Events and festivals in Thuringia on the weekend of September 19 and 20, 2026: the Jena old town festival closes ten days in the historic centre, while the Heinrichser Kirmes in Suhl dates back to 1503.
Jena, between the Marktplatz and the Eichplatz. Jena marks September 19 and 20, 2026 with the finale of its largest folk festival, right on the historic market square. Events and festivals in Thuringia on the weekend of September 19 and 20, 2026: the Jena old town festival closes ten days in the historic centre, while the Heinrichser Kirmes in Suhl dates back to 1503.
The Jena old town festival's finale
The Jena old town festival is the largest folk festival in the university city of Jena. For ten days, the historic centre around the market square and Eichplatz turns into a festival mile with live music, stage shows, rides, food stalls and a market of local specialities.
In 2026 the festival runs from September 11 to 20.09.2026, and by 19.9.26 the closing weekend's programme is already under way, with blues, rock'n'roll, dance and brass bands on several stages across the old town.
The market square and Eichplatz form the festival's two hubs, with short walks between stages and market stalls along the way. Visitors arriving only on Saturday or Sunday still catch the full programme before the ten festival days end on the evening of September 20.
The rest of the weekend
Deep in southern Thuringia, the Heinrichser Kirmes in Suhl dates back to 1503 and ranks among the region's most important living folk traditions, organised by the Heinrichser Burschenschaft. It runs from September 17 to 20, 2026. In the Altenburger Land, the Rositzer Kirmes reaches its 34th edition at the same time, with a Saturday parade, a farmers' market with traditional crafts, traditional Altenburg folk dress and a choir concert on the festival meadow and Goetheplatz. Three days of festivities mark the Kirmes.
In Erfurt, the ESSTIVAL turns the old town around the historic Krämerbrücke and the Wenigemarkt into a culinary festival on Saturday evening, with regional food, live music by the Weimar band Tasty Jam, light installations and a steampunk rocket making its Erfurt premiere, alongside art displays by students. The third edition takes place on September 19, 2026, starting at 6pm. In the wine village of Sonnendorf, the Federweißerfest of the Bad Sulza winery celebrates the season's young wine from Germany's northernmost quality wine region, with onion cake, flammkuchen, winemaker burgers, cellar tours and a visit from the Thuringian wine princess. It takes place on September 19 and 20, 2026. Entry stays free.
Also in Erfurt, the Herbst- und Cerealienmarkt, in its 35th edition, turns the cathedral square on September 18 and 19, 2026 into an autumn market from 7am to 3pm, with around 100 stalls of perennials, hardy plants, bulbs, roses, herb pots, spices, tea, autumn flower displays and fruit, free of charge. The Frankenhäuser Bauernmarkt brings its 43rd edition, from September 18 to 20, 2026, of regional producers, farmers and craftspeople to the market and into the centre of the spa town of Bad Frankenhausen, with fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, sausage and cheese specialities, and handmade goods.
In the spa park of Georgenthal, the Landfestival, in its second edition, combines talks, workshops, guided walks and a creative market with the newly added Saurierfest, a nature discovery day and a night of land-art installations lit up by the Hammerteich pond. This makes Georgenthal a stage for nature and culture. It runs from September 18 to 20, 2026. Invited resident artists create the installations. In Greiz, the Greizer Theaterherbst closes its edition, from September 11 to 19, 2026, in the Aubachtal valley, a socio-cultural theatre festival with six workshops, including theatre, puppetry and music, that has brought amateur performers together with professional actors, directors and musicians since its founding in 1991.
At Posterstein Castle, young visitors compete in various disciplines for World Children's Day at the hobby-horse tournament, held on September 20, 2026 for the eighth time on the hill of the medieval castle.