The Merano WineFestival 2026 runs from Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November 2026 at the Kurhaus in Merano, in South Tyrol. It’s the 35th edition, organised by Gourmet’s International. The public core runs from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 November. Day tickets cost €64 to €134 depending on the day, according to the official price grid valid until 19 October 2026. No direct London-Bolzano flight appears in our sources for these dates, so you’ll fly into a nearby airport, then take the regional train to Merano, 30 to 40 minutes from Bolzano.
The Merano WineFestival is a wine fair its organiser describes as selective, and this year it runs from 6 to 10 November. Between the organic wine day, the main festival and the bubbles day on Tuesday, the five days split into three ticket formats. This guide answers the practical questions: which ticket to pick, how to get there without a direct flight, what to budget, and how to stretch the trip between vineyards, Art Nouveau and gardens. If you’re visiting Merano for Christmas instead, our guide to the Italian Christmas markets covers a different period, with its own dates.
1. Merano WineFestival 2026 at a glance: dates, venue and edition
The wine festival at the Kurhaus, 35th edition
The Merano WineFestival brings together producers from Italy and abroad, selected from the guide The WineHunter. The festival was founded in 1992. The 2026 edition is organised by Gourmet’s International, whose president Helmuth Köcher is also the founder of The WineHunter. The audience is mixed, but the organiser insists on a « selected » crowd: accredited trade visitors, journalists and serious enthusiasts. This is not a mass-market wine party.
The festival takes place in the Kurhaus, a building from the late 19th century with an Art Nouveau wing added later. Side events, including the Fuori Salone, run along the Corso Libertà from 6 to 9 November. The 2026 programme combines several formats: The Festival (producers’ exhibition), GourmetArena and Culinaria (food, spirits and beer), TasteTerroir (organic and biodynamic wines), Catwalk Champagne & more (bubbles), the WineHunter Area, masterclasses, talks and Extrawine, a parallel fair. Masterclass titles and speakers weren’t published when we wrote this, so we don’t name them.
Highlights
- Three ticket formats: an organic day (TasteTerroir), the main festival from Saturday to Monday, and a bubbles day on Tuesday.
- A selection drawn from The WineHunter guide, whose 2026 collection was published on 18 August.
- An indoor venue: the Kurhaus hosts most of the festival areas, which matters in November, a damper and colder month than September.
The walking tour below is the only wine-related activity we could verify as open during the festival. It runs only on Tuesday 10 November, in Bolzano, and lets you discover the town with a sommelier if your last day is free.
2. Day-by-day programme: Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November
The festival unfolds in three blocks: a day of organic wines, the public core from Saturday to Monday, then a day devoted to bubbles. The timings below come from the organiser’s official page. Monday 9 November is listed as 10:00 to 17:00, an hour shorter than the weekend.
| Day | What’s on | Hours | Single ticket before 19 October |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 6 November | TasteTerroir, Riesling prize ceremony in the Ohmann hall | 10:00 to 16:30 | €64 |
| Saturday 7 November | Main festival, Extrawine opens | 10:00 to 18:00 | €134 |
| Sunday 8 November | Main festival | 10:00 to 18:00 | €124 |
| Monday 9 November | Main festival | 10:00 to 17:00 | €124 |
| Tuesday 10 November | Catwalk Champagne & more, Extrawine closes | 10:00 to 16:30 | €74 |
Friday 6: the organic and biodynamic wine day
This is the quietest and most technical day. TasteTerroir brings together producers working in organic and biodynamic agriculture. The single ticket costs €64, €84 in First Class, and €39 for the Industry rate reserved for accredited trade visitors. Tastings start at 10:00. The Riesling prize ceremony takes place in the Ohmann hall of the Kurhaus, with the winners around 16:30. If you’re interested in organic viticulture, this is the cheapest ticket at the festival and a good place to start.
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8: the core of the festival
These are the busiest days, and the most expensive: €134 on Saturday against €124 on Sunday before 19 October. On Saturday, Extrawine opens its parallel fair. For a first visit, arriving at 10:00 gives you time to go round the producers before the crowds. The reviews available, which concern earlier editions, point to weekends as the busiest moments. Sunday is a little calmer, at the same base price.
Monday 9 and Tuesday 10: the end of the festival and the bubbles
Monday wraps up at 17:00. On Tuesday, Catwalk Champagne & more runs from 10:00 to 16:30 for €74 (€84 in First Class, €39 for Industry). It’s the pick for a Champagne lover who doesn’t want to pay the full Saturday price. Extrawine also closes that day.
