Election of the 88th Palatinate Wine Queen

The Election of the Palatinate Wine Queen is one of the most traditional Palatinate wine events. The history dates back to 1931 — the Palatinate was one of the first German wine regions to crown a regional wine queen. Today, the Palatinate Wine Queen is the central ambassador for the Palatinate wine industry, both domestically and internationally.

The 88th Election and Coronation will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 7 PM in the Stadthalle Saalbau Neustadt. It is part of the German Grape Harvest Festival 2026, which populates the entire city center from September 25 to October 12.

During the election, not only the Palatinate Wine Queen but also two Wine Princesses will be elected. Together, the three "royals" form the official royal house of Palatinate wine culture and will represent Palatinate wines for one year at events, trade fairs, and in the media.

The candidates come from the Palatinate wine villages — many are daughters of winegrower families and know Palatinate wine culture firsthand. An expert jury of oenologists, sommeliers, wine journalists, and former wine queens evaluates the candidates based on various criteria: wine knowledge, varietal expertise, tasting proficiency, stage presence, and rhetorical competence.

The election gala follows a festive schedule: Welcome with Palatinate sparkling wine, presentation of the candidates, competitive tasks including a 4-part wine tasting, jury deliberation, and the festive coronation of the new wine royalty. The event combines official tradition with Palatinate festivity and attractive wine accompaniment for the audience.

The ticket for €39/person is not just an admission ticket but includes a complete experience package: welcome sparkling wine, a four-part professionally guided wine tasting, cloakroom, and of course, a seat for the entire coronation gala. Tickets are popular and usually sell out in advance.