Altstadtfest Brixen / Bressanone Old Town Festival

A festival that fills the entire historic center

The Altstadtfest Brixen, or Bressanone Old Town Festival, is one of the most beloved popular events in the municipality of Bressanone (Brixen), in the province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige. Held biennially in even-numbered years, the entire Altstadt turns into a massive open-air stage for three days: squares, alleys, and porticoes of the city's medieval heart fill with stalls, stages, music, and the aromas of traditional cuisine.

Over thirty associations take center stage

The hallmark of the Altstadtfest is its deeply communal nature: the festival is organized and brought to life by more than thirty local associations, which manage the refreshment points and curate the entertainment. Volunteers from city groups—marching bands, traditional costume groups, Schützen companies, and sports and cultural associations—breathe life into the event, fostering an encounter between generations, guests and residents, and the various linguistic groups that coexist in this bilingual city.

Traditions: The keys to the city and the torchlight procession

The festival opens with a solemn procession into the old town: trumpeters, bands, and groups in traditional dress parade together to Piazza Duomo, where the symbolic handing over of the city keys to the Altstadtfest Committee takes place, effectively making them the masters of the historic center for three days. On Sunday evening, the event concludes with the traditional Altstadtfest Committee torchlight procession, one of the most evocative and anticipated moments.

Music, gastronomy, and folklore

Over the three days, the program alternates concerts, live music, South Tyrolean folk entertainment, and folklore-inspired theatrical performances. The associations' stalls offer a rich selection of local gastronomy, featuring South Tyrolean specialties, traditional dishes, and local products, all set against the convivial atmosphere of the central squares.

A program for the little ones

• Bouncy castles and children's games
• Storytelling and fairy tale hours
• Workshops and family activities
• Dedicated areas for younger visitors in the central squares

A hallmark of South Tyrolean identity

Born in the late nineties and now boasting numerous editions, the Altstadtfest has become a symbol of the Bressanone summer and an opportunity to rediscover the soul of the city's historic center. The city, an important hub in South Tyrol at the confluence of the Isarco and Rienza rivers, offers the best of its hospitality during these days: those who visit the Altstadtfest discover not just a village fair, but an entire historic center telling its story through its associations, music, and traditions.