Herbstmesse Speyer

779 Years of Speyerer Herbstmesse

The 779th edition in 2026 underscores the exceptional tradition of this annual fair. The Herbstmesse dates back to the medieval market rights of the Free Imperial City of Speyer and has been an integral part of the city's calendar for centuries. While the Frühjahrsmesse marks the beginning of the festival season, the Herbstmesse traditionally ushers in the transition to the pre-Christmas period.

Volksfest on the Festival Grounds

The venue is the Speyer festival grounds — the city's central Volksfest site. Here, showmen set up their rides and booths: a Ferris wheel with views over the cathedral city, several carousels for different age groups, dodgems, high-speed rides, classic show booths, and shooting galleries. In addition, gastronomic stands are part of the scene — bratwurst, crêpes, candied almonds, gingerbread, mulled wine in the cooler evening hours.

Sunday Shopping to Conclude

The last day of the fair — Sunday, October 25, 2026 — is also a Sunday with extended shopping hours in Speyer's city center. From 1 PM to 6 PM, shops between Altpörtel and the Cathedral will be open, while the festival continues on the grounds. This combination — shopping and the fair — traditionally attracts a large audience from the surrounding area.

Palatinate Fair Tradition

The Speyerer Herbstmesse is deeply rooted in the Palatinate Volksfest tradition. Showmen families from the southern German region have been setting up their attractions on the Speyer festival grounds for generations — the Ferris wheel, the large carousels, the roller coasters follow a fixed rhythm each year between the major Palatinate festivals such as the Wurstmarkt in Bad Dürkheim and the Mainz Johannisnacht.