What runs alongside
Culinaria, the WineHunter Area and the masterclasses run from 6 to 9 November according to the official page. Extrawine runs from 7 to 10 November, and the Fuori Salone along the Corso Libertà from 6 to 9. No masterclass prices have been published yet, so check the website before you block out a slot. The detailed programme of the Summit 2026 wasn’t published when we wrote this either.
3. Tickets, passes and accreditation: the prices to know
The official price grid is valid until 19 October 2026. After that date, every ticket goes up by €10 under the same grid. At the time of writing, you have ten days left to buy at the published price.
| Ticket | Date | Single | First Class | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TasteTerroir | Friday 6 November | €64 | €84 | €39 |
| Festival | Saturday 7 November | €134 | €164 | not offered |
| Festival | Sunday 8 November | €124 | €159 | not offered |
| Festival | Monday 9 November | €124 | €159 | not offered |
| Catwalk Champagne & more | Tuesday 10 November | €74 | €84 | €39 |
The grid also offers four passes:
- ABO 2GG: TasteTerroir and Festival from Friday to Saturday, €164.
- ABO 3GG: TasteTerroir and Festival from Friday to Sunday, €254.
- ABO 3GG: Festival Pass from Saturday to Monday, €314.
- ABO 3GG: Festival and Catwalk from Sunday to Tuesday, €254.
The Saturday-to-Monday Festival Pass is the best value for a three-day stay: €314 against €382 for three day tickets (€134 + €124 + €124), so €68 less. The Industry rate is for trade professionals and requires an accreditation request on the website. The grid doesn’t mention group discounts, student rates, or any refund or cancellation policy. We also don’t know whether tickets are sold on site, so buy online and keep your confirmation.
4. The Kurhaus in Merano: an Art Nouveau hall on the Passer
The Liberty wing of the Kurhaus was designed by the Viennese architect Friedrich Ohmann and built between 1912 and 1914. Its official opening took place on 31 December 1914. It includes a rotunda, a large concert hall, a foyer and a gallery. The original building dates from 1873-1874, but sources disagree on its architect (Josef Czerny or Ludwig Förster) and on the exact opening date. After the Second World War, an official casino was housed there.
The painted ceilings are attributed to Rudolf Jettmar, Orazio Gaigher and Alexander Rothaug, according to one tourism source. For a festival, the practical upside is that the venue is indoors. A producer did criticise an unheated hall at a past edition, so bring a jacket, even inside. The Kurhaus isn’t only a festival hall: it hosts concerts, congresses and events all year round.
For visitors, the building is also a reason to go for a walk. The Kurhaus sits next to the Kurpromenade, the spa promenade that follows the Passer, described below.
5. Getting there from the UK: no direct flight to Bolzano, long train legs, a good regional network
No direct London-Bolzano flight appears in our sources for the festival period. SkyAlps announces a Paris CDG–Bolzano service from 13 December 2026, twice a week, with a Dash 8-Q400. For the festival, you’ll need to fly into a nearby airport or take the train.
| Option | Typical route | Approximate duration | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train via Paris and Munich | Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then a TGV inOui to Munich, then a train to Bolzano | London to Paris about 2 h 16. Paris to Munich about 5 h 40, then about 4 h 20 to Bolzano (aggregators) | A full day with connections. Check on a journey planner. |
| Train via Milan | Eurostar to Paris, then the Paris-Milan Frecciarossa, then Milan to Bolzano | Milan to Bolzano about 3 h 10 direct (aggregator) | Trenitalia shows a suspension from 12 September to 9 October, with no year and no restart date. Confirm before you book. |
| Flight via Verona | Fly from London to Verona (easyJet from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted, among others), then the Aerobus 199 to Porta Nuova, then the train | Flight about 2 hours (aggregators). Verona to Bolzano about 1 h 45 (aggregator) | Verona airport is about 150 km from Bolzano. Check the airline schedules, as aggregators don’t show winter timetables. |
| Flight via Bergamo, Milan, Venice or Innsbruck | Bus, shuttle or car depending on the airport | Varies by airport | Bergamo has direct FlixBus and Itabus links to South Tyrol. Venice doesn’t have any bus listed on the official page. |
| Car | From the UK: Channel crossing, then the A22 Brenner motorway from Austria, or from Verona and Trento | Not calculated | Tolls and parking costs in Merano aren’t documented in our sources. |
From Bolzano airport, the shuttle to Merano costs €20 per person. Children under 6 travel free. Book online at least 48 hours ahead. By regional train, Bolzano to Merano takes 30 to 40 minutes, for about €7 one way according to an unofficial aggregator, with frequent services.
