Auer Dult: 2027 dates, the market on Mariahilfplatz and tips

By Daniel Schulz, residir GmbH · Last updated: 13 October 2026

The Auer Dult is a traditional market with fairground rides that takes place three times a year for nine days at a time on Mariahilfplatz in the Au district: as the Maidult, the Jakobidult and the Kirchweihdult. The next Dult is the Kirchweihdult from 17 to 25 October 2026. The dates for 2027 have already been set, and admission is free (as of October 2026, source: auerdult.de).

In autumn 2027 we are opening a boarding house with 54 apartments at Ländstraße 6 in Lehel. The Au lies directly opposite, on the other bank of the Isar. This guide covers the dates, the opening hours, what you can buy at the Dult and how to get there without a car.

In this article:

• Dates for 2026 and 2027
• Opening hours and admission
• Maidult, Jakobidult, Kirchweihdult and history
• Mariahilfplatz in the Au
• Crockery, household goods and antiques
• Fairground rides and family day
• Food and drink
• Getting there, parking and walking from Lehel
• Tips: dogs, guided tours, weather
• Dult, Oktoberfest and Spring Festival
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

Auer Dult 2026 and 2027: all the dates

Each Dult starts on a Saturday and ends on the Sunday of the following week. The City of Munich has already published the dates for the Auer Dult 2027 on auerdult.de, and Munich Tourism gives the same dates.

Dult	2026	2027	Opening hours (guide)
Maidult	25 April to 3 May (over)	24 April to 2 May	10 am to 8 pm
Jakobidult	25 July to 2 August (over)	24 July to 1 August	10 am to 8 pm
Kirchweihdult	17 to 25 October	16 to 24 October	10 am to 7 pm

The Kirchweihdult 2026 therefore begins on Saturday 17 October and runs until Sunday 25 October. If you still want to experience the Auer Dult in 2026, you have exactly nine days. The next opportunity after that is the Maidult 2027 from 24 April.

The Dult is first and foremost a festival for locals and attracts far fewer tourists than the Wiesn (Oktoberfest). If you are coming in October and looking for accommodation in Munich, the Kirchweihdult combines nicely with an autumn weekend. Mariahilfplatz is busiest on the first Saturday and on both Sundays.

Auer Dult opening hours and admission

The market stalls open daily at 10 am and the showmen’s rides at 10.30 am. During the Maidult and Jakobidult, trading ends at 8 pm; during the Kirchweihdult it ends at 7 pm. These Auer Dult opening hours apply on all nine days, including Sundays (as of October 2026, auerdult.de).

Admission is free; you only pay at the stalls and rides. The city does not publish fixed prices for the rides, as the showmen set them themselves. On family day, every Tuesday, prices on the fairground are reduced.

There are cash machines by the Mariahilfkirche and on the fairground. Still, bring some cash with you, as it is handier, especially at the small bric-a-brac stalls.

Maidult, Jakobidult and Kirchweihdult: Munich’s three Dult markets

The Dult in Munich takes place three times a year, and what is on offer is similar each time. The main differences are the season and the weather.

• Maidult late April to early May: the first Dult of the year, kicking off the outdoor season.
• Jakobidult late July to early August: the oldest of the three, named after St James’s Day on 25 July.
• Kirchweihdult in October: held for the church consecration festival (Kirchweih), with trading ending as early as 7 pm.

The Maidult Munich 2026 and the Jakobidult Munich 2026 are already over. For the Maidult 2027 and Jakobidult 2027, the dates in the table above apply.

History of the Auer Dult: documented since 1310

According to the City of Munich, the first Dult, the Jakobidult, took place in 1310 on the Anger, today’s St.-Jakobs-Platz. The word Dult originally meant a church festival in honour of a saint, around which traders set up their stalls. In 1796, Elector Karl Theodor allowed the then still independent village of Au to hold a Dult twice a year.

From 1799, these Dult markets were held in May and October around the Mariahilf pilgrimage church, and this is where the name Auer Dult comes from. In 1854 the Au was incorporated into Munich. In 1905 the Jakobidult moved from Johannisplatz in Haidhausen to Mariahilfplatz, and all three Dult markets have been held there ever since.

The Auer Dult in Munich was last cancelled during the war, from 1943 to 1946, and in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Since 2022 it has once again been held three times a year. According to the city, around 346,000 visitors came to the three Dult markets in 2024, and about 311,000 in 2025.

