical experience.

Alphorn techno combines the powerful sounds of the alphorn with modern electronic and techno beats. Musicians like Marcel Engler, aka Loisach Marci, show just how surprising, energetic, and contemporary Alpine music can sound.

The tradition remains palpable—it’s just been given a new rhythm.

  • Friday, September 25, starting at 5:30 p.m.
  • Mittelberg Music Pavilion, Free admission
  • Special Buses:
    Departure at 10:15 p.m.: Mittelberg to Baad
    Departure at 10:35 p.m.: Mittelberg to Oberstdorf

saturday, September 26 alphornserenade

Group of people in traditional attire in front of a scenic mountain landscape with a church and houses, likely at the 2022 Alphorn Festival. | © Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen • Photographer: Frank Drechsel

An evening of alphorn music, dance, and traditional costumes: A special celebration in honor of the shepherd’s instrument awaits you. The Kleinwalsertal Trachtengruppe, the Mittelberger Alphorn Players, and the participants of the alphorn workshop will come together to play the alphorns and get you in the mood for the big festival weekend. To round off the evening, the Solzstroß Quintet will provide atmospheric music.

  • Saturday, September 26, starting at 4:00 p.m.
  • Parking lot in Baad, Free admission

sunday, september 27 festive sunday: the grand finale

Man conducts an alpine horn orchestra at an outdoor festival, surrounded by an enthusiastic audience. | © Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen • Photographer: Frank Drechsel

A celebration of this great passion and a shared highlight of the Alphorn Days: In the grand finale, Alphorn groups from Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany come together. After the outdoor church service and morning drinks, a varied afternoon full of music, tradition, and special encounters awaits you - before all the alphorns sound together once more in a grand joint performance.

  • Sunday, September 27, starting at 10:30 a.m.
  • Parking lot in Baad, Free admission

overview the PROGRAM

You can find an overview of all the events—including all the concerts, hikes, and performances—at the Alphorn Festival here:

wednesday, 23th of september 2026
thursday, 24th of September 2026
friday, 25th of September 2026
saturday, 26th of September 2026
sunday, 27th of September 2026
Multiple alphorns lie on a grassy field, ready for the Alphorn Festival 2024. | © Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen • Photographer: Frank Drechsel
Musicians at the Alphorn Festival 2024, one holding a note and playing the alphorn. | © Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen • Photographer: Frank Drechsel

23. - 26.09.2026 Alphorn workshop

This four-day workshop is designed for all experienced alphorn players who love traditional alphorn playing, want to learn new things, and wish to improve their own sound.
Together with course instructor Berthold Schick, you’ll work on several pieces that will be performed at the end of the workshop during the alphorn serenade on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the bandstand in Mittelberg. In addition to ensemble playing, the workshop will cover topics such as playing techniques, breathing, embouchure, and tone production.

Prerequisites:

  • Alphorn tuned to F
  • Good basic knowledge of alphorn playing, at least six years of brass instrument experience, and/or a two-octave range.
Book the Alphornworkshop
Orchestra at an alphorn festival, musicians playing the alphorn while the audience watches outdoors in the rain. | © Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen • Photographer: Frank Drechsel
Musicians playing alphorns at the Alphorn Festival in the mountains with snowy peaks in the background. | © Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen • Photographer: Frank Drechsel

23. - 25.09.2026 Alphorn Classes

Would you like to improve your alphorn playing skills, or—as an experienced brass player—discover the alphorn in a no-obligation trial lesson?

Or are you an experienced soloist or ensemble member looking for new ideas on playing technique, embouchure, and breathing, as well as fresh repertoire and practice methods?

Whether you’re a brass player or an experienced alphorn player - with Berthold Schick, you’re in the best hands. In a 45-minute lesson, he’ll teach you the basics of playing the alphorn or provide targeted feedback and personalized suggestions for improvement. 

