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Bavaria On Tap
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Events›Lower Bavaria

Regierungsbezirk

Lower Bavaria

From Danube river towns to the Bavarian Forest — Gäubodenvolksfest, Gillamoos, and a calendar of local Dults that runs from April through Advent.

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Happening Now & Next in Lower Bavaria

In date order, straight from our calendar — river towns, city Dults, and Forest festivals alike.

Past Lower Bavaria Events

Already wrapped for this cycle — kept here for reference.

About Lower Bavaria

Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern) is Bavaria's southeastern district, bordering Austria and the Czech Republic, with Landshut as its administrative seat. The region's character comes from its rivers and forest: the Danube, Isar, and Inn corridors on one side, the Bavarian Forest's woods, moors, and hills on the other. Landshut, Passau, and Straubing are the clearest city anchors, but the calendar spreads well beyond them — Deggendorf, Abensberg, Eggenfelden, Freyung, and smaller Forest communities all carry their own festival traditions. This isn't a single-city trip; pick an event first, then build the rest of the visit around it.

A borderland table

Lower Bavaria's food sits where three influences meet: the Bavarian Forest carries a Bohemian touch, while the Inn and Danube corridors show Austrian overlap. Look for Schuxen, a rye-flour pastry from the Forest, served sweet or alongside savory food. Abensberg is known for spring asparagus, April into May. Lalling's Mostfest puts apple cider at the center of a Bavarian Forest weekend at the end of May. Later in the year, mushrooms and game turn up on regional menus as the Forest's cooler season sets in.

A calendar spread across river towns and forest villages

Spring opens with Frühjahrsdult in Landshut and Eggenfelden's Gerner Dult, followed by Deggendorf's Frühlingsfest and the Passauer Maidult. Pentecost brings a cluster of smaller Dults, plus Lalling's Mostfest. June is the region's busiest local-Volksfest month — Plattling, Wallersdorf, Mengkofen, Freyung, and Landau all overlap, each with its own scale and program, so it's worth reading the individual event page rather than assuming they're interchangeable. Late summer brings the region's best-known names: Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing (Aug 7–17, 2026), Landshut's Bartlmädult (Aug 21–30), and Gillamoos in Abensberg (Sept 3–7) — Gillamoos pairs seven beer tents and Tracht with the Gillamoosrede, a long-running political-speech tradition. Winter turns to markets: Landshut, Straubing, Passau, and Deggendorf all run Christkindlmärkte from late November through December.

The historical Landshut Wedding — a reenactment of the 1475 royal wedding — returns on a four-year cycle; the next edition runs June 25 – July 18, 2027. It's worth planning a full year ahead if that's the trip you want.

Practical planning

No primary, region-wide transport source was available for this region — Lower Bavaria's geography spans major cities, small towns, and Bavarian Forest communities with very different access. Check the specific event's own transport and parking information before traveling, especially for rural and Forest-area festivals.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Lower Bavaria, and what's its capital?
Niederbayern is one of Bavaria's administrative districts, in the southeast, with Landshut as its administrative seat.
When is Gäubodenvolksfest?
August 7–17, 2026, in Straubing.
What makes Gillamoos distinctive?
Seven beer tents, Tracht, and the Gillamoosrede — a long-running tradition of political speeches — running September 3–7, 2026, in Abensberg.
Which Lower Bavarian Christmas markets are covered here?
Landshut, Straubing, Passau, and Deggendorf, each running from late November through December 2026.
When is the next Landshut Wedding?
The historical reenactment runs on a four-year cycle; the next edition is June 25 – July 18, 2027.
What food should I try in Lower Bavaria?
Bavarian Forest Schuxen, Abensberg asparagus in spring, and Lalling's apple cider are the region's clearest specialties.
Which cities work as a base for exploring Lower Bavaria?
Landshut, Passau, and Straubing are the clearest anchors — each with its own Dult or Volksfest tradition, plus smaller towns and Bavarian Forest villages beyond them.

Looking across all of Bavaria? Browse every fest or check the calendar.