until February 15h to 17th, all date Munich Coopers' Dance 2026

Traditional Munich Coopers' Dance during Carnival - one of Bavaria's oldest traditions

For 500 years, the coopers have danced every seven years during Carnival season - here are all the locations and dates for the coming days

Until February 17, 2026, you can see the Munich coopers dancing in a different part of the city every day - a must-see for anyone who wants to experience Bavaria and its traditions - (Deutsch, English, Italiano, Français)

Munich. From January 6 (Epiphany) until Shrove Tuesday on February 17, 2026, the Munich coopers will travel through the city by coach. The 500-year-old coopers' dance is part of Munich's quintessential Bavarian customs and is a tradition that can be seen again this year. It is the guild dance of the coopers (barrel makers and barrel makers), who turn and dance to music in prescribed figures. The history of the Schäffler dance during Carnival: The Schäffler dancers in Munich perform every seven years during Carnival; this year, after 2019, it would be the year 2026. But exceptions prove the rule: the coopers' dance tradition celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2017, and so the custom was allowed to be observed during Carnival season that year as well. The coopers' guild has been proud of its profession since the Middle Ages, and its traditional costume has become a uniform-like trademark. The coopers' dance relief above the plague dragon – the Lindwurm on the corner of Munich's town hall – points to the reason for the dance: to prevent the plague from returning, the coopers dance every seven years – because in the Middle Ages, waves of plague repeatedly swept through Munich.

Schäffler Dance relief above the Plague Dragon - the Lindwurm at the Wurmeck of Munich City Hall, Copyright: Helga Waess

THE SCHÄFFLER DANCE

At the head of the dance is either the jester, a kind of Punch and Judy character, followed by the lead dancer, the barrel swingers, and the hoop swingers with their wooden hoops. 

All information is available directly on the Schäffler website:

• schaefflertanzmuenchen.de

Dancing Schäffler figure at the Schäffler Corner at Marienhof, Photo: Helga Waess

Schäffler Dance dates in the coming days

Upcoming events of the Munich Schäffler

in Munich, Dachau, Herrsching am Ammersee, Lenggries, Unterschleißheim, Fürstenfeldbruck, Karlsfeld, Pullach im Isartal

Sonntag, 15.02.2026 - Münchner Schäfflertanz

09:45 Dorfstraße 1, 85221 Dachau (Pellheim)
 
12:00 Wasserburger Landstraße 32, 81825 München
 
14:00 Freihamer Allee 21, 81249 München

15:00 Frauenplatz 9, 80331 München
 
16:00 Viktualienmarkt 15, 80331 München
 
17:00 Kolomannstraße 29, 85737 Ismaning

 

Am Rathauseck wacht der Pestdrache bei den Schäfflern über den Christkindlmarkt auf dem Marienplatz, Foto: Helga Waess

 

Montag, 16.02.2026 - Münchner Schäfflertanz

11:00 Mariahilfplatz, 81541 München
 
12:00 Forstenrieder Allee 187, 81476 München
 
13:00 Innere Wiener Straße 19, 81667 München
 
14:00 Max-Joseph-Straße 4, 80333 München
 
15:00 Curt-Metzger-Platz 1, 80809 München
 
16:00 Schleißheimerstraße 506, 80993 München

17:00 Rotkreuzplatz, 80634 München

Dienstag, 17.02.2026 - Münchner Schäfflertanz

09:00 Flößergasse 4, 81369 München

11:00 Viktualienmarkt, 80331 München
 
13:00 Brienner Straße 18, 80333 München
 
15:00 Gartenstraße 7, 85757 Karlsfeld
 
16:00 Kirchplatz, 82049 Pullach im Isartal

18:30 Residenzstraße 1, 80333 München

Dancing cooper figure with a jug at the Coopers' Corner in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

Münchner Schäfflertanz - letzter Tanz der Saison 2026

Dienstag, 17.02.2026 - Münchner Schäfflertanz

21:00  Neuhauser Straße 27, 80331 München

Tanzende Schäfflerfigur am Schäffler-Eck in München, Foto: Helga Waess

Munich: January 6 to February 17, 2026: Munich Coopers' Dance

500 Years of the Coopers' Dance - Customs and Traditions in Munich

January 2026 - The coopers will perform seven times this week in Munich - here are some dates and the history of the coopers' dance during Carnival season

Performance of the dancing coopers: From January 6th to February 17th, 2026, the coopers' dance can once again be seen in public squares in Munich (Deutsch,  English, Français, Italiano)

The coopers in Munich perform every seven years during Carnival season; this year, after 2019, would be 2026. But exceptions prove the rule: the coopers' dance tradition celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2017, and so the custom was also celebrated during Carnival season that year. The coopers' guild has been proud of its profession since the Middle Ages, and its traditional costume has become a uniform-like trademark.

