Allgäuer Festwoche

Local Festival, Trade Fair, and Cultural Days Combined

The Allgäuer Festwoche in Kempten is a unique hybrid in Germany: it is simultaneously a consumer fair, a cultural week, and a local festival. Over nine days in early August, the Stadtpark of the Allgäu metropolis transforms into a 57,000 square meter festival mile with exhibition halls, festival tents, stages, sales stands, and amusement rides. The organizer is the Kempten Trade Fair and Event Management (KMVB).

History Since 1949

The Festwoche was launched in 1949 and has developed into the most important economic and cultural event in the Allgäu region. In 2026, it will celebrate its 75th edition – an anniversary that will be specially honored in the program. With around 200,000 guests annually, it ranks among the ten largest consumer fairs in Germany. The city of Kempten and its associated trade fair management have been the organizers since the beginning.

Festival Tents and Allgäuer Cuisine

Several festival tents and inns are located in the Stadtpark, including the large Bauer Stube and Zum Parkwirt. Here, Allgäuer gastronomy serves its specialties – Käsknöpfle, Allgäuer Bergkäse, Kasspatzen, smoked trout fillet, and Allgäuer beer from brands like Allgäuer Brauhaus or Aktienbrauerei. Regional music bands and dance groups provide the typical festival tent atmosphere in the evenings with sing-alongs and dancing.

Themed Days and Highlights

The Festwoche's program is divided into themed days: Family Day, Senior Day, Sustainability Day, Children's Day. Highlights include the traditional costume parade, a special festival of lights with candles and fireworks, the Allgäuer Ice Festival, and performances by regional artists. The exhibition halls feature several hundred exhibitors from construction, crafts, fashion, living, gardening, energy, and mobility sectors.

Kempten and Allgäuer Identity

Kempten is the largest city in the Allgäu and one of the oldest cities in Germany. As the seat of the Kempten Trade Fair and Event Management and the Allgäuer Festwoche, the city is also the economic and cultural center of the region. The Festwoche reflects the Allgäuer self-image: regionally rooted, hospitable, with a mix of rural tradition and modern trade fair business. It is located in the independent city of Kempten in Bavarian Allgäu (Bavaria).