Frequently Asked Questions

Kaufbeuren railway station is only a short walk from the Old Town. From there, all festival areas can be reached easily on foot.

Especially on parade days, travelling by public transport is recommended, as traffic restrictions may apply in the city centre.

Yes. During the Tänzelfest, the City of Kaufbeuren and the Tänzelfest Association provide additional bus services. These include the Tänzelfest Bus throughout the festival period, extra services for Lagerleben (Medieval Camp Life) and additional services on Tänzelfest Sunday.

Please note that timetables vary depending on the service and may only apply on specific days. Traffic restrictions during the parades may also affect services.

As the Tänzelfest takes place throughout Kaufbeuren’s Old Town rather than at a single venue, there are no dedicated festival parking areas.

Visitors can use the city’s public car parks and parking facilities. An overview of available parking options can be found on the Parking in Kaufbeuren page.

Please expect increased traffic on parade days.

During the main festival weekend and up to and including Tänzelfest Monday, traffic in Kaufbeuren’s Old Town is heavily restricted. Only authorised vehicles may enter certain areas.

In addition, parts of the surrounding area are closed and traffic is diverted on Sunday and Monday to allow the parades to take place safely.

Accessible parking spaces are available throughout the city at designated locations.

Please note that traffic regulations and road closures may affect access during the festival weekend.

In 2026, the Grand Parades take place on Sunday, 12 July, and Monday, 13 July. On both days, the Arrival of Emperor Maximilian begins at 1:30 p.m. The Grand Parade through Kaufbeuren’s Old Town starts afterwards at approximately 2:15 p.m.

The Arrival of Emperor Maximilian begins on Kaiser-Max-Straße and proceeds to the Town Hall. The Grand Parade then follows the parade route through Kaufbeuren’s Old Town.

Children up to their 15th birthday are admitted free of charge and do not require their own festival badge. Visitors aged 15 and over require a valid festival badge.

Please take special care around children, horses and carriages. Do not cross through the parade and keep emergency access routes and designated passageways clear.

The use of bicycles, skateboards, inline skates and similar means of transport within the parade area is not permitted.

Many Tänzelfest events take place outdoors. In the event of adverse weather conditions, events may be changed, relocated or cancelled.

Current information will be published on our website and social media channels. Please check the Festival Programme and the latest announcements on the day of your visit.

During Lagerleben, Kaufbeuren’s Old Town reveals a very special side of itself. In the glow of campfires, torches and candlelight, local hosts welcome visitors to their lovingly decorated camps.

Music, dancing, food and drink, juggling, theatre performances and knightly combat make Lagerleben one of the highlights of the Tänzelfest.

Lagerleben takes place throughout Kaufbeuren’s Old Town. In 2026, it begins on Friday, 10 July, at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, 11 July, at 6:00 p.m. On both evenings, Lagerleben continues until 1:00 a.m.

Admission to Lagerleben is included with a valid festival badge.

Bag checks are carried out at all entrances to Lagerleben. Backpacks and bags larger than A3 size are not permitted. If possible, please avoid bringing large bags or backpacks.

Lagerleben can become very crowded in parts of the Old Town. For this reason, we recommend avoiding pushchairs whenever possible. Baby carriers or child carrier backpacks are often a more practical option in busy areas.

The programme, a list of all camps and an overview map can be found in the printed Festival Programme and on our German-language >Lagerleben page.

Many events and activities at the Tänzelfest can be visited free of charge. However, a valid festival badge is required for the main events.

The festival badge grants admission to the >Opening Ceremony, Lagerleben (Medieval Camp Life), the Children’s Dances and the Grand Parades.

The festival badge serves as the admission ticket for the main Tänzelfest events. By purchasing a festival badge, you also support the festival itself. Revenue from badge sales provides an important financial foundation for the Tänzelfest.

Children up to their 15th birthday are admitted free of charge and do not require their own festival badge.

Festival badges are available before and during the Tänzelfest through several sales channels:

• Official advance sales locations
• Our volunteer sellers and participating children
• At the entrances to participating events during the festival

Further information about online sales and sales locations can be found on our German-language Festival Badge page.

Please follow the instructions of security staff and keep emergency access routes clear at all times. Where possible, we recommend avoiding large bags and backpacks. Bag checks may be carried out depending on the event.

As the Tänzelfest is a children’s festival, the consumption of cannabis is not permitted at any event.

Due to safety regulations, the Tanzrondell has a maximum capacity of 1,000 visitors. Admission to the Opening Ceremony is therefore only possible with a valid festival badge and an admission ticket.

Free admission tickets for the Opening Ceremony will be distributed on 29.06.2026 ab 18:30 Uhr at the Tänzelfest Office, Spitaltor 5, 87600 Kaufbeuren.

Due to the limited capacity of the Tanzrondell, admission to the Children’s Dances is also only possible with a valid festival badge and an admission ticket. Admission tickets are distributed at the main entrance on the day of the event.

Entry is only possible via the main entrance. Personal seating such as chairs or stools may not be brought into the venue.

A limited number of spaces for wheelchairs and walking aids are available on both sides of the Tanzrondell during events.

As capacity is limited, we recommend arriving early.