Ulmer Nabada

Schwörmontag — Ulm's Most Important Day

Schwörmontag is the most important day of the year for Ulm's citizens — more important than Christmas Eve, they say here. Since 1397, the mayor has publicly sworn in the market square to "be a common man to the rich and the poor alike" — an almost 630-year-old civic constitution. Date: every year the second-to-last Monday in July. 2026: Monday, July 20, 2026. The oath in the morning, and in the afternoon, what the people of Ulm love most: the Nabada.

"Nabada" — Swabian for "Bathing Down"

"Nabada" is Ulm's Swabian dialect and literally means "bathing down." The ritual: Ulm's clubs build themed boats — historical wooden barges, decorated rafts, decorated barges. On these boats, satirical scenes are staged: current political topics — from federal politics to local disputes — are satirized with wit and sharp humor. Comparable to the Karneval floats in Cologne or Düsseldorf, only they float on water.

The Route — About 7 Kilometers of Danube

Start: Friedrichsau, Ulm's city park east of the center. Finish: the Donaufenster in the city center. In between, about 7 kilometers of the Danube, on whose banks tens of thousands of spectators follow the spectacle. The boats drift slowly — the Danube is typically calm in July — and the spectacle lasts for several hours. Bands play live on the music ships, and the audience votes via ballot — the best music ship wins in the end.

"Water Rats" and Individual Guests

In addition to the official club boats, there are hundreds of "water rats" — private individuals who build self-made raft vehicles from beer barrels, wooden planks, and truck tires and drift down the Danube independently. The atmosphere on the water is legendary: water fun, splashing each other, high-level beer consumption, applications for "most beautiful water rat of the year." Tourists who want to participate can do so — the Danube is open.

Tradition and Ulm Identity

The Nabada is more than a folk festival — it is the expression of Ulm's identity. The combination of the oath (loyalty to the city) and satire (criticism of those in power) makes Schwörmontag unique. Afterwards, the festival spreads into the Friedrichsau and across the old town, with live music in pubs and squares until late into the night. Anyone who wants to experience the Danube festival in its purest form should definitely be in Ulm on Schwörmontag.