Gillamoos Festival, Abensberg, Germany 2027: Dates, Program & Fair

Welcome to the Gillamoos 2027 in Abensberg

Gillamoos in Abensberg is Bavaria’s oldest annual fair, documented since 1313. From 2 to 6 September 2027 the Gillamooswiese on Münchener Straße once again turns this Hallertau town into a five-day mix of market stalls, beer tents, rides and living tradition. Admission to the grounds is free; food, drinks, rides and optional table reservations in the tents are charged separately.

Highlights & Attractions at Gillamoos in Abensberg

• Bavaria’s oldest fair, with more than 700 years of history linked to the pilgrimage of Saint Giles
• Large festival tents with regional beer, a wine tent, live bands and traditional brass music
• Historic “Oida Gillamoos” area with old-style fairground atmosphere
• Friday procession (Gillamoos-Auszug) with traditional costume groups, floats and the ceremonial beer tapping
• Political Gillamoos on Monday morning – Bavaria’s famous political beer-tent gathering
• Funfair, showmen, goods market, wood-sawing contest and election of the Dirndl Queen
• Kocherlball, Sunday church service in the tent and around 250,000 to 300,000 visitors

Program & Schedule: What to Expect in 2027

Gillamoos 2027 opens on Thursday, 2 September, from 6:00 p.m. and runs until Monday, 6 September. Thursday is the official start, including the traditional wood-sawing contest. Friday brings the procession through town onto the festival meadow (typically around 5:30 p.m.), followed by the beer tapping. Saturday and Sunday are the main market days with rides, family entertainment, traders and live music; on Gillamoos Sunday a festive church service is held in a beer tent, often followed by an open-air band concert. Monday starts early with the Kocherlball at Oida Gillamoos, continues with the Political Gillamoos and ends in the evening with the Dirndl Queen election. The detailed 2027 tent line-up will be published by the City of Abensberg and the tent hosts closer to the event.

Tickets & Admission for Gillamoos Abensberg

Admission to Gillamoos 2027 on the Gillamooswiese is free. There are no entry tickets for the festival grounds. You pay for food, drinks, rides and – if you want a reserved table – bookings in the festival tents (for example the wine tent or Festhalle Bayernland/Kuchlbauer). Table reservations are handled by the individual tent hosts, not via a central box office. Check the official city website at abensberg.de/gillamoos for the latest details.

Visitor Tips: Travel & Accommodation in Abensberg

• Take the train to Abensberg station (about a 10-minute walk to the meadow); during the fair the Gillamoos Express usually runs from surrounding towns
• September in the Hallertau can be warm by day and cool at night – bring traditional dress or sturdy shoes, a jacket and weatherproof clothing
• Book hotels and guesthouses in Abensberg, Kelheim and the Hallertau early; the five festival days are very busy
• Car parks are mainly along Münchener Straße near the meadow; many lots charge a fee, while the outdoor-pool hill is often a free option with a short walk
• Arrive extra early on Monday morning (Political Gillamoos) and Friday evening (procession) – the tents fill up fast