Wurstfest, New Braunfels’ 10-day “Salute to Sausage,” opens Friday, Nov. 6, in Landa Park for its 65th year. Here is what to eat, what tickets cost and when to go, according to the official Wurstfest website and Community Impact.
Photo: AI illustration.
Wurstfest 2026 dates and hours
The festival runs Nov. 6–15 at 178 Landa Park Drive in New Braunfels, near the headwaters of the Comal River. Hours change by day, according to the festival’s schedule:
- Fri., Nov. 6 (opening day): 4–11 p.m.
- Sat., Nov. 7 and Sat., Nov. 14: 11 a.m.–midnight
- Sun., Nov. 8 and Sun., Nov. 15: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Mon.–Wed., Nov. 9–11: 5–10 p.m.
- Thu., Nov. 12 and Fri., Nov. 13: 5–11 p.m.
Ticket prices
Kids 12 and under get in free every day, and admission is free Monday through Thursday. Buying online saves $5, according to the Wurstfest tickets page:
- Fridays (Nov. 6 and 13): $15 online, $20 at the gate
- Saturdays (Nov. 7 and 14): $25 online, $30 at the gate
- Sundays (Nov. 8 and 15): $15 online, $20 at the gate; the final Sunday is free after 3 p.m.
- Mon.–Thu., Nov. 9–12: free
A ticket is good for the whole day; get your hand stamped at the gate if you plan to leave and come back.
What to eat at Wurstfest 2026
Sausage is the reason most people come, but the official food vendor list goes well past the bun. Highlights from that list:
- New Braunfels Smokehouse (booth C-5): serving at Wurstfest since 1961. Its Wurstkabob is a sampler of five sausages on one stick (Original, Cheddar, Bratwurst, Jalapeño and Apple). It also lists smoked turkey legs, pork ribs, ham hocks, sauerkraut and bread pudding with warm vanilla butter sauce.
- Carlton’s (booth B-7): sausage on a stick, brat on a bun with kraut, chicken and sausage gumbo, Cajun chips, fried cheese curds and boudin balls.
- Rotary Club of New Braunfels (booth A-1): potato pancakes (Kartoffelpuffers).
- Downtown Rotary (booth B-6): Wurst-N-Tashen, Rueben-N-Tashen and a new Wurst Dog.
- Otto’s Cheese Shop (Hydroplant): raclette.
- Oh My Pizza Pie (Stelzenplatz): wood-fired flammkuchen and pizza.
- Sweets: German roasted nuts and chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick at Nutty Buddies Too (B-2), an Apple Strudel Sundae and Black Forest Sundae at the Eis Cream Haus (SP FT-5), plus pretzels from Woodstock Pretzel Company and mini donuts from Fredericksburg Mini Donut Co.
The festival does not post food prices online, so plan on paying at the booth. Outside food and drinks, including alcohol, are not allowed on the grounds, according to the Wurstfest FAQ.
What’s new for the 65th year
Community Impact reports that Rocky Mountain Crepes is a new food vendor this year, Fun Biz concessions are expanding, and a new trailer in the carnival area will sell nachos and street tacos. A Weingarten in the hydro plant, near Gate One, will pour German wine and U.S. selections, and three beers are new on tap: Modelo, Paulaner Pils and Weihenstephan. Sausage-making demonstrations run Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Weingarten.
“In honor of our 65th anniversary, we are pulling out all the stops,” 2026 Wurstfest President Marc Allen told Community Impact.
How to pay
Bring a card. Every bar takes credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, according to the festival website, and Community Impact reports that admissions and bar purchases are cashless. The FAQ says food vendors accept cash, so a little cash for the booths is still handy.
Parking and getting there
Parking next to the grounds is limited. The official Park ’N Ride shuttle runs from the Comal County Fairgrounds; Community Impact lists it at $10 for anyone 13 and older. Hotel shuttles run Fridays and Saturdays ($25 per person, round trip, paid at Gate 3), and rideshare pickup is at the Landa Park Pavilion on Mill Race Run, through Gate 2.
Events to plan around
- Opening ceremonies and the “biting of the sausage”: Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Wursthalle
- Waltz contest: Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m.
- Veterans salute: Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
- Texas Steinholding State Championship finals: Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
- Polka contest: Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m.
Wurstfest runs rain or shine, and dirndls, lederhosen and silly hats are encouraged, per the FAQ.
Bring the flavors home
Can’t make it to New Braunfels? Bake our German apple crumb cake, or put sausage to work in this sausage and herb stuffing for Thanksgiving.
