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Cannstatter Volksfest: The world’s second-largest folk festival

Founded in 1818 in the wake of a crisis, the Cannstatter Volksfest continues to symbolise the solidarity, innovative strength and inventive spirit of Baden-Württemberg to this day. With around four million visitors each year, it is the world’s second-largest folk festival.

This year, it will take place from September 25 to October 11, 2026. A wide range of top attractions and fairground rides, as well as eight beer tents, the grand historic folk festival parade, attractive activities for families, the musical fireworks display and special industry events will once again make it a highlight of the events calendar.

At the same time, from September 27 to October 4, 2026 the Landwirtschaftliches Hauptfest (LWH) invites visitors to the Cannstatter Wasen, where the origins of the Volksfest live on.

www.cannstatter-volksfest.de
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Photo: in.Stuttgart / Thomas Niedermüller
 

Southern Germany’s largest agricultural show and the origin of the folk festival

The Landwirtschaftliches Hauptfest (LWH) is Southern Germany’s largest trade fair for the agricultural, forestry and food industries, inviting visitors to experience modern agriculture in all its facets at first hand. Known as the ‘Landwirthschaftliches Fest zu Kannstadt’, the LWH was founded on September 28, 1818 by King Wilhelm I and Queen Katharina following the years of famine at the start of the 19th century – the origin of today’s Cannstatter Volksfest.

The LWH takes place every four years at the Cannstatter Wasen, running alongside the Cannstatter Volksfest. This year, it will open its doors from Sunday, September 27 to Sunday, October 4, 2026. With just under 500 exhibitors and around 200,000 visitors, the LWH offers insights into modern agriculture, animal husbandry and nutrition – for industry professionals as well as families and interested consumers.

www.lwh-stuttgart.de
Instagram: lwhstuttgart
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Foto: Daniel Schneider

2026–2027 Season

Over a hundred circus stars from all over the world will be dazzling audiences in and above the ring in Stuttgart this coming Christmas season – in what is guaranteed to be Germany’s biggest and most successful Christmas circus! Last year, too, the WELTWEIHNACHTSCIRCUS STUTTGART once again retained its top position, according to the trade journal ‘Circus Zeitung’, with a record number of around 125,000 visitors in just 30 days!

No other circus features so many performers in a single show. Year after year, this Christmas tradition makes genuine, international circus history right here in Stuttgart – with world premieres, world records and global sensations.

One of the world premieres is a spectacular new cycling act from China, in which 23 young women perform sensational feats. This year, the act is also one of the highlights of the Grand Chinese Circus Festival and will now be performed for the first time outside China as part of a major run of performances. Another world-class act is the winner of the Golden Clown at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival: the Suining Group. This act brings a whole new dimension to the centuries-old snake girl act.

In short, the Weltweihnachtscircus brings together numerous award-winning acts from around the world. The trade journal *Circus Zeitung* has already described the World Christmas Circus Stuttgart as the ‘Olympic Games of the circus’ – and as the world’s largest Christmas circus. This makes Stuttgart Germany’s circus capital.

The rave reviews rewarded the performances at the Weltweihnachtscircus Stuttgart with exclamations such as: “The acclaim is overwhelming” or “A premiere of the highest order, standing ovations and record-breaking applause. The acclaim was breathtaking from the very first to the very last minute! Never before has there been so much world-class talent in a single programme!”

Photo: Francois Dehurtevent