Thuringian Wine Festival Bad Sulza
Official State Wine Festival of Thuringia in the heart of the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region
About Thuringian Wine Festival
Travel to this festival
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The State Wine Festival of the Free State of Thuringia
The Thuringian Wine Festival in Bad Sulza is the official season highlight of the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region and is considered the most important wine festival in the state of Thuringia, in the Weimarer Land district. Unlike many folk festivals (Volksfeste), this event is not about beer tents and Ferris wheels: the focus is on the region's vintners and their wines. Bad Sulza, a traditional spa town known for its brine and wellness, located at the transition between Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, is predestined for this role as the seat of the Thuringian Wine Queen and home of the Wine Mile.
Saale-Unstrut — Europe's Northernmost Quality Wine Region
The Saale-Unstrut region is one of two German wine-growing areas in the east and the northernmost quality wine region in Europe. Vines, primarily Müller-Thurgau, Weißburgunder, Silvaner, and Bacchus, stretch across the slopes near Bad Sulza, Naumburg, Freyburg, and Bad Kösen. At the Thuringian Wine Festival, only vintners from this region serve their wines — from small family wineries to well-known estates. You can systematically taste your way through the region, chat with the vintners personally, and hear stories from the vineyard.
Three Days, One Weekend, One Market Square
The festival traditionally runs from Friday evening to Sunday evening on the third weekend in August. The wine mile opens around 8 p.m. on Friday, the market is bustling in the city center from 10 a.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bands, choirs, and brass bands play on several stages, while artisans, bakers, and regional restaurateurs sell their goods in the alleys. The spa gardens offer shade and quiet zones for relaxation, while the market square is the lively center.
The Saturday Parade and Sunday Crowning
Two program points make the Thuringian Wine Festival unique. On Saturday afternoon, the festive parade winds through the town: vintners, associations, the reigning Thuringian Wine Queen and Princess, marching bands, and floats. On Sunday, the ceremonial highlight — the crowning of the new Thuringian Wine Princess on the main stage. The outgoing princess hands over her sash to her successor, who will be an ambassador for Saale-Unstrut wines for a year.
Practical Information and Travel
Bad Sulza is conveniently located on the Halle–Weimar–Erfurt train line; the station is a ten-minute walk from the festival route. Those arriving by car can park on the outskirts of town and walk the last kilometer — the city center is largely car-free during the festival. For those staying longer than the weekend, there are opportunities to visit the Toskana Therme, the Saale cycle paths, or the old saltworks.
Thuringian Wine Festival — edition 2026
Saale-Unstrut Guests in Bad Sulza
On the third weekend of August 2026 (August 14–16), the spa town of Bad Sulza once again hosts the Thuringian Wine Festival. The market square and spa gardens become an open wine mile, where vintners from Naumburg, Freyburg, Bad Kösen, Bad Sulza, and the surrounding areas serve their Weißburgunder, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, and some red cuvées.
Two Highlights
You'll experience the first on Saturday afternoon: the festive parade on the Wine Route with floats, marching bands, the reigning Thuringian Wine Queen, and local associations. The second is on Sunday: the crowning of the new Thuringian Wine Princess on the market square stage — a ceremony that ushers in the wine year for the state and determines the ambassador for Saale-Unstrut wines for a year.
Programme Thuringian Wine Festival 2026
Program Highlights 2026
- Friday, August 14 — Opening: from 8:00 p.m. Opening of the Wine Mile on the Market Square, welcome by the town of Bad Sulza and the outgoing Thuringian Wine Princess, live music into the night
- Saturday, August 15 — Market Day: from 10:00 a.m. Market activities in the town center, crafts, and regional products; in the afternoon, the Festive Parade on the Wine Route with floats, associations, and marching bands; in the evening, concerts on the Market Square and Spa Garden stages
- Sunday, August 16 — Crowning: 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Wine Mile; in the afternoon, the Crowning of the New Thuringian Wine Princess on the Market Square stage; evening wind-down in the Spa Gardens
- Accompanying program: Wine tastings with vintners, cellar tours at neighboring wineries, regional cuisine from Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt
The full stage program will be published shortly before the festival on bad-sulza.de.
Highlights Thuringian Wine Festival 2026
- Official State Wine Festival of the Free State of Thuringia
- Exclusively wines from the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region
- Saturday parade with floats and marching bands
- Crowning of the new Thuringian Wine Princess on Sunday
- Market square and spa gardens as historic settings
Prices Thuringian Wine Festival 2026
Admission to the wine festival is free. Wines, food, and tasting packages are paid for at the stalls of the vintners and restaurateurs. Many exhibitors offer engraved tasting glasses as festival souvenirs.
Practical information — Thuringian Wine Festival
Date 2026
Friday to Sunday, August 14 to 16, 2026 (third weekend in August).
Locations
Market square, spa gardens, and adjacent alleys of Bad Sulza's town center, 99518 Bad Sulza.
Getting There
By train: Regional train RB Halle–Erfurt, Bad Sulza station, then a 10-minute walk. By car: A4 Erfurt–Dresden, exit Apolda, then B87 towards Naumburg. Parking is signposted on the outskirts of town.
Admission
Admission to the festival is free. Wines and food are sold on-site; many vintners offer tasting packages and tasting glasses.
Tips
Travel comfortably by train — with the amount of wine circulating here, it's the only sensible option. Book accommodation early; the weekend is peak season for the Toskana Therme. Be sure to try a young Saale-Unstrut Silvaner and a classic Müller-Thurgau in comparison.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Thuringian Wine Festival al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Thuringian Wine Festival
Marktplatz und Kurpark Bad Sulza
Marktplatz und Kurpark, 99518 Bad Sulza