Next dates
2027 dates not yet announced — typically around October. We're watching and will update this page when they land.
Quick answer
Michaelis-Kärwa Fürth is a volksfest in Fürth, Bavaria. It runs from Oct 3–14, 2026. Franconia's celebrated Michaelis-Kirchweih — autumn Kärwa through the old town with fairground and harvest traditions.
Fürth's Michaelis-Kirchweih — Franconia's autumn Kärwa queen, 3–14 Oct 2026, with fairground fun and harvest tradition.
Michaelis-Kärwa is Fürth's big autumn Kirchweih, staged across the city centre with Schausteller rides, food stands, and a full civic program. Dates for 2026 are 3–14 October. Check the city's Programmübersicht closer to the date for parade and family-day details.
The full story
Fürth's Michaelis-Kärwa — formally the Michaelis-Kirchweih — runs through the city's old town and Innenstadt for the 2026 edition, October 3 through 14, daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (last pour 10:45 p.m.). It's a street-and-tavern Kirchweih rather than a single fenced fairground: expect stalls, rides, and food stands spread through the Fürther Freiheit and Königstraße, which closes to traffic for the festival.
The event commemorates the dedication of St. Michael's Church, and it was added to both Bavaria's and Germany's intangible cultural heritage registers in 2018, tied to a tradition around the church that runs roughly 900 years, though the first written mention of the Kirchweih itself dates to 1536. The Erntedankfestzug (harvest parade) is one of its best-known traditions, broadcast live by Bayerischer Rundfunk — set for Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Families should note Tuesday, October 13 as Family Day, with reduced prices and children's programming.
History
The Michaelis-Kärwa commemorates the dedication of Fürth's St. Michael's Church (built around 1100) and was added to both Bavaria's and Germany's intangible cultural heritage registers in 2018. The first documented mention of the Kirchweih itself dates to 1536; its 'queen of Franconian Kirchweihen' tagline is on record from at least 1794, when a travel diarist already described it in those terms.
On Tap
- What to try
- The fairground rides paired with the event's harvest traditions.
- Best for
- Visitors wanting Franconia's best-known autumn Kärwa over smaller neighborhood versions.
- Bavaria On Tap take
- Fairground fun through the old town blending with harvest-season custom.
Practical tips
The English-language details German fest pages usually skip.
- Nearest station
- Fürth (Bayern) Hbf — central Kirchweih areas are a short walk or tram ride
- From Munich
- About 1–1.5 hours by ICE/RE to Nürnberg, then S-Bahn/U-Bahn to Fürth Hbf (~10–15 min).
- Kids / family
- Past programs include a dedicated Familientag with reduced ride prices and kids' entertainment on the theatre forecourt — confirm 2026 Familientag date on the official Programmübersicht.
- What to wear
- Casual or light Tracht; comfortable shoes for cobbled old-town streets.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Michaelis-Kärwa Fürth in 2026?
- Saturday 3 October through Wednesday 14 October 2026.
- Is entry free?
- Grounds and Kirchweih wandering are free in the usual Franconian sense; you pay for rides, food, and drinks. No ticket price is listed on the official city site.
- Where is it?
- Across central Fürth (theatre forecourt, pedestrian zone, fairground areas). Organized by Stadt Fürth Marktamt — contact marktamt@fuerth.de.
- What is the Michaelis-Kirchweih known for?
- The official site calls it the 'queen of Franconian Kirchweihen,' with a multi-day program of opening ceremonies, Erntedankfestzug, Schausteller events, and family programming (see annual Programmübersicht).
- When is the Erntedankfestzug (harvest parade)?
- Sunday, October 11, 2026, starting at 11:00 a.m.
- What are the daily opening hours?
- 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with last pour at 10:45 p.m.
- Is there a Family Day at Michaelis-Kärwa 2026?
- Yes — the city's official 2026 visitor information lists Family Day, with reduced prices and children's programming, on Tuesday, October 13.
- Why is the Kärwa culturally significant?
- It's on both Bavaria's and Germany's intangible cultural heritage registers (added 2018), tied to the roughly 900-year tradition around St. Michael's Church.
- Family-friendly
- Free entry