Wurstfest will be held from Nov. 6 to Nov. 15. (Community Impact Staff)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that all Wurstfest admissions and bar purchases will be cashless.
The 65th annual Wurstfest, New Braunfels’ 10-day “Salute to Sausage,” is upon us. Here is everything visitors and locals need to know for the event.
The festival takes place at Landa Park and will feature various food and drink vendors, live music, competitions, artisan shops and sausage-making.
Wurstfest President Marc Allen said he enjoys seeing all the people who show up for the event to celebrate New Braunfels' culture.
"The overall thing that I enjoy the most is just celebrating our deep-rooted German heritage with all of New Braunfels and all the people around the world that come and visit us," Allen said.
Dates to know
The festival will begin Nov. 6 and conclude Nov. 15, with varying hours each day.
Nov. 6: 4-11 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14: 11 a.m.-midnight
Nov. 8, 15: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Nov. 9-11: 5-10 p.m.
Nov. 12: 5-11 p.m.
Nov. 13: 5-11 p.m.
Ticket information
Ticket prices also vary per day and are available online or at the gate and box office.
Kids 12 and under get free admission for all days of the event, according to the event website.
Wurstfest has various rides for children. Community Impact staff
What's new
A Weingarten will be available in the hydro plant, near Gate One and will feature German wine, as well as premium selections from the United States. Three new beers have also been added on tap: Modelo, Paulaner Pils and Weihenstephan, a beer from one of the oldest breweries in the world, Allen told Community Impact.
"In honor of our 65th anniversary, we are pulling out all the stops to ensure our patrons have the best of the wurst’ times," said 2026 Wurstfest President Marc Allen.
Rocky Mountain Crepes is one of the new food vendors at the festival, which will also feature expanded Fun Biz concessions and a new trailer that will have offerings like nachos and street tacos at the carnival section of the grounds, Allen said.
All Wurstfest admissions and bar purchases will be cashless and will only accept tap-to-pay or credit and debit cards. Other small business vendors will accept cash and card, Allen said.
The impact
There are 26 local nonprofits that also benefit from the event through the sale of food, drink and goods. A majority of the nonprofits make their annual budget from Wurstfest, Allen said.
Wurstfest also helps support nonprofits leading up to the festival with events like The Big Give, where organizers commit $130,000 in matching funds to local nonprofits.
“At its heart, Wurstfest is a service organization,” Allen said in a news release. “We consistently look for intentional ways to support the people of New Braunfels and Comal County."
Getting to the festival
Wurstfest attendees can park and ride with a shuttle service. It will cost $10 for individuals 13 and older to park at the Comal County Fairgrounds and ride the shuttle to Wurstfest. There will also be tour buses making rounds throughout town.
Hotel shuttles will operate Fridays and Saturdays during the event and cost $25 per person, per round trip. Payment for the hotel shuttles can be made at Gate 3, according to the Wurstfest event website.
The Landa Park Pavilion, located on Mill Race Run, will be the location for ride-booking pickup. Wurstfest attendees can use Gate 2 to access this pickup and drop-off point.
What to expect
Wurstfest will kick off with opening ceremonies and the annual "biting of the sausage" at 5:30 p.m. in the Wursthalle on Nov. 6.
There will also be a waltz contest Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m. and a veterans salute Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Wursthalle, according to a Facebook post from the event. Sausage-making demonstrations will be on Saturdays and Sundays in the Weingarten from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The 2026 USSA Texas Steinholding State Championship Tournament Finals will be held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15. There will also be a polka contest on Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the Wursthalle. Those who are interested in participating in a steinholding competition, or Masskrugstemmen, can compete at Wurstfest.
Live music
Interested in checking out some German tunes? Attendees can find live music at five stages across the festival:
Wursthalle
Stelzenplatz
Grosse Zelt
Kleine Zelt
Stelzenhaus
Musician Alex Meixner plays the accordion during Wurstfest 2025.Amira Van Leeuwen/Community Impact)
Live performers include a German DJ, polka bands, yodelers and more. Several performers are traveling from Germany to perform at the festival.