If the Paris-Milan route is running on your date, it remains an option. Without confirmation, go via Munich or Verona. Before booking a journey with several connections, compare durations on a train search engine: the figures in this article are aggregator estimates.
6. Getting around on site: the Guest Pass, buses and a closed line
The South Tyrol Guest Pass is a digital guest card. It gives access to regional trains, regional and urban buses in Merano, and several cable cars, including those of Ritten, Meransen, Kohlern, Mölten and Vöran. According to an official statement sent to the Bundestag, it’s included in the room price for more than 97% of accommodation. Known exclusions cover long-distance trains, the Brenner-Innsbruck section of regional trains, and bikes. Check the list with your accommodation.
One line to watch: the Vinschgau valley, between Merano and Mals, has been closed since 26 October 2025 for modernisation, with buses replacing trains. Its status in November 2026 isn’t confirmed. If you plan to go there, check the timetables when you book.
7. Where to stay: Merano, Lagundo or Bolzano
Merano hosts the festival, most of the hotels and the Kurhaus. Lagundo, a few minutes from the town, is often presented by tourist offices as a cheaper alternative. Bolzano, the provincial capital, is the rail and air gateway to the region, but you would then need to take the train every day to reach the festival. Compare rates directly with hotels and booking sites before you fix your itinerary.
8. The weekend beyond the festival: gardens, walks and thermal baths
Merano in November: what stays open
The Trauttmansdorff gardens stay open until Sunday 8 November 2026 inclusive, from 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 15:30. The full adult day ticket is €17. After 8 November, the gardens close for winter. If the festival leaves you a free morning on Sunday, it’s your last chance to see them this season.
The Kurpromenade follows the Passer for about 0.6 km, between the Ponte della Posta and the Ponte del Teatro, on the south side of the theatre and the Kurhaus. It continues east along the winter promenade, very sunny and sheltered from the wind according to the tourist office. The winter promenade opens onto an Art Nouveau veranda built in 1889 at the initiative of Dr Franz Tappeiner. The Wandelhalle, a covered gallery, holds paintings of South Tyrolean landscapes and busts of local figures: a good option when it rains.
Highlights
- Trauttmansdorff: last entry at 15:30, and winter closure from Monday 9 November.
- Kurpromenade and winter promenade: walkable in November, partly covered by the Wandelhalle.
- Merano tourist office, Corso Libertà 45: open Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November from 9:30 to 16:00, according to a secondary source to reconfirm.
9. Vines and trails: the South Tyrol wine road and the Lagundo path
The Adige wine road, from Salorno to Merano
The Strada del Vino, or Südtiroler Weinstraße, follows the Adige valley from Salorno to Merano. It passes cellars, castles and wine villages such as Termeno/Tramin, Appiano/Eppan, Cortaccia/Kurtatsch and Magré/Margreid. According to local tourism bodies, cellars often stay open until mid-November. For the festival, the road makes a two-day stay complete: a cellar tasting in the morning, the Kurhaus in the afternoon.
A series of concerts, the « WeinKlänge », runs from 16 October to 6 November in cellars, castles and manor houses. These dates come from a sponsored Falstaff article and need reconfirming with the organisers. We didn’t find the full November programme. So don’t assume a particular cellar is open on festival weekend, and call ahead before you go.
The Lagundo wine trail (Weinlehrpfad) is about 1.4 km long, with 15 panels along the Waalweg, the historic irrigation channel. It explains how vines are grown and the role of the « Saltner », the keeper who watched over the grapes before the harvest. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, with a climb of about 130 m, on an easy route. One source also mentions a guided tour with tasting at the Plars castle cellar, with no 2026 times confirmed.
Highlights
- The Lagundo trail takes one morning, and Lagundo is a few minutes from Merano.
- Cellars along the road host visits in autumn, with a programme to check cellar by cellar.
- For another autumn wine trip, the Alsace and Black Forest wine road covers two countries in one itinerary.
10. The preview: the Anteprima in Lagundo, 23 October
Before the festival, the Anteprima Merano WineFestival brings together more than 200 Italian labels selected by Helmuth Köcher. The event takes place on Friday 23 October 2026, from 19:00 to 23:00, at the Casa Culturale Peter Thalguter in Lagundo (Algund). Tickets cost €29 in advance, a price announced from 1 September, and €35 at the door in the evening. The organiser is the Tourismusverein Algund, reachable on +39 0473 448 600.
