Merano WineFestival prepares to host its 35th edition: from November 6th to 10th 2026, the Kurhaus will once again become the capital of fine wine and culinary excellence, reflecting elegance and sophistication.
Five days dedicated to the selections featured in The WineHunter Guide, blending signature format elements with new additions and united by a theme celebrating beauty and elegance. The spotlight will be on the WineHunter Awards, with special attention devoted to the Platinum labels, the pinnacle of the selections curated by Helmuth Köcher and the tasting panels.
July 28, 2026 (Merano, Italy) — Merano WineFestival is set to celebrate the prestigious milestone of its 35th edition. From Friday November 6th to Tuesday November 10th 2026, the finest Italian and international wine and food producers will gather at the Kurhaus and in the most elegant venues of the South Tyrolean spa town. It is a landmark achievement for the event, founded in 1992 by Helmuth Köcher, which is preparing for an unforgettable edition.
A LEGACY TO BUILD ON: THE FIGURES FROM THE 2025 EDITION
Preparations are already under way to build on the success of the 2025 edition, which once again demonstrated the vitality of a format capable of evolving without compromising its identity: 8,000 visitors over the festival’s five days, including more than 3,000 industry professionals; 150 selected buyers from 32 countries; 1,300 participating companies; more than 2,000 wines available for tasting; over 4,300 WineHunter Awards presented; and extensive media coverage, reflected in the presence of more than 300 accredited journalists and over 3 million views across the festival’s social media channels. These figures attest to the growth of an increasingly knowledgeable and highly qualified audience, providing a solid foundation for the 2026 edition, which will combine numerous established features with a number of new additions, all under the guidance of its founder’s expertise and authority.
BEAUTY AND ELEGANCE: THE GUIDING THEME OF THE 35TH EDITION
Following an edition centred on the vision of taste artisans, the 35th Merano WineFestival turns its focus to what has always represented its deepest essence: beauty and elegance as the highest expression of the land, work carried out in the vineyard, and harmony found both in the glass and on the plate. A interplay connecting fine wine and haute cuisine, enhanced by the evocative setting of the Kurhaus, a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture, and by Merano’s distinctive Central European atmosphere. Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the town became a favoured destination on the Grand Tour and closely tied to the travels of Empress Sissi. “Merano WineFestival has always been synonymous with style and excellence, both in the glass and on the plate” says Helmuth Köcher. “For the 35th edition, we want to celebrate elegance as an absolute and timeless value: the same harmony, shaped by balance, care, and patience, that can be found in outstanding wines and gastronomic products. We are currently working on a programme that will once again transform the Kurhaus into the setting for an immersive and unforgettable narrative, dedicated to the expertise of producers whose excellence enhances Italy’s reputation around the world, a country already recognised symbol of elegance, style, and beauty”.
THE PROGRAMME OF THE 35TH MERANO WINEFESTIVAL: ESTABLISHED HIGHLIGHTS AND NEW SURPRISES
Alongside a number of new features, the 35th Merano WineFestival will once again present its well-established five-day format. The event will open on Friday, November 6th with TasteTerroir – bio&dynamica, featuring wines that demonstrate how respect for the land and responsible viticulture can offer strategic opportunities for the future. The programme will also include no- and low-alcohol products, reflecting a growing market capable of combining enjoyment with moderation, as well as the age-old tradition of amphora winemaking and innovative experiments such as underwater-aged wines.
From November 7th to 9th, The Festival will showcase the finest expressions of Italian and international winemaking. From November 6th to 9th, the GourmetArena will once again host the Culinaria section, with live cooking demonstrations and exceptional tastings featuring food, spirits, and beer companies.
The programme will end on Tuesday, November 10th with the return of Catwalk Champagne&more, celebrating sparkling wines’ elegance, from Champagne to Italian traditional-method bubbles.
THE WINEHUNTER GUIDE AND THE PINNACLE OF THE SELECTIONS
The beating heart of the festival remains the selection featured in The WineHunter Guide, which will be officially released on August 17th. Throughout the year, the tasting panels led by Helmuth Köcher work to identify excellence across wine, food, spirits, and beer, awarding the WH Award Red to products scoring between 90 and 92.99 points, Gold to those scoring between 93 and 95.99 points, and Platinum to those receiving more than 96 points.
Over the years, these distinctions have become established as one of the industry’s most authoritative quality certifications. The 2026 edition will place particular emphasis on the very top of this selection pyramid, with a special awards ceremony honouring the wines that have received the WH Award Platinum.
Single and multi-day tickets are available online, as well as accreditation requests for media and industry professionals, are available at meranowinefestival.com.
