Elfia’s spring edition runs from Friday to Sunday over a weekend in May. The first Vorden edition, 8–10 May 2026, opened on Friday at 12:00 and on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00, ran until 23:00 on the first two days and 19:00 on the Sunday, and had a record 225 traders; more than 16,000 tickets had been sold in advance and the organisers expected over 20,000 visitors, against roughly 27,000 at the last Haarzuilens editions.
The programme is what Elfia has offered for two decades: stages with folk, pagan and fantasy bands, workshops, fantasy authors, walking acts and shows, a large international market, and the costume parade, the heart of the event, in which visitors present their own creations. Elfia also elects a king and queen from among the visitors, who reign for six months until the next edition.
The festival began in 2001 as the Elf Fantasy Fair at Archeon in Alphen aan den Rijn, drew 7,500 people, moved to Kasteel de Haar in Haarzuilens in 2002 (with one year at Kasteel Keukenhof in 2004) and stayed there until April 2025, taking the name Elfia in 2013. Kasteel de Haar then changed its events policy, ending large tented events with overflow parking on its fields, and the organisers chose Kasteel Vorden for spring 2026.
Kasteel Vorden is a genuine medieval house: first mentioned in 1315, plundered in 1580 during the Eighty Years’ War and rebuilt around 1610, later Vorden’s town hall and now privately run. Its estate of woods and meadows is a five- to fifteen-minute walk from Vorden station, which the organisers recommend over driving. Costume is optional but the large majority dress up; 2026 day tickets ran from €28.90 (Friday) to €48.90 (Saturday) before booking fees.
