Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt

580 Years of Wurstmarkt Tradition

The history of the Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt dates back to the 15th century. As early as 1442, a market was documented at this location, originally attracting pilgrims who were journeying to the St. Michael's Monastery on the Michaelsberg above Bad Dürkheim. Over the centuries, this pilgrim market evolved into a regional folk festival, finding its characteristic form through the Palatinate's wine cultivation and local sausage tradition. Today, the Wurstmarkt – despite its name preserving its historical roots as a sausage and goods market – is primarily a gigantic wine festival with over 600,000 visitors annually, making it the largest wine festival worldwide.

The 'Schubkarchstände' – Palatinate Wine Serving Tradition

A special feature of the Wurstmarkt are the 36 'Schubkarchstände' – mobile, festively decorated wine serving carts that have an annual tradition and are set up at fixed locations on the Wurstmarktplatz. Each 'Schubkarchstand' is operated by a winery or a wine cooperative and serves various Palatinate wines. In total, around 300 different wine specialties are offered – a spectrum ranging from dry Rieslings to Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, and sparkling wine creations. The Palatinate is Germany's second-largest wine-growing region after Rheinhessen, and the Wurstmarkt is the ultimate stage for this wine region.

Nine Festival Days Over Two Weekends

In 2026, the Wurstmarkt will span two separate festival weekends: The first weekend from September 11th to 15th (Friday to Tuesday, with a festival Monday), and the second from September 18th to 21st (Friday to Monday). This division allows a broader audience to participate in the festival and eases the strain on infrastructure. Both weekends conclude with a grand fireworks display: on September 15th and September 21st, 2026.

Palatinate Specialties and Festival Revelry

Alongside wine, Palatinate specialties are a firm part of the program: 'Saumagen' (the Palatinate's national dish), 'Leberknödel' (liver dumplings), sausages, sauerkraut, Palatinate 'Saumagen' soup, roasted almonds, cotton candy, and much more. Additionally, there is a gigantic offering of amusement rides: a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, several roller coasters, a chain carousel, a haunted house, and countless stalls that transform the Wurstmarktplatz into a folk festival universe.

Arrival and Logistics

Bad Dürkheim is excellently connected logistically during the Wurstmarkt days. Special trains from Deutsche Bahn and special buses bring visitors from the Rhine-Neckar region, the Rhine-Main region, and the entire southwest directly to the festival grounds. The town itself strongly recommends arriving by public transport, as parking is extremely limited during the festival.