Sennfeld Peace Festival
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage – historic peace festival since 1649
About Sennfeld Peace Festival
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A Festival of Peace since 1649
The Sennfeld Peace Festival dates back to 1649. It commemorates the re-attainment of imperial immediacy and the right to free Protestant worship after the end of the Thirty Years' War and the Peace of Westphalia. The tradition began with "singing, making music, preaching, and dancing" to give thanks for peace and regained independence.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Since 2016, the Sennfeld Peace Festival has been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage – in the category "Social practices, rituals and festive events". It preserves values such as freedom, faith, justice, and civic responsibility that have shaped the once imperial-free village since the Middle Ages.
The Traditional Festival Program
The festival spans several days around the first Sunday in September. On Saturday, a pine tree about 30 meters high is erected by hand in front of the parish church. On Sunday, a church service, the "Planrede", and the "Plantanz" with waltzes, Rheinländer, Schottische, and Franconian dances follow. From Monday to Tuesday, dancing continues in festive attire, and "Ständele" (serenades) are performed at the residents' houses. The following Sunday, the "Nachkirchweih" concludes the festival.
Connected with Gochsheim
The neighboring town of Gochsheim celebrates an almost identical peace festival at the same time. The main difference: In Gochsheim, a special "Kirchweihkuchen" (festival cake) is publicly presented by young men, and the Franconian festive attire is not customary there. Both festivals foster community identity and bring former residents back to the village.
Sennfeld near Schweinfurt
Sennfeld is located in the Schweinfurt district in Lower Franconia, directly on the Main River. As a formerly imperial-free village, it has preserved its special character over centuries. The Peace Festival is its most important cultural event – a living piece of German peace history, comparable only to the Augsburg Peace Festival.
Sennfeld Peace Festival — edition 2026
Sennfeld Peace Festival 2026
The Peace Festival 2026 will take place around the first Sunday in September – the main celebration is on September 6th. Confirmed via the official website of the municipality of Sennfeld and unesco.de (Sennfeld and Gochsheim Peace Festivals). The nearby town of Gochsheim celebrates at the same time.
What Visitors Can Expect
The erection of the approximately 30 m high pine tree by hand on Saturday, followed by a church service, the Planrede, and the Plantanz in Franconian festive attire with waltzes, Rheinländer, and Schottische on Sunday, and further dances and Ständele on Monday/Tuesday. The Nachkirchweih on the following Sunday concludes the festival.
Programme Sennfeld Peace Festival 2026
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Erection of a pine tree approximately 30 meters high by hand in front of the parish church
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — Main Festival Day
- Festive church service
- Planrede (historic festival speech)
- Plantanz in Franconian festive attire: Waltzes, Rheinländer, Schottische, and Franconian dances
Monday–Tuesday, September 7–8, 2026
- Further dances in festive attire
- Ständele (serenades) at the residents' houses
Following Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Nachkirchweih as the festival conclusion
Information according to UNESCO (Sennfeld and Gochsheim Peace Festivals) and the municipality of Sennfeld. Exact times will be published by the municipality of Sennfeld before the festival.
Highlights Sennfeld Peace Festival 2026
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2016
- Manual erection of the 30-meter pine tree (Saturday)
- Plantanz in Franconian festive attire (Sunday)
- Planrede and Ständele
- Historic peace festival since 1649
Prices Sennfeld Peace Festival 2026
Admission to the Peace Festival is free; food and drinks are available for purchase.
Practical information — Sennfeld Peace Festival
Getting There
Alter Dorfgerichtsplatz, 97526 Sennfeld, Schweinfurt district. By car via the B26 / state roads from Schweinfurt. By train: Schweinfurt station, then bus to Sennfeld.
Admission
Admission to the Peace Festival is free; food and drinks are available for purchase.
Tips
The Plantanz in Franconian festive attire on Sunday is the highlight for visitors. Detailed program available from the municipality of Sennfeld (sennfeld.de). The neighboring town of Gochsheim celebrates a related peace festival at the same time.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Sennfeld Peace Festival
Alter Dorfgerichtsplatz Sennfeld
Alter Dorfgerichtsplatz, 97526 Sennfeld