Name: St. John's Raft Procession Wolfratshausen 2026
Start: 2026-05-17T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-17T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Altstadt Wolfratshausen / Alte Floßlände

St. John's Raft Procession

About St. John's Raft Procession

The St. John's Raft Procession in Wolfratshausen is a unique custom found nowhere else in the world: only every three years, festively decorated rafts illuminated with lights glide over the Isar at nightfall – accompanied by torches, bonfires, and music. The procession honors Saint John Nepomuk, the patron saint of raftsmen, boatmen, and bridges. In the Upper Bavarian district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, the international town of raftsmen thus preserves a centuries-old tradition, which was revived in 1994 based on a historical model from 1910 and draws hundreds of visitors to the atmospherically lit old town.

Dates 17 May — 17 May 2026

Venue Wolfratshausen (09173)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

St. John's Raft Procession — edition 2026

After a multi-year break, the St. John's Raft Procession returns to Wolfratshausen on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Starting at 7 p.m., a service will be held in front of St. Andreas, followed by a concert at Marienplatz, and at nightfall, the nocturnal raft procession with raft blessing at the Old Raft Landing Stage.

The St. John's Raft Procession 2026 will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, following the historical schedule from 1910. At 7 p.m., the solemn service in honor of Saint John Nepomuk begins in front of St. Andreas Church. From 8 p.m., the Beuerberg Music Band will play a concert at Marienplatz; together with the Wolfratshausen Town Band, they will provide musical accompaniment for the event. At nightfall, the traditional costume and heritage associations will proceed to the Old Raft Landing Stage, illuminated by torches and bonfires, where the decorated rafts of Wolfratshausen's rafting businesses will be blessed before the nocturnal raft procession on the Isar begins.

Highlights St. John's Raft Procession 2026

Unique nocturnal raft procession, worldwide
Festively decorated and illuminated rafts on the Isar
Torch and bonfire illumination of the Old Raft Landing Stage
Raft blessing by both denominations
Musical accompaniment by two bands

Programme St. John's Raft Procession 2026

Sunday, May 17, 2026

7:00 PM: Solemn service in front of St. Andreas in honor of St. John Nepomuk
8:00 PM: Concert by the Beuerberg Music Band at Marienplatz
At nightfall: Procession of traditional costume and heritage associations to the Old Raft Landing Stage
Solemn raft blessing by Catholic and Protestant clergy
Nocturnal raft procession on the Isar

Prices St. John's Raft Procession 2026

The procession and the entire supporting program are free and open to the public.

Practical information

Practical information — St. John's Raft Procession

Getting There

Wolfratshausen is located about 30 km south of Munich and is easily accessible by the S-Bahn S7 (terminus Wolfratshausen). By car via the B11 / B2; limited parking is to be expected in the old town.

Admission

The procession and the supporting program are freely accessible.

Tip

The procession only begins at nightfall. Secure a spot along the Isar or at the Old Raft Landing Stage early; warm clothing is recommended.

A Custom Unique Worldwide

The St. John's Raft Procession in Wolfratshausen, the district town in Upper Bavaria's Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district, is an event unique in this form worldwide. The nocturnal procession takes place only every three years, during which festively decorated rafts from Wolfratshausen's rafting businesses glide over the Isar – an impressive spectacle of light, water, and living tradition.

Honoring Saint John Nepomuk

The procession honors Saint John Nepomuk, the patron saint of raftsmen, boatmen, and bridges. At 7 p.m., a solemn service is held in his honor in front of St. Andreas Church. Afterwards, the Wolfratshausen traditional costume and heritage associations proceed to the Old Raft Landing Stage, atmospherically illuminated with torches and bonfires, where Catholic and Protestant clergy will solemnly bless the decorated rafts.

Tradition Since 1910

The roots of the custom reach far back: the procession last took place in Wolfratshausen in 1910 before the town revived it in 1994 based on a historical model. Rafting on the Isar and Loisach rivers is recognized as intangible cultural heritage – Wolfratshausen sees itself as an international town of raftsmen, where this craft and its customs are kept alive to this day.

Atmosphere in the Old Town

Service in front of St. Andreas in honor of St. John Nepomuk
Concert at Marienplatz with the Beuerberg Music Band and the Wolfratshausen Town Band
Torch and bonfire illumination of the Old Raft Landing Stage
Raft blessing and nocturnal raft procession on the Isar

This unique event draws hundreds of visitors to Wolfratshausen's old town and is closely linked to the town's identity.