Lachen auf Banz

Comedy and Kabarett Open-Air in a Baroque Monastery Setting

Lachen auf Banz is the annual comedy and kabarett evening on the Klosterwiese meadow of Kloster Banz, above Bad Staffelstein. The evening is hosted by Michl Müller, who guides the program as moderator and host. The venue is one of the most impressive open-air stages in Franconia: in front of the baroque monastery complex of Banz with its twin towers, overlooking the Staffelberg and the Maintal valley, in the district of Lichtenfels (Upper Franconia, Bavaria).

Star-Studded Lineup of the Franconian-Bavarian Comedy Scene

Lachen auf Banz regularly brings together the most important names in the Franconian-Bavarian kabarett and comedy scene. Regular guests include Heißmann & Rassau (Frankenfernsehen, »Fastnacht in Franken«), Luise Kinseher (Mama Bavaria at Nockherberg), Wolfgang Krebs (Söder, Aiwanger, and Stoiber parodies), Mirja Regensburg, Oti Schmelzer, and for several years now, Sara Brandhuber. Host Michl Müller, himself one of the most successful comedy artists from Lower Franconia, provides the moderating framework.

Family-Friendly Open-Air Atmosphere

The evening takes place on the Klosterwiese meadow. Guests sit on meadow spots or in a grandstand, many bring picnic blankets. Regional gastronomy provides Franconian specialties and drinks. Unlike a classic comedy club, it creates a relaxed festival atmosphere, echoing the tradition of the long-established event »Lieder auf Banz«.

Between Lieder auf Banz and Monastery Experience

Lachen auf Banz sees itself as a complement to the concert series »Lieder auf Banz« (July 3–4, 2026). Both events together form the Klosterwiesen Weekends, a Franconian cultural brand on the Upper Main. Visitors to Lachen auf Banz often combine the evening with a visit to the baroque monastery church of St. Petrus and Dionysius and a hike to the neighboring Staffelberg, the "holy mountain of the Franconians.".

Organizers and Tradition

Lachen auf Banz is organized by the Bürger- und Tourist-Information Bad Staffelstein in cooperation with Michl Müller and his artist agency. In just a few years, the evening has become one of the most important comedy dates in the Franconian summer – an open-air event where punchlines are carried up from the valley and the monastery towers serve as silent listeners.