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Oktoberfest, Cannstatter Volksfest and Festival of Lights: Germany’s Autumn Festival Trail 2026

Germany’s Autumn Festival Season 2026: Stuttgart, Munich and Berlin in One Trip

Autumn in Germany feels like one long party that moves across the map. Beer tents fill the south while string lights turn Berlin into a night gallery. Time it right and you can catch three of the country’s biggest autumn festivals in one trip: Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest, Munich’s Oktoberfest and Berlin’s Festival of Lights, with 2026 dates, tips, and a walking tour in Berlin and Stuttgart

Group of smiling women in festive traditional dresses at an event.
Stuttgart: Cannstatter Volksfest 2026

September 25 to October 11, 2026

The Cannstatter Volksfest runs from September 25 to October 11, 2026 at the Cannstatter Wasen next to the Neckar river. Locals just call it the Wasen and it has been going since 1818, which makes it one of the oldest festivals in the country. It is the second largest Volksfest in the world after Oktoberfest and pulls in around four million visitors over its seventeen days.

The mayor opens the festival with a keg tap and the grounds fill up fast after that. Look out for the Fruchtsäule, a tall column covered in fruit that has become the unofficial symbol of the Wasen. Beyond the beer tents there is a full fairground with rides for every age and a big historical parade through Bad Cannstatt on the first Sunday. Entry to the grounds is free, and while the beer tents usually want a table reservation, day visitors can almost always find a spot to stand.

Before the festival gets going, spend a couple of hours getting to know the city on foot. Our Free Walking Tour of Stuttgart is currently the top rated walking tour in the city and it starts right on Königstrasse across from the main train station. Over about two to three hours a local guide walks you past the Old Palace, the Stauffenberg memorial, and the Bunker Hotel, then points you toward Stuttgart’s own city center vineyards for a glass of local wine after. It is free to join, built for all ages, and pay what you feel is the only rule.

Join the Stuttgart walking tour

Munich: Oktoberfest 2026

September 19 to October 4, 2026

Three women in traditional dresses holding beer mugs and kissing each other's cheeks at a festive gathering.

Oktoberfest 2026 runs from September 19 to October 4 at the Theresienwiese, a short walk from Munich’s city center. This is the 191st edition of the festival and it remains the largest funfair in the world. The mayor taps the first barrel at noon on opening day inside the Schottenhamel tent and shouts the famous line O’zapft is, which means the beer is officially flowing.

Munich fills seventeen large tents and twenty one small ones for the event and each one has its own personality, from brass band classics to a livelier evening crowd. Entry to the grounds and every tent is free and you do not need a ticket to get in. The catch is finding a table, since evenings and weekends get busy fast, so aim for a weekday lunch if you want to sit down without a wait. The second day brings a traditional costume parade through the city and the whole thing wraps up on closing day with a cannon salute at the Bavaria statue.

Munich sits about two hours from Stuttgart by train, which makes it an easy add on to your Cannstatter Volksfest days. Since Oktoberfest and the Wasen overlap for most of their run, you can realistically catch both festivals inside the same week.

Berlin: Festival of Lights 2026

October 9 to October 18, 2026
Colorful lights projected on a large domed building at night.

The Berlin Festival of Lights lights up the city from October 9 to October 18, 2026, every evening between 7pm and 11pm. This is the 22nd edition of the festival and this year’s theme is Colours of Love. Dozens of landmarks across the city turn into giant canvases for light and video art, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Cathedral, the TV Tower, and Potsdamer Platz.

Walking around and viewing the installations in the street is completely free. Paid extras like guided bus tours, boat tours, and the Festival of Lights in Concert shows at the Berlin Cathedral are there if you want a different angle on the event. Opening weekend and closing weekend pull the biggest crowds, so a Tuesday or Wednesday evening in the middle of the run is your best bet for a quieter walk.

Since Berlin’s Festival of Lights runs right after Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Volksfest wrap up, it makes a fitting last stop on the trip. Before the lights come on, join our Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin, a local guided walk known for honest unscripted stories instead of a rehearsed script. The route passes the Brandenburg Gate, which is also one of the festival’s main light installations, along with the Berlin Wall and Bebelplatz. It runs about three to four hours, rain or shine, so dress for the season.

Join the Berlin walking tour

Group of people smiling for a photo outdoors, one person in front making a gesture.

Putting the route together

Start in Munich or Stuttgart, since the Cannstatter Volksfest and Oktoberfest overlap for most of their run, then finish in Berlin once the beer tents close and the lights switch on. Stuttgart and Munich sit about two hours apart by train and Berlin is roughly five to six hours from either city, so an overnight train or a short flight can save you a travel day. Booking your walking tours ahead of time is worth it, since festival season is also the busiest travel season in all three cities, which is exactly what makes early autumn the best time to visit Germany for festivals.

However you piece it together, this Germany festival travel itinerary gives you beer tents, history, and light art in the same trip, which is hard to beat for a single autumn in Germany.

Festival FAQ

When is Oktoberfest 2026 in Munich?
Oktoberfest 2026 runs from September 19 to October 4 at the Theresienwiese in Munich. The mayor taps the first barrel at noon on opening day inside the Schottenhamel tent.
When is the Cannstatter Volksfest 2026 in Stuttgart?
The Cannstatter Volksfest 2026 runs from September 25 to October 11 at the Cannstatter Wasen in Stuttgart. It is the second largest Volksfest in the world after Oktoberfest.
When is the Berlin Festival of Lights 2026?
The Berlin Festival of Lights 2026 runs from October 9 to October 18 every evening from 7pm to 11pm. Landmarks across the city including the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Cathedral get lit up with art.
Can I visit Stuttgart, Munich and Berlin in one autumn trip?
Yes. Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Volksfest overlap for most of late September and early October and the Berlin Festival of Lights starts right after both festivals close. A short train ride connects all three cities.
Do I need tickets for Oktoberfest or the Cannstatter Volksfest?
No ticket is needed to enter either festival ground. Beer tents usually ask for a reservation but day visitors can normally still find a seat without one.
Is the Stuttgart walking tour good for first time visitors?
Yes. It is rated the top walking tour in Stuttgart and works for all ages with no history knowledge needed. It covers the Old Palace, the Stauffenberg memorial, the Bunker Hotel, and Stuttgart’s city vineyards in about two to three hours.

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