Medieval Booker

Medieval Markets & Fairs ◆ Denmark

Horsens Medieval Festival

Horsens Middelalderfestival turns FÆNGSLET, the town's former state prison, into a medieval town for two days at the end of August, with knights, craftsmen, musicians, a market and hundreds of costumed participants. Run by the municipality since 1995 and free to enter, it calls itself northern Europe's largest medieval festival and draws around 100,000 visitors.

Visit official site See upcoming dates

When is Horsens Medieval Festival 2026?

Next edition
– 2026 Horsens Medieval Festival 2026 See all editions
Where
Horsens, Denmark
Type
Medieval Markets & Fairs Jousting & Tournaments Living History & Museums
Usually held
Last Friday–Saturday of August
How often
Every year
Entry
Free admission; food, drink and market purchases extra.
Family-friendly
Yes — bring the kids
Founded
1995
Attendance
~100,000 visitors
Official site
middelalderfestival.dk

Checked · we re-check every festival twice a year.

Past and upcoming editions

Editions of Horsens Medieval Festival
EditionDatesStatusCalendar
2026 edition – – 2026 Google Calendar · .ics
2027 edition – Expected 2027 Google Calendar · .ics

Expected means the organiser hasn't announced yet; we show the usual window.

What happens at Horsens Medieval Festival?

Horsens Middelalderfestival (formerly the European Medieval Festival) has been held in the east Jutland town of Horsens every year since 1995, after a one-off medieval festival for the town’s 550th anniversary as a market town in 1992 proved a hit. It is organised by Horsens Municipality and admission is free. The 2026 edition ran on Friday 28 August (16:00–23:00) and Saturday 29 August (10:00–23:00).

The festival is staged at FÆNGSLET, the former Horsens State Prison (Fussingsvej 8), whose walls and yards are dressed as a medieval castle town with market streets, workshops, taverns, a tournament ground and stages. The programme includes knights’ tournaments and combat shows, craftspeople at work, medieval music and dance, jugglers, storytelling, archery, a large market and a children’s area; participants and many visitors wear period dress.

Visitor numbers grew from 30,000–40,000 in the first years to around 100,000 in recent editions, and the festival is the town’s largest recurring event. Friday evening is the atmospheric part with music and fire; Saturday is the full day for families.

Horsens is on the main Jutland railway line, about 50 minutes from Aarhus, and FÆNGSLET is a 20-minute walk from the station. Parking around the prison is limited on festival days, so arrive early or use the town’s car parks.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Horsens Medieval Festival 2027?

Not yet announced. It is held on the last Friday and Saturday of August, so the expected dates are 27–28 August 2027.

Is the Horsens Medieval Festival free?

Yes, admission is free; you pay only for food, drink and market goods.

Where is the festival held?

At FÆNGSLET, the former state prison at Fussingsvej 8, Horsens, about a 20-minute walk from Horsens station.

What are the opening hours?

In 2026: Friday 16:00–23:00 and Saturday 10:00–23:00.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. There is a children's area, crafts, animals and tournaments; Saturday daytime is the best slot for families.

How do I get to Horsens?

By train on the main Jutland line (about 50 minutes from Aarhus, 2.5 hours from Copenhagen) or by car via the E45; parking near FÆNGSLET fills early.

More medieval festivals in Denmark

Same country, upcoming first.

All festivals in Denmark
Middelaldercentret (The Medieval Centre), Nykøbing Falster in Nykøbing Falster Al Bundy at da.wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Jousting & Tournaments Living History & Museums

Middelaldercentret (The Medieval Centre), Nykøbing Falster

Nykøbing Falster, Denmark

Middelaldercentret is an experimental living-history museum on the Guldborgsund opposite Nykøbing Falster, where a reconstructed Danish market town of around the year 1400, Sundkøbing, is populated by costumed staff who stay in character all day. Its season runs from early May to late September with daily trebuchet firing, jousting and craft demonstrations, plus an autumn-holiday week in October and a Christmas market.

On now until
Family

Other medieval markets and fairs

All medieval markets and fairs
Guédelon Castle (living medieval construction site) in Treigny Stéphane D · CC BY-SA 2.0
Featured
Living History & Museums Castle Events

Guédelon Castle (living medieval construction site)

Treigny, France

Guédelon is a 13th-century castle being built from scratch in a Burgundy forest quarry using only the tools, materials and techniques of the 1230s, open to visitors from spring to autumn since the first stone was laid in 1997. Around forty masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, tilers, rope-makers and carters work in front of the public, and the site draws roughly 300,000 visitors a season.

On now until
Family
Tournoi de Chevalerie de Carcassonne (Knights' Tournament and Falconry Show) in Carcassonne Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Featured
Jousting & Tournaments Castle Events

Tournoi de Chevalerie de Carcassonne (Knights' Tournament and Falconry Show)

Carcassonne, France

Every summer the lices between the double walls of the Cité de Carcassonne host a daily knights' tournament, a 45-minute show of mounted combat in armour, billed in 2026 as 'Tournois de chevalerie et spectacle de fauconnerie' after a falconry display was added. The 2026 season runs from 12 July to 27 August with three performances a day, every day except Saturday.

On now until
Family
Medieval Markets & Fairs Jousting & Tournaments +1

England's Medieval Festival

Nutley, England

England's Medieval Festival is a three-day jousting, living-history and market festival over the August bank holiday weekend, with camping, evening entertainment and a large 'Kid's Kingdom'. Founded in 1993 at Herstmonceux Castle, it moved in 2023 to The King's Grove at Pippingford Park in the Ashdown Forest, East Sussex.

– 2026
Family