Mariahilfplatz Munich: where the Auer Dult takes place

Mariahilfplatz is in the Au, south of Haidhausen and close to the Isar. According to auerdult.de, the Dult covers around 22,000 square metres, with about 250 stalls run by market traders and showmen. Under the chestnut trees it is pleasantly shady even in July.

In the middle of the square stands the Mariahilfkirche, a neo-Gothic brick church whose foundation stone was laid in 1831. Its carillon of 65 bells was inaugurated on 1 May 2012 and is said to be the second largest in Germany. If you are on the square on the hour, you will hear the largest bell strike.

The Au used to be a district of day labourers, and many small 19th-century lodging houses (Herbergshäuser) still stand. Today it is part of the Au-Haidhausen district, one of the most popular residential areas in the city. How the districts differ is described in our guide to Munich neighbourhoods.

Crockery, household goods and antiques: what you will find at the Auer Dult

The Auer Dult is a market first and a funfair second. People shop on Mariahilfplatz outside Dult time too: at the farmers’ market on Wednesdays and the weekly market on Saturdays; read more in our overview of the Munich farmers’ markets. The stalls are roughly grouped by type of goods, so you will quickly find your way around.

Crockery market: porcelain, ceramics and pottery

According to Munich Tourism, the crockery market is one of the largest porcelain markets in Europe. On offer are plain white tableware, ceramics, porcelain and modern designs, from a single coffee cup to handmade pottery. Many locals come here to replace their everyday crockery when a plate has broken.

For guests staying longer, it is a good place to pick up a few personal pieces. In furnished apartments in Munich the kitchen is fully equipped, but your own favourite mug still makes it feel more like home.

Kitsch and art: antiques and bric-a-brac

In the “Kitsch und Kunst” (kitsch and art) section you will find old books, traditional costume jewellery, oil paintings, records and the occasional Biedermeier chest of drawers. A flea market has been part of the Auer Dult since 1854, when it was known as the “Niederländer Markt”. If you come early in the morning, you will have the widest choice and the best chance when haggling.

Neuheitengasse: household helpers and kitchen gadgets

In the Neuheitengasse (novelty lane), traders demonstrate vegetable slicers, cleaning products, baking tins, brooms and wooden spoons. If you are moving into temporary housing in Munich for a project and still need a few kitchen utensils, this is the place to look. There are also baskets, felt slippers, soaps, traditional Bavarian clothing and jewellery.

auerdult.de offers a searchable list of exhibitors by name and type of goods under “Dultstände”. There you can check before your visit whether your favourite stall is there this time.

Fairground rides at the Auer Dult: chair swing ride, Ferris wheel and family day

The fairground area is on the north side of Mariahilfplatz and is deliberately kept small. Instead of looping roller coasters, you will find rides that your grandparents may well have known. auerdult.de mainly lists these:

• The Kalb family’s chair swing ride, built in 1919 and recently restored
• A Ferris wheel from 1925 with a fairground organ, the largest in Bavaria until the 1960s
• Dodgems for older children and teenagers
• The children’s carousels “Sternenland” (since 1969) and “Zauberreise” for the little ones
• Swing boats, a Punch and Judy-style puppet show (Kasperltheater) and games stalls such as tin-can throwing and hook-a-duck

On family day every Tuesday, many attractions are cheaper. For parents there are baby-changing and breastfeeding areas as well as pushchair parking, and an accessible baby-changing room is located by the Sternenland carousel. With a pushchair it is much easier to get around during the week than on a Sunday afternoon.

Food at the Auer Dult: Steckerlfisch, roast chicken and beer garden

There is no big beer tent like at the Wiesn. People eat and drink in the beer garden under the chestnut trees and at the food stalls. auerdult.de lists Steckerlfisch (fish grilled on a stick), bratwurst, Flammkuchen, Schupfnudeln (potato noodles), candied almonds and toffee apples, along with Munich beers.

A well-known spot is the Fischer Vroni stall, which serves Steckerlfisch. According to auerdult.de, you will also find free toilets there, as well as at the Dult office. At lunchtime a queue often forms at the fish grill, so an early or late snack saves waiting time.

Getting to the Auer Dult: tram, U-Bahn, parking and walking from Lehel

The city expressly recommends public transport. Simply enter “Mariahilfplatz” as your destination in the journey planner; the map on auerdult.de shows the nearby stops.

