Cannstatter Volksfest enters second half with new attractions

Around four million guests are expected on the 25-hectare festival grounds on the Wasen in Stuttgart.

By Katharina Wendt, Editor-in-Chief
Stuttgart · 2 October 2026, 15:00 CEST · 2 min read

At a glance

Volksfest runs through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Around 300 vendors across 25 hectares
Family day with discounts on Oct. 7

The 179th Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt has entered its second half and continues through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. The event on the Wasen opened on Sept. 25.

With an average of around four million visitors each year, the Stuttgart fair is considered the world's second-largest folk festival. Around 300 showmen, tavern operators, and vendors are represented on the 25-hectare fairgrounds. Attractions include eight large beer tents and the Albdorf area. Among more than ten new additions to this year's program are the 'City Star' Ferris wheel and the 'Wilde Maus XXL' roller coaster.

Opening hours and family day

Opening hours vary by weekday: Stands and tents open from Monday through Friday at noon, while operations on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 11 a.m. The festival closes from Sunday through Thursday at 11 p.m., while Friday and Saturday operations run until midnight. A family day with discounts takes place on the grounds on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Due to large crowds, organizers recommend traveling by bus and train.

The origins of the Cannstatter Volksfest date back to the 19th century: King Wilhelm I and Queen Katharina created the festival in 1818 following a severe famine. Running alongside the Volksfest this year was the Landwirtschaftliche Hauptfest, which ended on Oct. 4.