kultURKNALL Festival Murnau
Benefit festival at the Staffelsee – culture, concerts, and children's program for 'Menschen Helfen e.V.'
About kultURKNALL
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Benefit Festival Since 1994
The kultURKNALL Festival was founded in 1994 as a benefit event by the association Menschen Helfen e.V. in Murnau am Staffelsee. Since then, it has taken place annually on the last school holiday weekend in July. Unlike traditional festivals, the artists do not receive a fee; all proceeds go directly to the association's aid projects, which support, among other things, a child care center in the Republic of Moldova – one of the poorest countries in Europe. In 2025, the festival's net proceeds exceeded €46,000.
Program Profile: Concerts, Theater, Circus, Culinary Delights
The program is intentionally diverse and consistently avoids any genre definition. Bands from folk, jazz, rock, and classical music alternate on stage – in 2025, artists like Willy Michl, Danger Ank, and several jazz ensembles performed. Additionally, there are readings, poetry contributions, circus productions (e.g., Zirkus Jaloschum), folk dance, and spoken word formats. In the middle of the festival, there is a separate 'Kraemergasse' (market lane) with a market and culinary character.
Children's Program – kultURKNALL for Kids
The 'kultURKNALL for Children' is a distinct program strand: its own stages, its own theater and fairy tale formats (e.g., Bauer Sepps Märchenbühne), craft activities, and children's cultural workshops. This positions the festival as a truly intergenerational event – not an adult festival with a children's corner.
Reading Hall, Staffelsee, and Rotating Venues
The venue is a rotating festival site in the Murnau / Seehausen am Staffelsee area. In 2025, the historic Lesehalle (reading hall) was the focal point, featuring readings, book corners, and a reading lounge. Murnau/Seehausen is again the venue for 2026.
Murnau am Staffelsee
Murnau am Staffelsee is located in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Upper Bavaria, on the southern edge of the Staffelsee lake between the Murnauer Moos and the Alps. The town became known through the artist group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) around Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter. kultURKNALL builds on this cultural tradition – with a program that combines regional artist scenes and the association's international aid orientation.
kultURKNALL — edition 2026
Festival 2026 – July 25 and 26
kultURKNALL 2026 is scheduled for the weekend of July 25 to 26, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM each day. The venue is again Murnau/Seehausen am Staffelsee. The festival thus follows the tradition maintained since 1994 of taking place on the last school holiday weekend in July.
In terms of content, the 2026 edition builds on the format successfully tested in previous years: concerts with bands from folk, jazz, rock, and crossover genres, theater and circus productions, readings, a 'Kraemergasse' with culinary stalls, plus the independent program strand 'kultURKNALL for Children' with theater, fairy tales, and craft activities. Applications from bands are possible via [email protected].
Programme kultURKNALL 2026
Program Framework 2026
The complete lineup of bands and theater performances will be announced shortly before the festival on kulturknall.de and on Facebook. Based on the festival's established program structure, the following program levels are expected in 2026:
- Saturday, July 25, 2026, 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Concerts (Folk, Jazz, Rock, Crossover), Readings, Theater, Circus
- Sunday, July 26, 2026, 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Continuation of the program, regional bands, folk dance, closing concert
- On both days: Separate strand 'kultURKNALL for Children' with theater, fairy tale stage, interactive workshops
- On both days: Kraemergasse with arts and crafts, regional specialties, food, and drinks
Participants
- All artists perform free of charge
- Around 100 volunteers organize the festival
- 100% of the proceeds go to the projects of Menschen Helfen e.V. (including the Moldova child care center)
Highlights kultURKNALL 2026
- Benefit festival – 100% of proceeds for Menschen Helfen e.V.
- Up to 6,000 visitors expected
- Independent program strand 'kultURKNALL for Children'
- Rotating venues around Murnau and the Staffelsee
- 'Kraemergasse' with arts and crafts and regional specialties
- Established since 1994 – a fixed date in the Upper Bavarian festival calendar
Prices kultURKNALL 2026
Ticket prices and day passes will be published on the festival website. The festival is explicitly designed as a benefit event – donations welcome.
Practical information — kultURKNALL
Getting There
Murnau am Staffelsee is located on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen railway line (approx. 75 minutes from Munich Hbf). By car, take the A95 (Munich–Garmisch) exit Murnau. Parking is available near the town.
Admission and Donations
Admission is usually tiered by day/package pass. 100% of the proceeds go to the association Menschen Helfen e.V. – the festival is explicitly designed as a benefit event.
Get Involved
Applications as a band/artist for the coming years can be sent to [email protected]. Volunteers (around 100 per festival) are always welcome.
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Travel to this festival
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