It’s a preview held apart from the main festival, in a different venue and at a different price. For anyone who wants to taste the organiser’s selection without booking three days, it’s an option. Tickets are also available at the Lagundo tourist office.
11. South Tyrolean wine: a white-wine region under market pressure
A vineyard of 5,833 hectares, more than two-thirds white
The South Tyrolean vineyard covers about 5,833 hectares according to a regional source, and white wines make up more than two-thirds of that area. The trade backdrop is tougher: Italian wine exports by value fell 6.2% in the first half of 2026, to about €3.6 billion, with a 14.1% drop to the United States (UIV and Istat, via Vinetur, September 2026).
Consumption is moving in the same direction. The UIV-Vinitaly Observatory (April 2026) counts 29.4 million Italians who drink wine, 55% of the population. Daily drinkers, however, have fallen to 39%. These figures are dated, so always quote the period along with the number.
Highlights
- The WineHunter 2026 collection was published on 18 August.
- At the stands, producers are there to talk about their export, organic or style choices: a good moment to ask your questions.
12. Which weekend for which traveller
The festival doesn’t suit every traveller in the same way. The table suggests a day or a formula for your profile, based on the official prices and timings.
| Profile | Recommended days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wine lover discovering the fair | Saturday 7 or Sunday 8 | The core of the festival, with most of the producers. Ticket at €124 or €134. |
| Organic viticulture enthusiast | Friday 6 (TasteTerroir) | Organic and biodynamic wines, at the festival’s cheapest ticket (€64). |
| Champagne fan | Tuesday 10 (Catwalk) | A day devoted to bubbles at €74, at the end of the festival. |
| Tight budget | Saturday to Monday with the Festival Pass | Three days for €314 instead of €382 in separate tickets, and accommodation in Lagundo or Bolzano. |
| Traveller without a car | The whole weekend, by train via Verona or Munich | The Guest Pass is included in most accommodation and covers regional trains and buses. |
| Family with children | Off-festival: Trauttmansdorff until 8 November | The festival is presented as aimed at professionals and connoisseurs, and access conditions for children aren’t published. |
13. Indicative budget per person
These amounts are indicative and come from the sources cited in this article. We don’t price meals, the flight or accommodation, as we have no reliable source for them.
| Item | Amount | Source or calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday festival ticket | €134 | Official price grid, before 19 October |
| Shuttle from Bolzano airport to Merano | €20 | Merano-Suedtirol |
| Regional train Bolzano-Merano, one way | about €7 | Aggregator, unofficial |
| Trauttmansdorff gardens, one day | €17 | Official gardens website |
| Total before flight, meals and accommodation | about €171 | 134 + 20 + 17, excluding accommodation, flights and meals |
Swapping the shuttle (€20) for the regional train (about €7) lowers the estimate by about €13. Add the flight or the train from the UK, then meals, which depend on your budget. Two levers reduce the bill: the Saturday-to-Monday Festival Pass, which saves €68 on three day tickets, and staying in Lagundo or Bolzano, provided you’re happy to take the train each day.
14. Five mistakes to avoid
- Buying from a reseller. Aggregator price ranges don’t match the official grid. Buy from the organiser’s website.
- Confusing it with the Christmas markets. The markets in Bolzano, Merano and Bressanone open on 26 November, two and a half weeks after the festival ends.
- Looking for a direct flight to Bolzano. The only route announced is SkyAlps’ Paris CDG service, from 13 December 2026. For the festival, plan a connection through Verona or another airport.
- Booking the Paris-Milan train without checking. Trenitalia’s suspension ended on 9 October, and no restart date for November has been given.
- Confusing the Kurhaus with the Kursaal. The name Kursaal appears on an exhibitor listing. The official venue is the Kurhaus, Corso Libertà 33.
15. If you’re coming for Christmas, not wine
The Christmas markets in Bolzano, Merano and Bressanone open on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 17:00 and close on 6 January 2027. The Trento market is provisionally planned for 20 November. These dates come from our Christmas markets guide, which also covers transport and walking routes. For a late-November trip, see the Italy Christmas markets 2026 guide. That guide doesn’t cover the festival: it’s the other option if your plan is Christmas.
16. Practical info: eSIM and insurance before you go
An eSIM is set up before you travel: you keep your UK number and buy no SIM card on arrival. Handy for the connections between Verona, Bolzano and Merano.
Plans depend on duration and data, see the siteInsurance covers medical costs and cancellation if something stops you from travelling, which matters with non-refundable tickets. Cover varies, so read the terms before you buy.
Price depends on duration and cover17. Frequently asked questions
What are the dates of the Merano WineFestival 2026?
