Bad Dürkheim Wurstmarkt

What the Wurstmarkt is

The Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt in Bad Dürkheim is the big Palatinate wine festival, held over two weekends in September. Despite its name, it is a wine festival above all: long tables, wine stands, carousels and the famous half-litre Dubbeglas, the traditional Palatinate glass, are its trademarks. The town describes it as the world's largest wine festival, a claim you will hear repeated on site.

For visitors from other parts of Germany, it is an easy introduction to Palatinate culture: wine, hearty food, folk music and a very sociable atmosphere in a town at the edge of the Pfälzerwald.

2027 dates: an estimate

The 2027 festival is listed from Friday 10 September to Monday 20 September 2027, and the status is estimated. The organiser has not yet announced official dates. The entry follows the usual pattern in which the festival starts on the Friday between 8 and 14 September. In 2027, Friday 10 September lies within that range.

Because of this, check the official site of the festival and the town of Bad Dürkheim before you book. Confirmed dates also bring the final programme, opening times and any changes in access.

Character and history

The Wurstmarkt has its roots in a long local tradition of fairs and a pilgrimage market, and today it is a festival that locals and visitors share. Wine and sausage are central, and the festival grounds, with their large tents and the wine houses, are organised around them. Many Palatinate wineries run their own stands.

One landmark is the Dürkheimer Riesenfass, a giant wine barrel built in the 1930s that contains a restaurant. It is an ideal place for a meal and a good reason to see the festival grounds even by day.

What to see, do and eat

Try the Pfälzer Saumagen, the Palatinate speciality of stuffed pig's stomach, as well as grilled sausages, Leberknödel and bread. A Dubbeglas of Riesling or another Palatinate wine is the standard drink. Away from the grounds, walk to the ruins of Hardenburg castle and the Limburg monastery above the town, or stroll through the historic salt works area with its Gradierbau.

In September the vineyards around Bad Dürkheim are close to harvest, and walks on the Deutsche Weinstraße are a pleasure in the day before the evening session.

Getting there and where to stay

Bad Dürkheim is reachable by regional train and by the Rhein-Haardtbahn tram from Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, which many visitors use to avoid parking. The festival grounds are a short walk from the station. Driving is possible via the A650 and local roads but parking is limited.

Hotels in Bad Dürkheim and in surrounding Palatinate wine villages are in high demand during the festival. Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Ludwigshafen and Mannheim offer more capacity within a short ride.

Public holidays and vacation days in 2027

The estimated festival runs for eleven days from Friday 10 to Monday 20 September 2027 and includes seven weekdays. A visit limited to the first weekend, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September, needs no vacation days, and the second weekend, 18 and 19 September, is also free. A long weekend from Friday 17 to Monday 20 September would cost two days. Rheinland-Pfalz has no public holiday in September, and German Unity Day on 3 October falls on a Sunday in 2027, so there is no bridge day.

The festival suits groups of friends, wine lovers and couples who like lively events. Plan the return trip carefully, drink responsibly and check the confirmed dates with the organiser.

A few tips make the visit more pleasant. Go on a weekday afternoon if you prefer space and conversation, and on a weekend evening if you want the full crowd and the loudest music. Eat before you drink, agree who is driving, and keep in mind that the last trains and trams may be crowded. Bring a light jacket, since September evenings in the Palatinate can cool down quickly after a warm day.