The key Franconian beer and folk festivals in 2026 are Erlanger Bergkirchweih from 21 May to 1 June, Annafest in Forchheim in late July and early August, Kulmbacher Bierwoche from 25 July to 2 August, Bamberger Sandkerwa from 20 to 24 August, Nuremberg Herbstvolksfest from 28 August to 13 September and Fürther Michaeliskirchweih from 3 to 14 October. In addition, Kerwa season runs across many villages and districts. Local Kerwa dates change every year and are not maintained centrally, so always check with the municipality, brewery, organiser or tourist information.

Franconia does not have one single beer festival. It has a whole network of Kirchweih fairs, Kerwa, beer cellar events, beer weeks, folk festivals and Bockbier tapping events. This overview is therefore deliberately not a complete calendar of every village Kerwa, but a practical guide to the most important and planable dates.

Important: dates, opening hours and programmes can change. Always check the official festival page, city or town website, brewery or organiser before travelling.

What This Calendar Is, and What It Is Not

  • Yes: major festivals, beer weeks, folk festivals, beer cellar and Bockbier seasons
  • Yes: orientation for the best travel season in Franconia
  • No: not a complete list of all village Kerwas
  • No: no guarantee for opening hours, weather or beer service
  • Rule: always check small Kerwa dates locally

Key Beer and Folk Festivals 2026

Nuremberg Volksfest as a seasonal beer and folk festival moment
The Nuremberg Volksfest is not a hidden cellar, but a major seasonal city moment.
Beer at the Nuremberg Volksfest
At large folk festivals, beer is only part of the picture: atmosphere, food and timing matter too.
Food at the Nuremberg Volksfest
Folk festivals in Franconia are always food festivals too.
Evening atmosphere at the Nuremberg Volksfest
In the evening, a folk festival becomes its own kind of seasonal city visit.
Date 2026Festival / SeasonWhereCharacter
21 May - 1 JuneErlanger BergkirchweihErlangen, BurgbergTwelve-day folk festival on the historic rock cellars. Originated in 1755 and one of Franconia's best-known beer festivals.
May - SeptemberBeer cellar seasonFränkische Schweiz, Bamberg, Forchheim, Hallerndorf and many other placesNot a single event. Many beer cellars open seasonally and depending on weather. Always check opening times directly.
May - OctoberKerwa / Kärwa / KirchweihVillages, districts and market towns across FranconiaLocal Kirchweih festivals with beer, food, music, processions, tree-raising or Wirtshauskerwa. Not centrally complete, check dates locally.
24/25 July - 3 AugustAnnafest ForchheimForchheim, KellerwaldTraditional festival in the Kellerwald. The official regional event calendar lists 24 July to 3 August, while the Annafest page lists 25 July to 3 August. Please check the final date before visiting.
25 July - 2 AugustKulmbacher BierwocheKulmbachLarge beer festival around Kulmbach beer, Stadl, music and festival operation.
20 - 24 AugustBamberger SandkerwaBamberg, Sand districtKirchweih in Bamberg's historic Sand district, with stalls, music, river atmosphere and Fischerstechen.
28 August - 13 SeptemberNuremberg HerbstvolksfestNuremberg, VolksfestplatzLarge folk festival near Dutzendteich. Not a pure beer festival, but an important Franconian folk festival date.
16 - 28 SeptemberNuremberg AltstadtfestNuremberg old town / Insel SchüttTwo-week old-town festival with Markt der Gastlichkeit, Franconian food, beer tapping and Franconian traditional breweries. Check official dates each year.
3 - 14 OctoberFürth MichaeliskirchweihFürth city centreOne of Bavaria's largest city Kirchweih festivals, with market, food and drink, rides, harvest parade and Wirtshauskerwa.
October - DecemberBockbier tapping eventsMany Franconian breweriesLocal Bockbier tapping events at breweries and inns. There is no single central calendar, so check directly with each brewery.
Advent / DecemberChristmas Bock seasonMany Franconian breweriesSeasonal strong beers at the end of the year. This is more a beer season than one single festival.

Kerwa as Its Own Category

Kerwa is not a small side topic in Franconia. For many places, it is the most important date of the year. Depending on the area, it is called Kärwa, Kerwa, Kirwa or Kirchweih. Sometimes it is a large town festival, sometimes a tavern Kerwa, sometimes a village festival with a tree, music, Bratwurst, Küchla and festival beer.

That is exactly why Kerwa belongs in this calendar, but not as a supposedly complete list. There are too many villages, districts and local variations. Some dates are published early, others are visible only locally. For travellers, the better method is: choose the season, choose the region, then check the municipality, tourist information, brewery or inn.

How to Plan Kerwa Properly

  • Choose the region first: Bamberg, Forchheim, Fränkische Schweiz, Aischgrund, Nuremberg/Fürth/Erlangen or Obermain
  • Then search locally: municipality, tourist information, brewery, inn, club page
  • Do not expect every Kerwa to be explained for tourists
  • Bring cash
  • Plan your return trip or overnight stay in advance

For the cultural background, read our guide to Franconian Kerwa. For planning across the year, use Kerwa Season in Franconia. For what comes on the plate: What to Eat at a Kerwa.

Erlanger Bergkirchweih on the Burgberg
The Berch feels more like a grown cellar hill than an interchangeable beer festival.
Annafest in the Forchheim Kellerwald
Annafest turns the Kellerwald into one of Franconia’s strongest seasonal beer places.

The Big Anchors

Bergkirchweih, Annafest and Sandkerwa are the big summer anchors for beer culture in Franconia. They are easier to plan than village Kerwas, known beyond their towns and usually fixed early in the year.

Fürth and Nuremberg show the urban folk festival side of Franconia. This is not the same as a beer cellar or a village Kerwa, but it belongs to Franconian festival culture.

Kulmbach represents the beer week tradition of a brewing town. If you visit Kulmbach, combine the festival with the Mönchshof Brewery Museum and the city's brewing history.

Fürth Michaeliskirchweih with parade and street-festival atmosphere
The Michaeliskirchweih is a city moment in Fürth, not an interchangeable folk festival.
Parade at the Fürth Michaeliskirchweih
The parade shows that the Kärwa here is not only food and drink, but lived city tradition.

Bockbier Season in Franconia

Bockbier tapping events in Franconia are often local brewery or tavern events. They do not share one common date. Some breweries release spring bock, Maibock, autumn bock or Christmas bock. If you travel specifically for Bockbier, check dates directly with the brewery.

This is especially true for smaller breweries: a Bockbier tapping can be a very strong evening, but it is often less tourist-facing than a large folk festival. That is exactly what makes it interesting.

What This Calendar Deliberately Does Not Do

This calendar does not collect unrelated large events just because beer is served there. A music festival outside Franconia does not belong in a Franconian beer festival calendar. Nor does every small event get its own line if the date is not reliable or the event is only locally relevant.

The goal is not quantity, but orientation: major anchors, real Franconian festival culture and clear notes on where to check locally.

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