Largest Fair on the Rhine 2027

Anyone in Düsseldorf in July 2027 will run into the Rheinkirmes, officially the Largest Fair on the Rhine. The St. Sebastianus shooting club has run it since 1435, and it is still a shooters' festival wrapped in rides, beer gardens and fireworks.

Dates. The tourist board lists 16 to 25 July 2027, though the page header says 27 July. We use the 25th until the organisers publish a final schedule. Fireworks are planned for Friday 23 July around 22:30, with drone shows on 20 and 23 July around 22:15. Access to the fireworks is free. All timings may still change.

Where and how. The fair sets up on the Oberkassel Rhine meadows, a festival ground of around 165,000 square metres on the left bank opposite the Altstadt. Families come by day; evenings are livelier. For the fireworks, the fairground, the opposite bank and the bridges all work, and the riverbank is often calmer.

Getting there. From the Altstadt you can walk across a Rhine bridge. For buses and trams, aim for stops near the Oberkasseler Brücke and check the city's diversions closer to the date. Expect packed trains and road closures on fireworks night and leave a buffer on the way back.

Rooms and tips. July is well booked, so reserve early, especially if you combine the fair with a concert at the Merkur Spiel-Arena or SparkassenPark. Visit midweek for fewer crowds, carry a rain jacket and some sun cream, and re-check the dates shortly before you go. A good rhythm is the fair in the afternoon, then the riverbank and Altstadt in the evening.