The next confirmed dates are Bamberg Sandkerwa (August 20 – 24, 2026), Nuremberg Autumn Volksfest (August 28 – September 13, 2026), Nuremberg Altstadtfest (September 16 – October 4, 2026), and Fürth Michaelis-Kirchweih (October 3 – 14, 2026). The first 2027 dates have already been officially announced.
Happening now
| Date | Festival | Place and event type | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamberg Sandkerwaconfirmed | Bamberg Kirchweih A large city Kirchweih in the narrow streets of the Sand district; not a quiet cellar festival. |
Bamberger Sandkerwa Veranstaltungs GmbH |
Next confirmed dates in 2026
| Date | Festival | Place and event type | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuremberg Autumn Volksfestconfirmed | Nuremberg Volksfest A large fairground with rides, stalls, a festival tent and beer gardens; not a dedicated beer festival. |
Stadt Nürnberg | |
| Nuremberg Altstadtfestconfirmed | Nuremberg city festival An old-town festival with hospitality, regional food and stages; broader than a beer festival. |
Altstadtfest Nürnberg e.V. | |
| Fürth Michaelis-Kirchweihconfirmed | Fürth Kirchweih A major city-centre street Kirchweih with a market, hospitality, rides and local tradition. |
Stadt Fürth |
Already officially announced for 2027
| Date | Festival | Place and event type | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Würzburg Spring Volksfestannounced in advance | Würzburg Volksfest A large spring funfair with rides and festival hospitality; not a dedicated beer festival. |
Stadt Würzburg | |
| Nuremberg Spring Volksfestannounced in advance | Nuremberg Volksfest The next spring dates are already published by Nuremberg’s official tourism office. |
Congress- und Tourismus-Zentrale Nürnberg | |
| Erlangen Bergkirchweihannounced in advance | Erlangen cellar festival The City of Erlangen has already published the next twelve-day edition. |
Stadt Erlangen | |
| Würzburg Kiliani Volksfestannounced in advance | Würzburg Volksfest A major Würzburg Volksfest with rides, festival hospitality and Kiliani festival beer; not a dedicated beer festival. |
Stadt Würzburg | |
| Forchheim Annafestannounced in advance | Forchheim cellar festival The City of Forchheim already states the dates in its 2027 vendor application information. |
Stadt Forchheim | |
| Bamberg Sandkerwaannounced in advance | Bamberg Kirchweih The organiser lists this advance date explicitly as subject to change. |
Bamberger Sandkerwa Veranstaltungs GmbH |
Already finished in 2026
Past dates remain visible as clearly labelled historical editions; they are not carried into the next year.
| Date | Festival | Place and event type | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kulmbach Beer Weekconfirmed | Kulmbach beer festival A nine-day beer week in the Bierstadl with Kulmbach beer and daily music. |
Kulmbacher Bierwoche | |
| Forchheim Annafestconfirmed | Forchheim cellar festival Eleven festival days in the Kellerwald with beer cellars, rides and music. |
Stadt Forchheim | |
| Franconian Beer Festival Nurembergconfirmed | Nuremberg beer festival A brewery-focused festival in the castle moat with Franconian breweries, food and music. |
Metropolregion Nürnberg | |
| Erlangen Bergkirchweihconfirmed | Erlangen cellar festival A twelve-day Kirchweih around the historic cellars on Erlangen’s Burgberg. |
Erlanger Stadtwerke | |
| Nuremberg Spring Volksfestconfirmed | Nuremberg Volksfest A large fairground with rides, stalls, a festival tent and beer gardens; not a dedicated beer festival. |
Stadt Nürnberg |
Four different festival forms
| Form | Example | Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Keller festival | Bergkirchweih, Annafest | historic cellar areas, outdoor seating and rides |
| City Kirchweih | Sandkerwa, Michaelis-Kirchweih | streets, squares, local tradition and a large audience |
| Volksfest | Nuremberg Spring or Autumn Volksfest | festival ground, rides and hospitality businesses |
| Beer week | Kulmbach Beer Week | city beer festival with a fixed event period |
The terms are not interchangeable. A visitor seeking beer cellars will find a different setting at Nuremberg Volksfest than at Annafest. A local Kirchweih should not be judged by the scale of a large festival ground.
Finding small Kärwa festivals
Village and district Kirchweih events are often published by a municipality, association, parish or inn. Search the place and year with Kärwa, Kerwa, Kirwa or Kirchweih. A recurring calendar week on an old event page is not confirmation.
The organiser should name the place, date and at least part of the programme. Without current information, do not make the trip depend on that event.
Bockbier tapping events
Bockbier dates often appear only closer to autumn or Lent and are organised by individual breweries and inns. They do not form one Franconian season with a shared opening day. Use the current business announcement for a tapping event; a previous year’s date is historical orientation only.
Accommodation and return
Sandkerwa, Bergkirchweih, Annafest and Michaelis-Kirchweih can create strong demand for accommodation and transport. Book after the official dates are confirmed and read the access notices shortly before travel. Anyone returning the same evening should find the last suitable connection before attending.