Pfifferdaj 2026: “The Pied Piper of Ribeauvillé”

The Minstrels' Festival, also known as Pfifferdaj, is one of the oldest folk festivals in Alsace. It takes place every year in Ribeauvillé, on the first Sunday of September, and celebrates a tradition going back more than 600 years.
In the Middle Ages, minstrels were travelling musicians who entertained at festivals and markets. The lords of Ribeaupierre, who lived in Ribeauvillé, took them under their protection. Every year, the musicians would return to Ribeauvillé to thank their protector by organizing a festival.
This gathering then became a great tradition that continues to this day, made possible thanks to the involvement of more than 1,500 volunteer participants. On the programme:

• a huge parade of decorated floats,
• medieval costumes,
• music and brass bands,
• street performances and entertainment,
• thousands of visitors coming to discover Alsatian traditions.

The theme of the parade for this 2026 edition will be “The Pied Piper of Ribeauvillé.”

The funfair will return to the Jardin de Ville in Ribeauvillé, to the delight of young and old alike.
And for even more magic, Ribeauvillé's castles will be lit up at night throughout this period.

Street entertainment in the afternoon (from 2pm to 6pm) will transport visitors into the medieval world of the Minstrels' Festival, with brass bands parading along the Grand'Rue.
In the evening, a ball and a food area under the Jardin de Ville marquee will keep you entertained until the Torchlight Procession (departing at 8:30pm from Place de la République).
Fancy discovering local produce? The medieval market will be held in the courtyard of the Médiathèque from 10am to 9pm.

This is the day of the Grand Parade! But before that, Ribeauvillé awakens to music from 9am, with the minstrels of the Harmonie municipale Vogesia performing at the Tour des Bouchers. At 10am, the medieval market will also open in the courtyard of the Médiathèque (until 7pm). From 11am, you can enjoy food and drink in the courtyard of the Grand Bailli (thanks to the Club Vosgien) and at the Jardin de Ville (thanks to the AS Ribeauvillé football club).
From 2:30pm, the historic Grand Parade “The Pied Piper of Ribeauvillé” will set off from Place de la République (Haute Ville). Once the parade is over, head to the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville and the Jardin de Ville marquee to enjoy a ball and a food area.

After a musical morning serenade by the Harmonie municipale Vogesia starting at 5pm, the traditional announcement of the parade rankings and the awarding of diplomas will take place on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville.

As every year, the pilgrimage procession to Notre Dame de Dusenbach will begin at Place de la Sinne with the participation of the Harmonie municipale Vogesia (9am).

For prices and other practical information, please visit the Ribeauvillé town hall website.

And for accommodation, feel free to book your stay at one of our establishments: the Hôtel de la Tour in the heart of the town centre or the Hôtel Le Ménestrel, right next to the historic centre.