From the Stubalm alpine pasture back to Lipizzaner Stud Piber
On Saturday, 12 September 2026, the traditional Lipizzaner Almabtrieb sees the young stallions return from their summer pastures on the Stubalm to Lipizzaner Stud Piber. The one- to three-year-old stallions, affectionately known as the “Young Wild Ones”, have spent more than three months at around 1,500 metres above sea level. Their approximately 20-kilometre journey back down into the valley takes them through Maria Lankowitz and Köflach before they finally reach Piber.
For the youngest Lipizzaners, this is their first Almabtrieb, while the older stallions already know the route from previous years. Traditional highlights along the way include decorating the horses with colourful summer flowers at Gasthaus Wiendl, the ceremonial blessing of the horses on Schlossplatz in Maria Lankowitz and their festive arrival in the centre of Köflach.
The journey then continues to Lipizzaner Stud Piber, where visitors can enjoy more Lipizzaner experiences, the LIPIZZANIA horse film festival, music and evening concerts by Matakustix and Tagtraeumer.
Admission to the Lipizzaner Almabtrieb is free.
At a glance
Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Locations: Maria Lankowitz, Köflach and Lipizzaner Stud Piber
from 10:00: music and cultural programme
12:15: decorating the Lipizzaners with flowers at Gasthaus Wiendl
13:00: blessing of the horses on Schlossplatz in Maria Lankowitz
14:00: festive arrival in the centre of Köflach
from 15:30: music and Lipizzaner experiences in Piber
from 18:00: concerts by Matakustix and Tagtraeumer
free admission
takes place in all weather conditions
Traditional Styrian dress is all part of the occasion - visitors are very welcome to wear their Dirndl, Lederhosen or other traditional attire.
The Lipizzaners’ route on 12 September
The young stallions spend more than three months on the Stubalm near the Soldatenhaus at around 1,500 metres above sea level. Around 20 kilometres separate their summer pastures from Lipizzaner Stud Piber. On 12 September, they make the entire journey back to their stables in Piber on foot, with each stud employee leading two Lipizzaners.
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09:00 - Stubalm The young stallions set off from the Soldatenhaus on the Stubalm. Around 20 kilometres lie ahead of them, at a brisk pace and mostly downhill.
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12:15 - Maria Lankowitz The horses are decorated with colourful summer flowers at Gasthaus Wiendl.
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13:00 - Maria Lankowitz The blessing of the horses by Brother Elias is one of the traditional highlights of the Almabtrieb, giving thanks for the young stallions’ safe return from their summer on the alpine pastures.
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14:00 - Köflach The Lipizzaners make their festive entrance into Köflach. Accompanied by the Musikverein Gestüt Piber brass band, the sound of hooves and music and the horses decorated with summer flowers create a memorable spectacle in the town centre.
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from 15:30 - Piber Antenne Steiermark gets the music started with a DJ set before concerts in the arena bring the day to a musical close from 18:00.
What’s new at the Lipizzaner Almabtrieb 2026
Experience more without having to rely on your car throughout the day. Free vintage shuttle buses run every ten minutes between the event locations and designated visitor car parks, making it easy to combine the different stops and programme highlights.
Another addition in 2026 is the international LIPIZZANIA horse film festival, taking place in Köflach and Piber from 10 to 13 September.
On Saturday, the day ends on a musical note at Lipizzaner Stud Piber, with DJ sounds from Antenne Steiermark followed by concerts by Matakustix and Tagtraeumer.
Maria Lankowitz, Köflach and Piber programm
The Lipizzaner Almabtrieb is about much more than the young stallions returning from the Stubalm. Maria Lankowitz, Köflach and Lipizzaner Stud Piber come together for a full day of traditions, music and culture, activities for children, screenings as part of the LIPIZZANIA horse film festival, regional food and, of course, plenty of opportunities to experience the Lipizzaners.
At Lipizzaner Stud Piber, visitors can also see the mares and their foals before DJ music and the concerts by Matakustix and Tagtraeumer round off the day.