The festival runs from Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November 2026 at the Kurhaus in Merano. The public core runs from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 November: 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and until 17:00 on Monday. Friday is devoted to organic and biodynamic wines with TasteTerroir, Tuesday to bubbles with Catwalk Champagne & more. Dates confirmed by the organiser’s official website.
How much does a Merano WineFestival ticket cost?
In the single rate, a day ticket costs €134 on Saturday, €124 on Sunday and Monday, €64 for TasteTerroir on Friday and €74 for Catwalk on Tuesday. These prices are valid until 19 October 2026, then rise by €10 under the official grid. Resellers advertising €50 to €90, or €100 to €200, don’t follow this grid and shouldn’t be used as a reference.
Is the pass worth it for three days?
Yes, if you come from Saturday to Monday. The Festival Pass costs €314 for those three days, against €382 for separate day tickets, so €68 less. The TasteTerroir and Festival pass from Friday to Saturday costs €164, and the Friday-to-Sunday one €254. The grid doesn’t publish any refund policy, so keep your purchase confirmation.
Is there a direct flight from London to Bolzano for the festival?
No. No direct London-Bolzano flight appears in our sources for November 2026. The nearest direct option is Verona, roughly two hours’ flight from London, with easyJet from Gatwick and Ryanair from Stansted according to aggregator data. SkyAlps announces a Paris CDG–Bolzano service from 13 December 2026, twice a week, after the festival. From Verona, Bergamo, Milan, Venice, Innsbruck or Munich, take the shuttle or regional train to Merano. Source: AeroRoutes, 28 August 2026.
How do I get from Bolzano airport to Merano?
The shuttle costs €20 per person, and children under 6 travel free. Book online at least 48 hours ahead. The regional train links Bolzano to Merano in 30 to 40 minutes, for about €7 one way according to an unofficial aggregator. A city bus followed by the train is also possible. The frequency of the SASA shuttles between the airport and Bolzano station isn’t specified.
Can I get there by train from London?
Yes, but it’s a long day. Eurostar takes about 2 hours 16 minutes from London St Pancras to Paris. From Paris, a TGV inOui runs to Munich in about 5 hours 40, then a train heads to Bolzano in about 4 hours 20, according to aggregators. Connections need checking. Trenitalia showed the Paris-Milan Frecciarossa suspended from 12 September to 9 October, with no year or restart date given. Don’t book that route without confirming service on your travel date.
Are the Trauttmansdorff gardens open during the festival?
Yes, until Sunday 8 November 2026 inclusive, from 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 15:30. The full adult day ticket is €17. After 8 November, the gardens close for winter. The Lumagica light park opens on 19 November, outside the festival period. Check the hours on the gardens’ official website before your visit.
Are the Christmas markets open during the festival?
No. The Christmas markets in Bolzano, Merano and Bressanone open on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 17:00, and close on 6 January 2027. The Trento market is provisionally planned for 20 November. These dates come from our dedicated guide, so reconfirm with the tourist offices before booking. The wine festival runs three weeks earlier, from 6 to 10 November.
Can I visit a vineyard during the festival weekend?
Yes, the South Tyrol wine road remains active in autumn, and cellars often stay open until mid-November. « WeinKlänge » concerts run until 6 November in cellars and castles, according to a sponsored article. We couldn’t verify the exact programme for festival weekend. Call the cellar before you go, and don’t assume a tasting is organised without confirmation.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
We don’t know. The price grid doesn’t say whether tickets are sold on site, and it lists no refund or cancellation policy. Buy online from the organiser’s website and keep your confirmation. For questions on access or on-site sales, write to the organiser at [email protected] before you buy.
Sources
- Merano WineFestival, official website: dates, venue and edition
- Merano WineFestival, tickets: 2026 price grid valid until 19 October
- Merano WineFestival, the festival page: days and areas
- Vinetur: 35th edition, 6 to 10 November 2026
- Trauttmansdorff gardens: 2026 hours and prices
- Merano-Suedtirol: airport access and the €20 shuttle
- AeroRoutes: SkyAlps Bolzano-Paris CDG service from 13 December 2026
- Trenitalia: suspension periods of the Paris-Milan service
- Eurostar: London-Paris journey time, about 2 h 16 to 2 h 17
- Idealo: London to Verona nonstop routes, operators and journey time (aggregator)
- Wikipedia, Kurhaus of Merano: history of the building and the Art Nouveau wing
Research carried out on 9 October 2026. Prices, timings and dates are those published on that date: check them before you book.
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