Meißen Wine Festival
Saxony's largest wine festival on the penultimate weekend of September — September 18 to 20, 2026
About Meißen Wine Festival
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Saxony's Largest Wine Festival
Meißen — known worldwide for its porcelain, regionally for its cathedral hill, and in the wine industry as the northernmost outpost of German viticulture — is the natural center of Saxon wine. The Meißen Wine Festival, held annually on the penultimate weekend of September, is Saxony's largest wine festival and one of the highlights in the region's event calendar. For three days, the historic city center between Roßmarkt, Markt, Heinrichsplatz, and Domplatz transforms into a continuous festival mile with around 20 venues and stages.
Wine, Music, Dance
Saxon vintners from Meißen, Radebeul, Diesbar-Seußlitz, Coswig, Sörnewitz, and Pillnitz serve their wines here — Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Goldriesling, Weißburgunder, Spätburgunder, Traminer, as well as Saxon sparkling wine from the Schloss Wackerbarth tradition. On the stages, blues bands, rock combos, folk ensembles, brass bands, classical quartets, and jazz trios alternate — deliberately broad, so that every audience can find its place. In addition, there are dance performances by local clubs, choirs, and special acts like marching bands.
Festival Parade and Torchlight Parade
Two ritualistic highlights frame the festival. The first is the festival opening on Friday evening at 7 PM on the market stage — with the Saxon Wine Queen, the Lord Mayor, representatives of the partner cities, and the ceremonial tapping of the first barrel. The second highlight is the grand festival parade on Sunday starting at 10 AM: traditional costume wearers, winegrower groups, dance groups, marching bands, horse-drawn carriages, decorated floats, and the Bambini fire brigade — all parade along a set route through the old town. The emotional conclusion is the torchlight parade by the DLRG Meißen on Sunday evening at 8 PM — lifeguards march with torches across the Elbe — followed by the grand fireworks display from Crassoberg around 8:30 PM.
Festival Meadow and Family Program
Parallel to the city center, the festival meadow runs along the Elbe meadows on Hochuferstraße — with showmen, rides, a Ferris wheel, carousels, roller coasters, and snack stands. The festival meadow opens on Friday from 4 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM. This is where the child-friendly side of the festival is, while adults will find themselves more in the city center around Roßmarkt and Domplatz.
Meißen, Porcelain, Albrechtsburg Castle
Anyone visiting the Meißen Wine Festival should plan at least half a day for the city. Albrechtsburg Castle on Domhügel — Germany's oldest castle construction from the 15th century — and the adjacent cathedral can be reached via a steep staircase from the old town. The State Porcelain Manufactory Meißen (founded 1710) in the southern part of the city offers guided tours and a show workshop. Combined with the wine festival, this makes for a packed weekend that unites wine, culture, and city history.
Meißen Wine Festival — edition 2026
Wine Weekend from September 18 to 20, 2026
Three days of wine, music, and festival parade — the Meißen Wine Festival 2026 continues the decades-long tradition. The opening on Friday evening, September 18 at 7 PM, is traditionally led by the Wine Queen together with the Lord Mayor and representatives of the partner cities. Afterwards, the stages around the market fill with the first concerts of the weekend.
The festival parade on Sunday morning through the old town is one of the most emotional moments — in 2026 with an adapted route and new participants like the Bambini fire brigade Meißen. The festive closing is on Sunday evening with the DLRG's torchlight parade on the Elbe, followed by the grand fireworks display from Crassoberg.
Programme Meißen Wine Festival 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026
- From 4:00 PM — Festival meadow on the Elbe meadows opens (showmen, rides)
- 7:00 PM — Festival opening on the market stage with Wine Queen, Lord Mayor, and partner city representatives
- Concerts and wine service in the entire city center afterwards
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- From 11:00 AM — Festival meadow opens (showmen)
- All day — Program on 20 stages between Roßmarkt and Domplatz
- Concerts: Blues, Rock, Folk, Brass Music, Classical, Jazz
- Wine tastings by Saxon vintners
- Dance groups and choirs
- Evening program late into the night
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- From 10:00 AM — Grand festival parade through the old town with traditional costumes, vintners, Bambini fire brigade, and decorated floats
- Morning and afternoon: Concerts and wine
- 8:00 PM — Torchlight parade by the DLRG Meißen on the Elbe
- Approx. 8:30 PM — Grand fireworks display from Crassoberg
- Festival conclusion
Detailed stage schedule will be published shortly before the festival on meissner-weinfest.de.
Highlights Meißen Wine Festival 2026
- Saxony's largest wine festival on 20 stages
- Opening Friday 7 PM with Saxon Wine Queen
- Festival parade Sunday 10 AM with adapted route
- DLRG torchlight parade Sunday 8 PM on the Elbe
- Fireworks display from Crassoberg around 8:30 PM
- Festival meadow with Ferris wheel, carousels, roller coasters
- Saxon vintners from Meißen, Radebeul, Diesbar-Seußlitz
- Free admission
Prices Meißen Wine Festival 2026
Free admission. Wine service and food at market prices. Deposit for wine glasses. Rides and showmen on the festival meadow with their own prices.
Practical information — Meißen Wine Festival
Date 2026
Friday to Sunday, September 18 to 20, 2026.
Opening Hours
City center program: Friday from 7:00 PM opening; Saturday and Sunday from morning. Festival meadow: Friday from 4:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM.
Location
Meißen city center between Roßmarkt and Domplatz (20 venues). Festival meadow: Elbe meadows, Hochuferstraße, 01662 Meißen.
Admission
Free admission. Wines, food, and rides are paid for on site. Glass deposit at the wine stands.
Getting There
Recommended: Public transport. S-Bahn S1 Dresden Hauptbahnhof → Meißen Triebischtal every 30 minutes, approx. 35 min. During the festival, additional VVO buses. By bike: Elbe Cycle Route, parking at Triebischufer. By car: Route planner on the festival website, parking on the outskirts recommended.
Organizer
Gewerbeverein Meißen e.V., Phone +49 3521 7190800, Email [email protected].
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Meißen Wine Festival al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Meißen Wine Festival
Elbwiesen Meißen, Innenstadt zwischen Roßmarkt und Domplatz
Elbwiesen, Hochuferstraße, 01662 Meißen