Cannstatter Volksfest

What the Cannstatter Volksfest is

The Cannstatter Volksfest is Stuttgart's large autumn folk festival on the Cannstatter Wasen, a meadow beside the Neckar in the district of Bad Cannstatt. It combines beer tents, fairground rides and Swabian food, and it is one of the best known Volksfeste in Germany. The 2027 edition in our calendar runs from Friday 24 September to Sunday 10 October.

Locals treat it as a regional institution and often go several times in one season.

Dates for 2027: estimated, from a Friday to a Sunday

The status is estimated, which means the organiser has not published the 2027 dates. We assumed the recent pattern of 17 days from a Friday to a Sunday. A 17 day run starting on Friday 24 September ends on Sunday 10 October, which also puts the festival across the weekend that includes 3 October.

Wait for the official announcement before booking non-refundable travel. If the organiser moves the start by a week, the festival would fall in a different part of the autumn.

Character, sights and food

The festival dates back to 1818, when King Wilhelm I of Württemberg and Queen Katharina created an agricultural festival to help the region after a period of famine. Its centre was and still is the Fruchtsäule, the decorated fruit column that stands on the grounds. Over time the agricultural fair became a large entertainment event.

Today the character is Swabian and festive: traditional costumes mix with casual dress, and the large tents fill with music in the evenings.

Visit a beer tent for brass bands and a hot meal, ride the Ferris wheel for a view over the grounds, and take a walk through the fairground. Food is a draw: roast chicken, pork knuckle, sausages, Maultaschen and Spätzle all appear on menus, and sweet stalls sell roasted almonds and gingerbread hearts.

Families usually come in the daytime, when the rides are quieter, while evenings in the tents are livelier.

Getting there and where to stay

Stuttgart's main station is a short ride by S-Bahn or Stadtbahn from the Wasen: the rail stops at Bad Cannstatt and the walk to the grounds is brief. Driving is discouraged, since parking is scarce and roads fill up. A taxi or ride share is easier after dark.

Hotels fill during the festival, so book early, or stay in Esslingen or Ludwigsburg and take the S-Bahn.

Public holidays and vacation days in Baden-Württemberg, 2027

The festival is estimated to open on Friday 24 September 2027 and close on Sunday 10 October. Tag der Deutschen Einheit, 3 October, falls on a Sunday in 2027, so it does not create an extra day off. No other Baden-Württemberg public holiday falls inside the window. Allerheiligen, 1 November, comes later and is also a Monday.

A weekend visit on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September costs nothing; opening day on Friday 24 September means one vacation day if you go during the day. A trip with two weekdays in the middle, for example Wednesday 6 to Thursday 7 October, would use two days. Since the closing weekend of 9 and 10 October is a normal weekend without bridge days, there is no cheap long weekend this year.

Tips and who it suits

It suits groups of friends, couples and families who enjoy a lively crowd. Reserve tent tables ahead for evenings and weekends, and check the dress and entry rules. Bring cash for smaller stalls.

Because the dates are still estimated, confirm them on the official event page first.

A practical way to enjoy the festival is to go at lunchtime on a weekday: the tents are open, the food is hot and the queues at the rides are short. Evenings and the final weekend of 9 to 10 October are for those who want atmosphere over comfort. Keep small bills for the fairground, and note where your group will meet if you get separated in the crowd.