• Tram 18: runs to the Dult, with extra services between Sendlinger Tor and St.-Martins-Platz from around 12 noon to 8 pm on Dult weekends
• Bus 52 to the Mariahilfplatz stop, bus 62 to Schweigerstraße
• U1 or U2 to Fraunhoferstraße or Kolumbusplatz, then a few minutes on foot

Parking around the Auer Dult is not possible, as there are no dedicated car parks. Only for visitors with reduced mobility are disabled parking spaces reserved on the north side during the Dult. Free bicycle parking is available in the northern and southern parts of the square (as of October 2026).

On foot from Lehel via the Ludwigsbrücke

From Lehel, walking is usually quicker than any connection that involves a change. From Ländstraße, walk a few minutes south to the Ludwigsbrücke and cross the Isar, past the Deutsches Museum. On the Au side, follow Zeppelinstraße south to Mariahilfplatz. As a guide, we allow 20 to 25 minutes.

In fine weather you can walk part of the way back along the riverbank. You can read more about riverside paths, bridges and gravel banks in our guide to the Isar in Munich. According to auerdult.de, district heating works around Mariahilfplatz may lead to closures, but pedestrians can usually get through.

Tips for your visit: dogs, guided tours and rain

The Auer Dult with a dog

We have not found a specific rule on dogs on auerdult.de (as of October 2026). We are not aware of a general ban on dogs, but on busy weekends it gets cramped and noisy for dogs between the porcelain stalls and the crowds. It is best to come on a weekday morning with your dog on a short lead. If you are travelling with a four-legged friend, you will find information on dog-friendly apartments in Munich on our website.

Guided tour of the Auer Dult

Munich Tourism offers a guided tour of around two hours called “Erlebnis Auer Dult” (Auer Dult experience) for individuals and groups. It tells the story of the market, includes tastings and ends with a ride on the Ferris wheel. Dates and prices are on muenchen.travel.

When is the best time to go?

It is quietest on weekdays between 10 am and 12 noon. When it rains, many visitors stay away, so you have more peace at the stalls. For antiques, the old rule applies: first come, first served for the best pieces.

Auer Dult, Oktoberfest and Spring Festival: the difference

The Oktoberfest and the Spring Festival take place on the Theresienwiese and are funfairs with large beer tents, roller coasters and far bigger crowds. The Auer Dult is smaller, quieter and above all a market. This is where locals buy their crockery and rummage for bric-a-brac, and the rides are rather nostalgic.

For a first taste of Bavarian festival culture without reservations or crowds, the Dult is therefore often the more relaxed choice. An afternoon with a stroll round, Steckerlfisch and a ride on the Ferris wheel is enough for most visitors.

Conclusion

The Auer Dult is the market for anyone who wants to get to know Munich away from the big festivals: nine days, free admission, porcelain, bric-a-brac and old carousels on Mariahilfplatz. If you are coming for the Maidult, Jakobidult or Kirchweihdult in 2027, our boarding house in Munich in Lehel is just a stroll across the Isar away.

Frequently asked questions about the Auer Dult

When is the Auer Dult 2027?

The Auer Dult 2027 takes place three times: Maidult from 24 April to 2 May, Jakobidult from 24 July to 1 August and Kirchweihdult from 16 to 24 October 2027 (as of October 2026, source: auerdult.de).

When is the next Auer Dult in Munich?

The next Auer Dult is the Kirchweihdult from 17 to 25 October 2026 on Mariahilfplatz. It is followed by the Maidult from 24 April to 2 May 2027.

What are the Auer Dult opening hours?

The stalls open daily at 10 am and the rides at 10.30 am. Closing time is 8 pm during the Maidult and Jakobidult and 7 pm during the Kirchweihdult.

Is there an admission charge for the Auer Dult?

No, visiting the Auer Dult is free. You only pay at the stalls and rides, and the rides are reduced on family day every Tuesday.

Which tram goes to the Auer Dult?

Tram 18 runs to the Auer Dult, as do bus 52 to Mariahilfplatz and bus 62 to Schweigerstraße. With the U1 or U2, travel to Fraunhoferstraße or Kolumbusplatz and walk a few minutes from there.

Can you park at the Auer Dult?

No, there is no visitor parking around Mariahilfplatz. There are only disabled parking spaces on the north side for visitors with reduced mobility, and you can park bicycles free of charge on the square.

Can you take a dog to the Auer Dult?

auerdult.de does not give a specific rule on dogs, and we are not aware of a general ban (as of October 2026). As it gets very crowded at weekends, it is best to come with your dog on a weekday morning and on a short lead.

Has the Auer Dult been cancelled?

No, the Auer Dult is going ahead as planned in 2026 and 2027. It was last cancelled entirely in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and since 2022 there have once again been three Dult markets a year.