Vegan für alle Heidelberg

Run by the volunteer association Vegan in Heidelberg, Vegan für alle is the annual flagship event of the city's plant-based community. In 2026 it takes place on Sunday 21 June from 11:00 to 20:00 in front of the new Karlstorbahnhof on Gadamerplatz/Marlene-Dietrich-Platz — a striking modern plaza in Heidelberg's Südstadt that has quickly become one of the city's cultural anchors since opening.

The festival's explicit mission is in the name: *vegan for everyone*. Organizers design the day to feel low-pressure and welcoming, whether you've been vegan for fifteen years, are merely curious, or showed up because you happened to be passing through. That inclusive tone is reflected in the program: a food market featuring regional vegan vendors runs alongside a stage programme with live cooking shows, lectures, and music, with topics spanning animal rights, climate impact, and practical everyday nutrition.

Food-wise, expect a rotating cast of about 15–25 regional producers and street-food operators: seitan burgers, Vietnamese banh mi, cashew-based ice cream, raw cakes, ethical wines, kombucha, and plenty of Baden cuisine reimagined without animal products. The adjacent Karlstorbahnhof venue hosts complementary indoor talks and cooking demonstrations if the weather turns, which is common enough in June that the contingency matters.

The setting is part of the appeal: Gadamerplatz is a contemporary architectural square surrounded by the Karlstorbahnhof cultural centre, cafés, and Heidelberg's evolving Südstadt — a refreshing counterpoint to the medieval postcard image of the Old Town. Entry is free, the plaza is fully accessible and stroller-friendly, and the Südstadt tram stop puts the site within easy reach from Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof. For visitors combining the festival with tourism, the Old Bridge and Heidelberg Castle are a 15-minute tram ride away.