Name: Cranger Kirmes 2026
Start: 2026-08-06T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-16T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kirmesplatz am Rhein-Herne-Kanal, Crange

Cranger Kirmes

About Cranger Kirmes

The Cranger Kirmes is the largest Volksfest (traditional folk festival) in North Rhine-Westphalia and the second largest in all of Germany — only Munich's Oktoberfest attracts more visitors. Around 4 million guests flock annually to the Rhine-Herne Canal in the Herne district of Crange. In 2026, the eleven-day Kirmes will take place from August 6th to 16th under the motto "The Galactic". The opening ceremony features The BossHoss, a parade with over 4,000 participants, a family day, and three spectacular fireworks displays crown the region's event weekend.

Dates 06 Aug — 16 Aug 2026

Venue Herne (05916)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Cranger Kirmes — edition 2026

The 491st Cranger Kirmes runs from August 6th to 16th, 2026, under the motto "The Galactic". Opening ceremony on August 7th at 2:00 PM with a concert by The BossHoss, followed by the opening fireworks at 10:30 PM. The grand parade on August 8th features approximately 4,000 participants and over 100 groups. Family Day is on August 12th. Three major fireworks displays will take place on August 7th, 14th, and 16th. Around 4 million visitors are expected.

11 Days of Volksfest Under a Galactic Motto

With "The Galactic," the Cranger Kirmes 2026 will be infused with a sci-fi atmosphere: thematic decorations, special light effects, and an expanded show program in the festival hall.

Program Highlights

Opening Stroll on Aug 6th from 1:00 PM
Official Opening on Aug 7th at 2:00 PM with the mayor and ceremony
The BossHoss Concert in the Cranger Festhalle
Opening Fireworks Aug 7th at 10:30 PM
Grand Parade on Aug 8th with ~4,000 participants
Family Day on Aug 12th with reduced prices
"Schlagerherz auf Crange" (Schlager Heart on Crange) on Aug 12th from 6:30 PM
Pyro Fireworks on Aug 14th at 10:30 PM
Closing Fireworks on Aug 16th at 10:30 PM

Festival Hall: Reservations

Table reservations for the Cranger Festhalle begin on May 1st, 2026 — tables are usually booked within a few hours.

Highlights Cranger Kirmes 2026

Motto "The Galactic", opening concert by The BossHoss, parade with 4,000 participants, three major fireworks displays, Family Day with "Schlagerherz auf Crange".

Programme Cranger Kirmes 2026

Thursday, August 6th, 2026 — Opening Day

1:00 PM — First Kirmes stroll

Friday, August 7th, 2026 — Official Opening

2:00 PM — Ceremony with keg tapping
Evening — Concert by The BossHoss in the Cranger Festhalle
10:30 PM — Opening fireworks over the Rhine-Herne Canal

Saturday, August 8th, 2026 — Parade Day

Grand Parade with ~4,000 participants in over 100 groups, over 100,000 spectators along the route

Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 — Family Day

All day — Reduced prices on all rides (Cranger Taler not redeemable)
6:30 PM — "Schlagerherz auf Crange" with multiple artists

Friday, August 14th, 2026 — Pyro Evening

10:30 PM — Grand fireworks display

Sunday, August 16th, 2026 — Closing Day

10:30 PM — Grand Closing Fireworks

Full daily program at cranger-kirmes.de/programm.

Prices Cranger Kirmes 2026

Admission to the festival grounds is free. Ride prices vary per attraction; reduced on Family Day.

Practical information

Practical information — Cranger Kirmes

Getting There

By car: A42 or A43, exit Herne-Wanne, then follow signs for Cranger Kirmes (Park & Ride recommended). By public transport: Special buses from Herne, Wanne-Eickel, and surrounding towns. There is also a landing stage on the Rhine-Herne Canal.

Festival Hall & Reservations

Table reservations for the Cranger Festhalle start on May 1st, 2026, on the BayernFestzelt website.

Tip

Family Day (August 12th) is ideal for families with children. Fireworks on August 7th, 14th, and 16th — best viewed from the bridges over the Rhine-Herne Canal.

A Tradition Since 1449

The roots of the Cranger Kirmes date back to 1449 — making it one of the oldest Volksfeste in Germany. From its origins as a historical horse market, it has evolved over the centuries into the gigantic folk festival that today transforms the skyline of the Rhine-Herne Canal into a flickering city of lights for eleven days each year. With around 4 million visitors, Crange ranks second among German Volksfeste, right behind the Oktoberfest.

Motto 2026: "The Galactic"

Every Cranger Kirmes has its own motto — in 2026, it will be galactic. The theme is reflected in the decorations, special effects, and the opening festivities. The BossHoss will open the festival on August 7th with a concert in the Cranger Festhalle, followed by the traditional tapping of the first keg and the first of three fireworks displays.

Parade, Family Day, and Three Fireworks

Opening Day (August 6th): First Kirmes stroll from 1:00 PM
Opening Ceremony (August 7th): Ceremony at 2:00 PM, concert by The BossHoss in the evening, opening fireworks at 10:30 PM
Grand Parade (August 8th): approx. 4,000 participants in over 100 groups, over 100,000 spectators
Family Day (August 12th): Reduced prices (Cranger Taler not redeemable) + "Schlagerherz auf Crange" (Schlager Heart on Crange) from 6:30 PM
Closing Fireworks (August 16th): 10:30 PM — a crowning season finale

Crange on the Rhine-Herne Canal: The Heart of the Ruhr Area

The festival grounds are located north of the city of Herne in the Ruhr area, directly on the Rhine-Herne Canal. The waterside location, combined with the immense size of the grounds, gives the Cranger Kirmes its unique atmosphere: a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, festival halls, hundreds of stalls, and a landing stage for water buses from surrounding towns. With the Rhine-Herne Canal acting as a reflective surface, the evening illuminations become an almost mystical light show.