When is the Krampus run in Munich in 2026, and what happens on St Nicholas Day in Bavaria?

Krampus, Perchten and St Nicholas: who is who

St Nicholas Day is a Catholic feast for Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century bishop who became the gift-bringer of the Alpine and German-speaking world. In Germany it is a church feast day, not a public holiday, so shops follow normal rules (and on Sunday 6 December 2026 they are shut anyway, as on every German Sunday).

The custom most families keep is simple: children clean their boots and put them outside the door on the evening of 5 December, and in the morning they find small gifts such as chocolate, tangerines, nuts and biscuits. In Catholic Bavaria, St Nicholas may also visit in person in bishop's robes, sometimes with a dark companion who scolds the children who have misbehaved.

That companion is the Krampus: a horned, furred figure with a carved wooden mask, cowbells and a switch of birch twigs. The City of Munich's page describes three types you will see in the parade:

• Krampus: the dark companion of St Nicholas.

• Perchten: figures with four to ten horns which, in the older tradition, drove out winter. They now join Advent runs alongside the Krampus.

• Klausen: the Nicholas figures of parts of the Alps.

The city puts the age of these runs in the Alpine region at about 500 years. Munich's own Krampuslauf is much newer: the first one was on 12 December 2004, with about 100 figures.

Munich Krampuslauf 2026: date, time and route

The details below come from the City of Munich (muenchen.de) and the official Christkindlmarkt site, both updated for 2026.

• Date and time: Sunday 13 December 2026, 15:00 to 17:00. The organisers stress that it starts on the dot at 15:00.

• Start: the groups line up in Augustinerstraße, by the Frauenplatz in front of the Frauenkirche.

• Route: through the pedestrian zone via Kaufingerstraße, Färbergraben, Rosental, Sendlinger Straße, Dultstraße, Oberanger and Rindermarkt, then over Petersplatz to the Viktualienmarkt. The organisers say the route has changed slightly this year, so do not rely on older maps.

• Finish: in front of the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) at the eastern end of Marienplatz.

• Who takes part: about 25 groups with more than 300 Krampusse, Perchten and Klausen, from Bavaria, the Allgäu, Salzburg, Tyrol, South Tyrol, Styria and Carinthia. The host group is Munich's Sparifankerl-Pass, and the city's Department of Labour and Economic Affairs organises and pays for the event. St Nicholas traditionally closes the parade.

• Cost: free; you just stand along the route.

• Crowds: the official market site expects up to 50,000 spectators.

The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026 and stays open until 20:00 on Sundays, so there is time for a mulled wine afterwards. Our German Christmas markets guide has the other cities' dates.

Where to stand, and Krampus runs with kids

Pick a spot and stay there. The city advises watching from one place rather than walking alongside, because the full procession takes a while to pass. The narrower streets (Rosental, Sendlinger Straße, Dultstraße) put you closest to the figures. The finish at the Old Town Hall is the most crowded. Arrive by 14:15 or so for the front row anywhere on the route.

What actually happens. Figures run, stamp and ring their bells. They interact with the crowd: the official site says hats may be snatched briefly but are given back, and most groups stop for photos. The city's own line is that the figures look far more frightening than they are, and that you may look at and touch them.

Children. Many local children watch from the front row and love it. The city also notes that the noise and size can overwhelm very young children, and suggests families with small children stand further back. A sensible plan for toddlers: watch from the back of the crowd near Petersplatz, where you can step away into the Viktualienmarkt if it gets too much.

Safety and etiquette. The masks weigh up to about 10 kg and participants often get out of breath, so do not grab masks, horns or switches, and do not follow figures for a selfie. Keep a hand on bags in the crush around Marienplatz; pickpockets work big Advent crowds in every European city. Leave dogs at home.

Getting there. Marienplatz is the central U-Bahn and S-Bahn stop; Karlsplatz (Stachus) and Sendlinger Tor are useful alternatives when Marienplatz is packed. For areas to stay, see where to stay in Munich.

St Nicholas customs elsewhere in Bavaria

If you want the older, village version, the Berchtesgaden area in the far south-east of Bavaria is the best-documented. According to the Berchtesgaden tourist office, figures in fur and straw called Buttnmandl and Kramperl go around the villages with St Nicholas. Its published pattern is:

• First Sunday of Advent (29 November in 2026): a Buttnmandl run in Loipl.

• Second Sunday of Advent (6 December in 2026): a run in Winkl.

• 5 December, after dark: visits in many villages across the Berchtesgadener Land.

• 5 December: the Bundeswehr St Nicholas procession, held since 1962, from the mountain infantry barracks in Strub/Bischofswiesen into Berchtesgaden, with Buttnmandl, Kramperl and angels. This is the public one that draws spectators.

• Christmas Eve afternoon: a run in Maria Gern.

The tourist office is clear that most of this is a private tradition, with families visited at home, not a show. Watch from the roadside, do not follow groups to houses, and ask before photographing anyone without a mask. It had not published 2026 times when we checked, so confirm with the Berchtesgaden tourist information before you travel.

Many more Krampus and Perchten runs take place just over the border in Salzburg and Tyrol, which is where most of Munich's guest groups come from. Our day trips from Munich guide covers the rail links south.

Planning a December weekend around it

With the parade on Sunday 13 December, a Friday-to-Sunday trip works well: markets on Friday and Saturday, the Krampuslauf on Sunday afternoon. Remember that shops in Germany are closed on Sundays, though the Christkindlmarkt itself opens.

Book central hotels early for that weekend; Advent Saturdays are the busiest days at Munich's markets. Munich is also an easy base for a wider loop: see our Europe Christmas markets planner and, for the food at the stalls and beyond, what to eat in Munich.

For the city itself, our Munich guide covers the sights, and how many days in Munich helps size the trip.

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