Krampusnacht and Krampus in Bavaria

Krampusnacht, Krampus Night, falls on 5 December, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, and it is a fixture of Advent in the Alpine region. In the Alps and southern Bavaria the kind bishop who brings nuts and sweets does not travel alone: at his side walks the Krampus, a shaggy, horned figure with chains, bells and a switch. This page explains who the Krampus is, how Krampusnacht is kept, how he differs from the Perchten, and when the big Krampus run through Munich's old town takes place in 2026.

What is Krampusnacht?

St. Nicholas Day is 6 December, and in the Alpine countries the celebrations start the evening before. Austria's national tourist board says the celebrations begin on 5 December, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, and that Krampus parades fill the streets in the nights around that date. In the old telling, well-behaved children got gifts and naughty ones a scolding from the Krampus, but Munich's Krampus groups see themselves as fun-loving devils that you may admire and even touch.

Where the name comes from is not settled. The Salzburg tourist office says it is said to refer to the creature's claws. Our German page on St. Nicholas and Krampus describes the house visits, the regional names and the masks in more detail.

Krampus or Percht? Two different figures

At a Krampus run you will see masks that look almost the same, but folklore separates two characters.

• Krampus: the devil-like companion of St. Nicholas, at home in Advent. According to the city of Munich, his mask has two horns.
• Percht: a figure of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps whose name probably goes back to Perchta, a woman of legend. Perchten traditionally appear in the Rauhnächte, which the Salzburg tourist office counts from the winter solstice on 21 December to Epiphany on 6 January; other counts start on 25 December. Their masks carry four to ten horns, and in the old interpretation they drive out winter.

Perchten come in two kinds: the "good" Schönperchten and the "bad" Schiachperchten, whose carved masks are especially frightening. The Salzburg tourist office notes that the folklore revival of the 20th century blurred the line between Krampus and Percht, so that mixed Krampusperchten emerged, and Perchten runs now take place throughout December. A group of masked runners is called a Pass. More on the season of the Perchten is on our German pages Krampus and Perchten and the Rauhnächte.

Krampus run Munich 2026: date and route

Munich's big Krampus run, the Krampuslauf, takes place on the third Sunday of Advent. In 2026 that is Sunday, 13 December, from 3 to 5 p.m. It is free; you simply find a spot along the route.

• Start: line-up on Augustinerstraße by Frauenplatz
• Route: Kaufingerstraße, Färbergraben, Rosental, Sendlinger Straße, Dultstraße, Oberanger, Rindermarkt and Petersplatz to the Viktualienmarkt
• Finish: in front of the Old Town Hall
• Participants: more than 300 Krampus, Perchten and Klaus figures in about 25 groups
• Organizers: the city's Department of Labor and Economic Development together with Munich's Krampus group Sparifankerl-Pass

The route runs through the pedestrian zone and past the Christmas market on Marienplatz, and the organizer says the parade draws up to 50,000 spectators. The guest groups come from Bavaria, the Allgäu, Salzburg, Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria and South Tyrol. St. Nicholas himself traditionally brings up the rear.

The costumes are serious craftsmanship. According to the city, a complete outfit costs between 1,800 and 2,500 euros, and a single carved mask can weigh a good ten kilograms (about 22 pounds).

A young parade with old roots

Wild figures on Munich's streets are nothing new. In the 16th century, so the city reports, pupils, cantors and schoolmasters from the parishes of the Frauenkirche and St. Peter dressed up as bishops and roamed the town as so-called Klabaufs, causing such a stir that the authorities had to step in. After that the custom fell silent for a long time. The modern run is recent: the first one crossed the Christmas market on 12 December 2004, with about 100 figures in fur and wooden masks. Today roughly three times as many take part.

Tips for watching the Krampus run

• Arrive early. Tens of thousands come, and the front row fills quickly in the narrow streets.
• Pick one spot. If you want to see every group, stay put instead of following the parade; it takes a while for everyone to pass.
• Prepare small children. The figures are harmless but big and loud. With toddlers, stand a little further back.
• Expect contact. The runners rattle their bells, tussle a little and sometimes snatch a hat, which you get back. They are also happy to pose for photos.
• Combine it with the market. The Christkindlmarkt stays open until 8 p.m. on Sundays. If you have a Glühwein afterward, keep it moderate, and skip it if you are driving. Our Gluhwein guide also has an alcohol-free punch.

Where else to see Krampus and Perchten

In Munich, the Christmas market at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden has Perchten appearances and visits from St. Nicholas on selected days. Outside the city, the Kirchseeon Perchten run has been added to Bavaria's state register of intangible cultural heritage. For the Alpine originals, Austria is the classic destination: its tourist board singles out the Gastein Valley, with about 100 Krampus groups. A short history of other Bavarian winter customs is collected under all topics.