Bavaria loves and lives its customs—from Krampus to the Schäffler dances to the numerous folk festivals, our state celebrates its traditions. A particularly beautiful custom is the Tutzing Fishermen’s Wedding, which is celebrated only once every five years. In 2026, it’s that time again, and you can look forward to the grand festival. This year, the event will last a full five days and, in addition to the wedding itself, will feature catering in the festival tent for the first time.
A Young Tradition
Unlike other Bavarian and Pre-Alpine traditions, some of which date back centuries, the Fishermen’s Wedding is relatively young. It was first held in 1929 and is intended to commemorate Tutzing’s origins as a fishing village. Initially, it was held at irregular intervals before organizers agreed on a five-year cycle.
The actual wedding celebration lasts two days and tells the story of Michael Gröber, the farmer’s son, and Veronika Bierbichler, the fisherman’s daughter. Michael returns from the Russian campaign during the Napoleonic Wars and marries his Veronika on the shore of the lake. You won’t just be listeners to the story—you’ll become part of it, joining the wedding party.
The association is deeply committed to ensuring the most immersive experience possible. For weeks , the participants rehearse their dances and put together their costumes. Everything is meant to look as authentic as possible and not come across as mere costume play. The festival is elaborately staged with a great deal of passion to bring history to life for you.
The Fishermen’s Wedding Program
This year, the Fishermen’s Wedding begins on Wednesday, July 22, and runs through Sunday, July 26. For the first time, there will be catering in the beer tent, where you can look forward to an evening program. On Wednesday, Luise Kinseher will have you laughing with her “Best Of” show, and on Thursday, LaBrassBanda will have you dancing. Friday stays musical when Sašo Avsenik & his Oberkrainer take the stage.
On Saturday, the pre-wedding party kicks off the actual wedding. A brass band will play in front of the Gröbberhof starting at 4 p.m., where the bride will later arrive on the Kuchlwagen. There will be dancing until 10 p.m., when the night watchman arrives. At the same time, dancing will also take place in the festival tent. The next day, you can look forward to the grand finale, when the decorated boats sail across Lake Starnberg and the bride and groom are married.
Look forward to a weekend filled with a heartwarming story, a parade, a banquet, music, dancing, and of course, plenty of fun! You can attend the wedding and the pre-wedding party for free, but you’ll need tickets for the evening program from Wednesday through Friday. You can also reserve a table for the banquet in the tent.
📍 Location: Tutzing
📅 Dates: Wednesday, July 22, through Sunday, July 26
