Event Details
St. Martin's Day 2026 in Burgenland
On Wednesday, 11 November 2026, Burgenland celebrates St. Martin's Day across the whole region. St. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of the state; as a result, the day is treated as an official festive day here, with offices, authorities and schools closed. In the evening, children in almost every town and village carry handmade lanterns through the streets, sing traditional St. Martin songs and go door to door asking for sweets and treats.
Highlights
- St. Martin's Day as an official regional holiday throughout Burgenland
- Children's lantern parades in nearly every municipality
- Door to door singing and treat gathering ("Martinsbetteln")
- Reenactment of the cloak sharing legend in many towns
- Martinigansl (roast goose) as the traditional festive meal
- Martiniloben: wine cellars open in wine villages such as Purbach, Gols and Podersdorf am See
Program
The exact program varies from village to village, since there is no single statewide schedule; each municipality, kindergarten or parish organizes its own event. The most common tradition is a lantern parade at dusk, often led by a rider in a red cloak representing St. Martin on a white horse; afterwards, the legend of the shared cloak is frequently reenacted and Martinswecken (sweet bread figures) are handed out. In the well known wine villages around Lake Neusiedl, including Purbach, Gols and Podersdorf am See, the parallel tradition of Martiniloben takes place: winemakers open their cellars, the young wine (Heuriger) is tasted, and it is blessed by the local priest.
Tickets
St. Martin's Day is a free traditional celebration; lantern parades, door to door singing and most church and community programs require no ticket. Individual Martiniloben events or Martinigansl dinners at restaurants and wine cellars are priced separately by the respective venues.
Visitor Tips
- Check exact times and meeting points for lantern parades directly with the local municipality, kindergarten or parish, as there is no central calendar.
- Dress warmly for the autumn evening, since parades usually take place outdoors after dark.
- If visiting Martiniloben, book a table in advance in the popular wine villages around Lake Neusiedl.
- Book restaurants serving Martinigansl early in November, as demand around 11 November is especially high.
- Children can bring their own lantern; some villages also offer craft afternoons before the parade.