Schäffler dance relief above the plague dragon – the Lindwurm at the Wurmeck of Munich's City Hall, Copyright: Helga Waess

To prevent the plague from returning – because once every seven years, plague waves swept through Munich.

At the head of the dance is either the jester, a kind of Punch and Judy character, followed by the lead dancer, the barrel swingers, and the hoop swingers with their wooden hoops. All information is available directly from the Schäffler dancers: schaefflertanzmuenchen.de

Dancing Schäffler figures at the Schäffler Corner on Marienhof, Photo: Helga Waess

Schäffler Dance Dates in the Coming Days

Here we present selected dates in Munich where you can see the Schäffler dancers in the coming days:

• January 10, 12 noon, Marienplatz
• January 10, 1 p.m., Wittelsbacherplatz
• January 10, 2 p.m., Heimperthstraße 1 (Harthof)
• January 10, 3:30 p.m., Oertelplatz (Allach)
• January 11, 11:30 a.m., Bennigsenstraße (Bogenhausen)
• January 11, 4:30 p.m., Alter Messeplatz
• January 12, 6 p.m., Bavariaring
• January 14, 5 p.m., Münchner Freiheit
• January 15, 5 p.m., Willy-Brandt-Platz
• January 16, 2 p.m., Weißenburger Platz
• January 17, 9 a.m., Schweizer Platz
• January 17, 11 a.m., Alter Messeplatz
• January 17, 12 noon, Marienplatz
• January 17, 3 p.m., Terofalstraße 66

The coopers say: Subject to change!

Dancing cooper figure at the Schäffler Corner at Marienhof, Photo: Helga Waess

The dancing coopers

Wine glasses can be balanced in the wooden hoops. Many dance figures are reminiscent of the plague.

The 20 coopers currently parading through Munich dance four small circles, a snake, then the arbor with the wreaths, the cross, and the hoop swing in a sliding step. And then one cooper gives a speech.

Dancing cooper figures at the Schäffler Corner in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

The Schäffler Corner (Schäffler/Wein/Theatiner Street)

Here on Schäffler Street in Munich's Old Town, the coopers once had their workshops. In 1388, this street was also called Sporergasse. On the corner of the facade, two individual cooper figures in traditional dancing attire serve as house signs. Both figures were made in 1950 by the "Court Coppersmiths Ragaller."

Dancing cooper figures at the Schäffler Corner in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

Dancing cooper figure at the
Schäffler Corner in
Munich,
Photo: Helga Waess

The typical cooper's attire

It consists of black breeches, white knee-high stockings, and black shoes. Over the breeches, they wear a leather apron. Over a white shirt, they wear a red jacket with white trim and gold buttons. White gloves are optional. But the green cap with the white and blue feather plume is an absolute must.

Participating in the Schäffler dance was traditionally a great honor, reserved for guild members—mostly unmarried journeymen. Membership in the coopers' guild required an impeccable reputation. Master coopers and their sons did not participate.

From 1960 onward, dancers from other trades became important, simply to ensure the Schäffler dance tradition could continue.



 

The History of the Schäffler Dance

The coopers' dance has a long history in Munich and Old Bavaria. According to numerous accounts, the first appearance of the coopers in their breeches and red jackets was after the great plague epidemic of 1517. They encouraged the citizens to resume urban life and venture out again.

However, it has not been proven that the plague existed in Munich around 1517 (city records show no increased death rates during this period).

The Schäffler dance in Munich is only historically documented in written sources from 1702 onwards.

Dancing cooper figure with a jug at the Schäffler Corner in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

The coopers in the Munich Glockenspiel

In the Munich Town Hall tower, at roof level, is the famous Glockenspiel, which depicts the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V and Renate of Lorraine in 1568. The historical jousting tournament, which actually took place on Marienplatz to celebrate the wedding, is depicted in the 16-figure chime, as is the coopers' dance.

According to legend, the coopers were the first to parade through the streets of Munich after the great plague epidemic of the Middle Ages, announcing the end of the hardship.

Knights, the court marshal, the princely couple, and the coopers dance to the Munich Glockenspiel every day.

Dancing cooper figure at Schäffler-Eck in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

Cooper dance in Munich every seven years

The Duke himself is said to have established the seven-yearly performance, as he considered seven a lucky number.

Dancing cooper figure at Schäffler-Eck in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

Text and photos: Helga Waess