Pezinok Grape Harvest Festival (Vinobranie Pezinok)

Experience the biggest event of the year in Slovakia's town of wine. Vinobranie Pezinok, the Pezinok Grape Harvest Festival, is the traditional celebration of the work of local winemakers and winegrowers: three days of burčiak (young fermenting wine), new wines, live music on several stages, folklore, crafts and good food in the historic town centre. It is organised by the Town of Pezinok with the Pezinok Cultural Centre, and entry to the streets is free.

Vinobranie Pezinok 2026 takes place from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026 in the streets of central Pezinok. The festival opens with the symbolic First Sip (Prvý dúšok) on Friday at 5:30 PM on the stage in front of the chateau in Zámocký park, where Bacchus, the Pereg (the town's traditional vineyard reeve), local winemakers and town representatives raise the first glass. Around 300 stalls with food, drink and handmade crafts fill the streets and squares, along with children's attractions and a funfair.

Taste the wines of Pezinok's producers in the Winemakers' Lane (Vinárska ulička) of the Association of Pezinok Winegrowers and Winemakers, on the pedestrian zone of Radničné námestie, open all weekend. Chat with the winemakers at their stalls and discover the flavours of the Little Carpathians, from fresh burčiak to wines of recent vintages.

Music runs on two main stages. On the main stage at Radničné námestie you can see Heľenine oči, Replay Band, Pil C and DJ Mark Dann on Friday; Voising, Morena, Para, Queen Show and Nerieš on Saturday; and Čarovné ostrohy, Funkiez and, to close the festival, Horkýže Slíže on Sunday. The stage in front of the chateau hosts Sad a Tma, The Wet Floor and Samo Tomeček & Milujem Slovensko Band on Friday, Fíha Tralala for children, Folklór X, Veronika Rabada, Iconito and Komajota on Saturday, and ZUŠ Kyjov, the Little Carpathian Brass Orchestra and Neznámi on Sunday. The full timetable is on the official festival website (Slovak).

New in 2026 is a small folklore stage in front of the Little Carpathian Museum (Malokarpatské múzeum), where Pezinok's folk ensembles and folk musicians perform on Saturday: ĽH Pezinčané, FSS Obstrléze, FSS Radosť, Animatus, KST Petan Pezinok and GrinavaGroup. The programme also includes the traditional grape pressing (prešovačka) at 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, a demonstration of how grapes used to be pressed, in the company of Pezinok's Bacchus and Pereg.

Sunday's highlight is the allegorical parade at 11:00 AM, setting off from Mladoboleslavská street through the centre to Radničné námestie. Bacchus and the Pereg lead the way, joined by local associations, sports clubs and villages of the Little Carpathian region. At 12:00 the blessing of the harvest follows on the main stage.

Families with children can join the interactive game The Journey of the Wine Fly (Cesta vínnej mušky) at the fountain in front of the chateau park (Friday 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM). Art lovers can visit exhibitions at the Little Carpathian Museum, the Town Museum, the House of Culture and Schaubmar's Mill. The former Vinárske závody winery complex at Za dráhou 21 hosts the cultural and community festival Re: Vinárske 26 and, on Saturday, the Žúr Warehouse afterparty with two stages (18+, separate tickets at zenyvinofunk.sk).

The first records of Pezinok's harvest celebrations date back to the 13th century. During the economic recession at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries the start of the harvest was celebrated only in the town's viechy (winemakers' taverns). In 1934 the town council decided to revive the Pezinok Vinobranie, but it was only repeated for two years running. Today Vinobranie Pezinok is one of the largest events of its kind in Slovakia.

Getting there: traffic in the town centre is restricted during the festival. We recommend the train: Pezinok is on the Bratislava – Trnava line and the centre is within walking distance of the railway station. If you come by car, use the Rozálka park-and-ride; coaches park on Okružná street. Local buses run on a temporarily adjusted timetable. Festival and traffic map.

Admission to the festival is free. Programme subject to change.