Programme in Maria Lankowitz
all day: music and cultural programme on Schlossplatz
all day: “800 Years of Saint Francis of Assisi” exhibition at the Maria Lankowitz pilgrimage church
10:00: Holy Mass in the pilgrimage church, followed by a guided tour of the church and treasury
11:00: Vespa blessing on Schlossplatz
12:15: decorating the horses at Gasthaus Wiendl
13:00: blessing of the horses on Schlossplatz
Programme in Köflach
all day: music and cultural programme
10:00: Radio Grün Weiß request show around Turm Café and Quergasse
10:00: LIPIZZANIA film screenings for children and young people at the Lipizzanerheimat Library in the Rathauspassage
10:00: ART-LIPIZZANIA - film and breakfast at the Theaterkeller in the Kunsthaus
from 11:00: children’s programme on Hans-Kloepfer-Platz
14:00: festive arrival of the Lipizzaners
from 16:00: LIPIZZANIA film screenings for children and young people at the Lipizzanerheimat Library
Programme at Lipizzaner Stud Piber
09:45, 11:00, 13:30 and 14:45: guided stud tours
15:30: DJ sounds by Antenne Steiermark in the arena
16:00 and 18:00: LIPIZZANIA film screenings in the state rooms of Piber Castle
16:30: “Das Glück dieser Erde” at the museum at Lipizzaner Stud Piber
18:00 and 20:00: documentaries from the world of horses in the Harness Room at Piber Castle
from 18:00: concerts by Matakustix and Tagtraeumer in the arena - free admission
Getting there, parking and shuttle
Enjoy the Lipizzaner Almabtrieb without the stress
The Lipizzaner Almabtrieb takes place across several locations in Maria Lankowitz, Köflach and Piber. A free shuttle service using vintage buses makes it easy to travel between them throughout the day.
The buses run every ten minutes between the designated visitor car parks and the event locations.
Shuttle stops Pibersteiner See - Freizeitinsel · Maria Lankowitz sports ground · Gasthaus Wiendl · Köflach railway station · Quergasse - Rathauspassage · Therme NOVA Köflach · Lipizzaner Stud Piber
Arriving by car
The Lipizzanerheimat is around 45 kilometres west of Graz. Take the A2 Südautobahn motorway to the Mooskirchen exit and continue along the B70 towards Köflach.
Arriving by train and bus
Current timetables and public transport connections are available from Verbund Linie. From Köflach railway station, you can transfer directly to the free shuttle service connecting the other event locations.
Good to know
Keep your distance from the horses
The Almabtrieb is a major experience for the young Lipizzaners. It is their first long journey on foot and, for some, one of their first encounters with larger crowds.
Horses can react sensitively to sudden movements, unexpected noises and other unfamiliar stimuli. Barriers therefore separate the horses from spectators along the sections of the route with larger crowds.
The procession travels at around 8 to 11 km/h - considerably faster than a leisurely walking pace. Visitors following the horses along part of the route should therefore keep a safe distance, respect the barriers and follow the instructions of the stud staff.
Frequently asked questions about the Lipizzaner Almabtrieb
No. The Lipizzaner Almabtrieb on 12 September 2026 is free to attend at all three locations - Maria Lankowitz, Köflach and Lipizzaner Stud Piber. The evening concerts by Matakustix and Tagtraeumer in the stud’s arena are also free of charge.
The festive procession through the centre of Köflach begins at 14:00. Led by the Musikverein Gestüt Piber brass band, the Lipizzaners make their way through the town towards the town hall - in 2026, for the first time via the Kurpark Lipizzanerheimat.
Before arriving in Köflach, the procession stops in Maria Lankowitz for the decorating of the horses at Gasthaus Wiendl at 12:15 and the blessing of the horses on Schlossplatz at 13:00.
Three visitor car parks are available: at the Pibersteiner See leisure area, at the Maria Lankowitz sports ground and at Lipizzaner Stud Piber. Free shuttle buses connect all three car parks with the event locations.
Visitors arriving by train can transfer directly to the shuttle bus at Köflach railway station.
Yes. The vintage buses are free to use on 12 September and run every ten minutes between the event locations.
They stop at seven locations: Pibersteiner See - Freizeitinsel, Maria Lankowitz sports ground, Gasthaus Wiendl, Köflach railway station, Quergasse - Rathauspassage, Therme NOVA Köflach and Lipizzaner Stud Piber.
Barriers separate the procession from spectators along the busier sections of the route. Visitors following the horses for part of the way should bear in mind that the young stallions travel at around 8 to 11 km/h.
Yes. The Lipizzaner Almabtrieb takes place in all weather conditions. Parts of the programme are held indoors, including screenings of the LIPIZZANIA horse film festival and the “800 Years of Saint Francis of Assisi” exhibition at the Maria Lankowitz pilgrimage church.
