Wachau Wine Spring 2026
The Wachau Spring Wine Festival 2026 will take place on May 2 and May 3, 2026, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Wine Spring Wristband
The wristband for the wine spring festival 2026 was available for purchase in the Vinea-Onlineshop until mid-April.
The online shop is now closed. This ensures that all the orders can be delivered by post in time before May 2.
Please note: There will be a sufficient number of wristbands available for purchase on site.
The following purchase options are still available:
On site: During the wine spring weekend (May 2 & 3, 2026) directly at all participating wineries as well as on the Wachaubahn railway
Note: On-site purchases are cash only
Tourist information offices: In Krems, Spitz, and Melk – both in advance sales and during the event weekend
Steinfeder Night: Wristbands are available directly at the evening box office
Note: Cash payment only here as well
Guest Region: Carnuntum
At this year’s spring wine festival, we are especially delighted to welcome Carnuntum as our guest region. Alongside the Vinea wineries, 18 guest winemakers from Carnuntum will present their distinctive wines and offer fascinating insights into their work.
Two regions, both renowned for the highest quality, come together here, inviting you to discover diversity, origin, and passion in every glass.
You can find out which Carnuntum wineries are present at which locations in our downloadable folder.
Steinfeder Night on May 2nd 2026 at Schloss Spitz
On Saturday evening, winemakers and guests will gather at Schloss Spitz for a cozy evening with wine and music. Three different bars will offer wines from the Vinea Wachau wineries and our guest winemakers from Carnuntum. From 8:00 p.m., the band Mamas Soul Club will get the party started with pop and rock in a brassy sound! It will also feature a varied culinary selection from the Hofmann Butchery, including vegetarian options.
Entry fee: €20,-- (Upon presentation of the winespring wristband, you will receive two wine vouchers at the cashier)
Available at the entrance of Schloss Spitz. Payment only in cash.
Start: 5.30 pm
End: 1 am
For the journey home towards Krems, the additional trains of the Wachaubahn can be used with the Weinfrühling wristband.
You can find the Wachaubahn timetables here.
Bus Shuttle for Steinfeder Night (May 2nd)
After the Steinfeder Night on May 2nd, a bus shuttle will be available for the journey from Spitz to Melk.
Departure is at 00:00 (midnight, night of May 2nd–3rd) from Spitz train station.
The bus will stop at all public bus stops along the route to Melk train station.
Please note that only one bus (approx. 50 seats) is available. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis – once the bus is full, no further boarding is possible.
We therefore recommend heading from Schloss Spitz to the train station in good time!
Frequently asked questions on the Wachau Weinfrühling
What does a Wachau Weinfrühling visit involve?
Wachau Weinfrühling visits are very straightforward. A list of participating wineries is included in the Weinfrühling flyer, which is published annually. The listed wineries are open for visits between 10 am and 6 pm on both days of the event. Booking is not required.
The listed wineries are open for visits between 10 am and 6 pm on both days of the event. The exact details of what is on offer and how the tasting takes place depends on the winery, but all wineries will provide an opportunity to taste several wines from the current vintage.
Where can I get the Wachau Weinfrühling flyer?
The Weinfrühling flyer is available a few weeks before the event.
What is the best way of getting to the wineries during the Weinfrühling ?
Many wineries are located within walking distance of the individual village centres. The addresses are shown on the Weinfrühling flyer. The locations are also easy to find at www.mywachau.at.
Travel groups
The Wachau wine sector is structured on a very small scale, we therefore ask for your understanding for the fact that most of the wineries only have limited space. Please split into small groups.
Travelling by bus and ferry during the Wachau Weinfrühling
A partnership with the Eastern Region Transport Association (VOR) has been agreed, enabling the Wachau Linien busses and the Danube ferries to be used for free during the event weekend.
Wachau Linien
The 715, 718 and 720 bus routes connect Melk to Krems on opposite banks of the river Danube and provide a regular service to all the towns, villages and hamlets in the Wachau. www.vor.at or +43 800 22 23 24
Travel by train at the Wachau Weinfrühling
Included with the Weinfrühling Wristband
The Wachau railway runs along the North bank between Krems and Emmersdorf and is a special experience. For part of the time, the line runs past open views of the vineyards and then goes into tunnels hewn into the solid rock face, making this a particularly atmospheric way of experiencing this World Heritage Site.
Upon showing the Weinfrühling wristband you can use the Wachau train for free on both days.
Danube ferries
Upon showing your wine spring wristband you can use all three Danube ferries for free on May 04th and 05th. The fee does not include the transportation of cars and bicycles.
Cable ferry Spitz - Arnsdorf:
8:15 – 19:30
(for cars, bicycles and travellers)
Cable ferry Weißenkirchen - St. Lorenz:
8:00 – 18:45
(for cars, bicycles and travellers)
Motorised ferry Dürnstein-Rossatz:
9:30 – 18:00
(for bicycles and travellers only)
Due to the low capacities please be aware that longer waiting times may occur!
Food and accommodation
What is the best way to find accommodation during the Wachau Weinfrühling?
The Wachau Weinfrühling is one of the weekends with the most demand of any the whole year, and many regular visitors book a place to stay well in advance. You are thus strongly urged to reserve accommodation as early as possible. Click here for the online accommodation finder hosted by Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus.
Restaurants and Heuriger wine taverns
To find culinary delights, one need not look far in the Wachau region. Travelling along the Danube, visitors will discover several of Austria’s most celebrated restaurants, in addition to refined country-style cuisine and the Heuriger specialities. Whatever the dining choice, Wachau wine will be in abundant supply. Especially when travelling in a group, we also recommend in this case to make a reservation in advance. You will find a list of country inns and restaurants on our website under myWachau.
