Grape Festival / Traubenfest

A century-old autumn tradition

The Merano Grape Festival — known in German as Traubenfest — is, alongside its agricultural roots, the event most deeply woven into the city's social fabric. The first edition dates back to 1886: ever since, at the end of the harvest season, the capital of the Burgraviato region has thanked the land for its bounty with a grand folk festival that fills the historic center, the Kursaal, and the famous promenades along the Passirio river. The 2026 edition, scheduled for October 17th and 18th, celebrates the event's 140th anniversary.

Stalls, wines, and autumn flavors

Throughout the weekend, the center of Merano transforms into a vibrant autumn market. The Merano Market stalls offer natural South Tyrolean products, freshly picked grapes and fruit, traditional mountain cuisine, and fine wines from the Burgraviato, the wine-growing territory surrounding the city. The soundtrack is provided by Alpine music and performances by brass bands and folk groups, which enliven the squares and promenades for the duration of the festival.

The grand Sunday parade

The most anticipated moment is the traditional parade held on Sunday. In 2026, it is scheduled to start at 2:15 PM from Porta Venosta, following a route that crosses Via delle Corse, the upper Corso Libertà, Piazza della Rena, the Passirio Promenade, and the Teatro bridge, ending at Piazza Terme. The parade brings together allegorical floats, groups in traditional hand-embroidered costumes, marching bands, and the blonde Haflinger horses pulling the wagons.

• The Marlengo Apple Crown: the oldest float, built in 1949, over 5 meters long and weighing 2.3 tons, featuring hundreds of kilos of apples.
• The Giant "Kundschafter" Grape from Lagundo: a 4.5-meter-tall float showcasing a massive 300-kilo bunch of grapes, a tradition maintained since 1951.
• The Schützen and groups representing the heraldic coat of arms of Merano.

The festival is also characterized by the figure of the Saltner, the traditional vineyard guardian, recognizable by his leather costume, necklace of animal teeth, and feathered hat.

A hallmark event of South Tyrol

The Grape Festival is organized by the Merano Tourist Board, in the Municipality of Merano/Meran, in the province of Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige region). The parade features bands and folk groups arriving from all over South Tyrol and, in some editions, from Germany, Switzerland, and Trentino: it is the perfect opportunity to discover the traditions, costumes, and food and wine culture of South Tyrol during a particularly evocative time of year — the Merano autumn.