Book the Alphorncourses

Food & Beverage

Our partners will be providing food and drinks during the festival weekend:

participating alphorn groups

mittelberger alphornbläser

Six alphorn players from Mittelberg, united in a unique ensemble: The Mittelberg Alphorn Players, all members of the Harmonie Mittelberg folk band, bring the mountain world to life with their traditional sounds. Their Walser traditional attire immediately catches the eye—an unmistakable symbol of their homeland and their connection to the region. A living tradition whose sound carries far beyond the mountain peaks.

Alphornfreunde grenzenlos
The Alphornfreunde grenzenlos first met in 2016 in the Kleinwalsertal as individual players from Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium, and have remained together as a group ever since. They see and hear each other about twice a year—and definitely every September in the Kleinwalsertal. This year’s Alphorn Festival 2026 will therefore mark their anniversary gathering.
freigerichter alphornisten

Since 2009, the Freigericht Alphornists have been delighting audiences with the warm, unique sounds of the alphorn. The group consists of six musicians from the beautiful town of Freigericht in Hesse who share a passion for this special instrument. The group was founded on August 22, 2009.

Their repertoire ranges from traditional alphorn pieces to modern arrangements. In addition to classical melodies, their varied program also includes mambo, cha-cha-cha, polka, waltz, and blues. They also perform songs accompanied by organ or wind orchestra. In this way, the Freigericht Alphornists showcase the alphorn’s versatile possibilities and continue to delight their audience time and time again.  

But the Freigerichter Alphornists are about much more than just music. Friendship, community, and camaraderie define their spirit of togetherness. The joy of making music together and the enthusiasm for the warm, soothing sounds of the alphorn make the group a true labor of love—for the musicians as well as for their listeners.

gipfel-blöser

The Gipfel-Blöser alphorn group hails from the St. Gallen Rhine Valley in the Lake Constance region. The group owes its name to a unique origin story: Five bakers and pastry chefs once played the alphorn together on the summit of the Weisshorn in Arosa. Since the group didn’t have a name at the time, they came up with the name “Gipfelblöser”—a combination of “Gipfeli,” the pastries bakers make, and the act of blowing the alphorn.

The Gipfel-Blöser alphorn group was founded in 2016 by bakers and pastry chefs. Over time, people with close ties to the baking trade also joined the group. Today, the group performs as a trio. Musically, the Gipfel-Blöser like to forge their own path: Instead of playing exclusively traditional Swiss alphorn repertoire in GES, they often use the key of F, which is also common among their neighbors in Germany and Austria. Their repertoire combines modern and traditional alphorn music, offering a diverse range of musical experiences.

Marxheimer Alphornbläser

The Marxheim Alphorn Players were founded in 2017 in the Swabian district of Donau-Ries. The five-member ensemble is fully dedicated to traditional alphorn music.

The ensemble captivates audiences with its finely tuned, polyphonic ensemble playing. Jörg Kotter and Josef Haschner lead the melody in the first voice. Hans Gschwandner and Arthur Schweizer provide harmonic richness and balance in the second and third voices. Alois Zöllinger provides the necessary powerful foundation on the bass. With this foundation, the five alphorn players from Marxheim produce a full sound that regularly amazes audiences at regional cultural events, festive occasions, and benefit concerts, bringing a piece of the Alpine mountain world to their hometown.

Spessarthörnle

The Spessarthörnle are a six-member alphorn ensemble from the beautiful Spessart region in Lower Franconia. They formed in 2023. In addition to traditional alphorn music, they also combine the alphorn with vocals or the flugelhorn, creating diverse and atmospheric musical experiences for any occasion.

resonant
through the valley
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save the date alphorn workshops 2027

In addition to the major alphorn festival in 2026, alphorn enthusiasts can already look forward to another highlight: Alphorn workshops with Berthold Schick will take place again in the Kleinwalsertal in 2027. From September 20th to 23th, 2027, the focus will be on making music together, refining playing techniques, and sharing experiences against a unique Alpine backdrop. Registration will be available here soon.