88th Gaufest of the Chiemgau Alpine Association
Anniversary Celebration for the 100th Anniversary of the Chiemgau Alpine Association
About Gaufest Marquartstein 2026
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A Century of the Chiemgau Alpine Association
The Gaufest is the most important festival of the Chiemgau Alpine Association — the umbrella organization of the Upper Bavarian traditional costume and heritage clubs in the Chiemgau region. Founded in 1926, the association celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. The anniversary Gaufest is hosted by the 'Schwalbenstoaner' Marquartstein-Piesenhausen Mountain Traditional Costume Preservation Club, which also celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. A double anniversary that will be celebrated in Marquartstein for eleven days.
Where Traditional Costume is Not Folklore, but Everyday Life
The Chiemgau is one of the regions in Bavaria with the strongest tradition of traditional costumes. The clubs — over 80 in the Chiemgau Alpine Association — preserve Schuhplattler, Dirndldrahn (a traditional women's dance), Goassl-Schnoiza (whip cracking), regional traditional costumes (Joppen, Lederhosen, Miederdirndl), and folk music. At the Gaufest, around 4,000 members of these clubs, plus guest clubs from Tyrol, Salzburg, and all of Upper Bavaria, will perform — Schuhplattler competitions, Dirndldrahn competitions, festival parades, heritage evenings.
Program Highlights 2026
- July 23 — Beer Tapping: Opening with a traditional beer tapping ceremony
- July 24 — Gaudirndldrahn: Competition in the traditional Dirndldrahn dance
- July 25 — Gauheimatabend: Grand heritage evening with traditional costume groups, music, dance
- July 26 — Festival Sunday: The big day with reception from 8:00 AM, procession to the music pavilion (9:30 AM), festival service (10:00 AM), traditional costume parade through Marquartstein at 2:00 PM — with around 4,000 participants in traditional costume
- July 28 — Concert: Munich Philharmonic in the festival tent
- July 30 — Cabaret: Martina Schwarzmann (a cult cabaret artist from the Chiemgau region)
- August 2 — Finale: Gauschuhplattler competition and Goassl-Schnoiza competition
Festival Tent at the Heating Plant
The large festival tent is located at the heating plant in Marquartstein — Marquartstein is situated in the Achental valley between Lake Chiemsee and the Tyrolean border, at the foot of the Hochplatte and Kampenwand mountains. The main supplier Auerbräu Rosenheim provides the beer, and my VR Bank is a sponsor. Admission to the festival tent is free (except for special events like the Philharmonic concert and Schwarzmann cabaret, which require tickets).
What You Should Know If You Come
If you want to experience authentic Bavaria away from Munich and Oktoberfest, the Gaufest is the perfect place. Here, traditional costume is not a costume, but a way of life. You should definitely not miss Festival Sunday with the grand parade — it is considered one of the most beautiful traditional costume parades in Bavaria. Marquartstein itself is a climatic health resort with about 3,500 inhabitants; during the Gaufest, the town will be bursting at the seams.
Gaufest Marquartstein 2026 — edition 2026
The 2026 Gaufest in Marquartstein is one of the most important traditional costume festivals in Upper Bavaria. In the festival tent at the heating plant, eleven days of events from the entire spectrum of Upper Bavarian tradition will take place: beer tapping, Dirndldrahn competition, heritage evening, festival service, grand traditional costume parade with 4,000 participants on festival Sunday, Schuhplattler and Goassl competitions at the finale.
Between the classic program points, the association is setting up high-caliber special events in 2026: a concert by musicians from the Munich Philharmonic on July 28 and a performance by the Chiemgau cabaret artist Martina Schwarzmann on July 30. The main sponsor is Auerbräu Rosenheim. Admission to the festival tent is free (special events require tickets).
Programme Gaufest Marquartstein 2026 2026
Thursday, July 23 — Opening
- Beer tapping and festive opening in the festival tent
Friday, July 24 — Gaudirndldrahn
- Competition in the traditional Dirndldrahn dance
Saturday, July 25 — Gauheimatabend
- Grand heritage evening with traditional costume groups, folk music, dance
Sunday, July 26 — Festival Sunday (Highlight)
- 8:00 AM — Reception of the clubs at the festival tent with musical accompaniment
- 9:30 AM — Procession to the music pavilion
- 10:00 AM — Festival service
- 2:00 PM — Grand traditional costume parade through Marquartstein with approx. 4,000 participants in traditional costume, accompanied by 'Brandseck Musi' and 'Viaschupf Musi'
Tuesday, July 28
- Concert by the Munich Philharmonic in the festival tent (special event, tickets required)
Thursday, July 30
- Cabaret with Martina Schwarzmann (special event, tickets required)
Sunday, August 2 — Finale
- Gauschuhplattler competition
- Goassl-Schnoiza competition
- Crafts market
Program details and tickets at trachtenverein-marquartstein.de/gaufest-2026.
Highlights Gaufest Marquartstein 2026 2026
- Grand traditional costume parade on Festival Sunday, July 26, with approx. 4,000 participants in traditional costume from Chiemgau, Tyrol, and Salzburg
- Concert by musicians from the Munich Philharmonic on July 28
- Martina Schwarzmann cabaret on July 30
- Double anniversary: 100 years of the Chiemgau Alpine Association and 100 years of GTEV Marquartstein-Piesenhausen
- Gauschuhplattler competition and Goassl competition on the final day
Prices Gaufest Marquartstein 2026 2026
Admission to the festival tent is free. Tickets for special events (Munich Philharmonic, Martina Schwarzmann) are available separately via the official festival website trachtenverein-marquartstein.de.
Practical information — Gaufest Marquartstein 2026
Getting There
By train to Bernau am Chiemsee or Übersee, then a bus connection to Marquartstein. By car via the A8 motorway (exit Bernau am Chiemsee), then the B305 into the Achental valley.
Parking
Parking spaces are available at the festival tent at the heating plant; during peak times, a shuttle service from neighboring towns will be available — information on the official festival website.
Admission
Festival tent admission is free (except for special events). Tickets for the Philharmonic concert and Martina Schwarzmann cabaret are available separately via the official website.
Accommodation
Marquartstein and its surroundings offer inns, guesthouses, and holiday apartments, but capacity is very limited during the Gaufest — book well in advance. Alternatively: Bernau (10 km), Prien (15 km), Rosenheim (30 km).
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Gaufest Marquartstein 2026 al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Gaufest Marquartstein 2026
Festzelt Marquartstein am Heizkraftwerk
Festzelt am Heizkraftwerk, 83250 Marquartstein