When does the Gau Festival in Marquartstein take place?

The festive Sunday is on July 26, 2026. It starts at 9:00 AM with the reception of the associations in the festival tent.

Where is the festival grounds?

The event location is the festival tent in Marquartstein at the power plant on Staudacher Straße, 83250 Marquartstein.

What is the entrance fee?

Entry is free, the event is free of charge.

What is included in the program?

The festive Sunday includes the reception of the associations, church procession, festive service, lunch with brass music and honorary dances, as well as the large traditional costume parade.

How many visitors are expected?

According to the organizers, around 4,000 traditional costume wearers and guests are expected.

Is camping available on the grounds?

There are no confirmed details available in the verified sources.

Marquartstein celebrates tradition: The grand Gau Festival brings music, traditional costumes, and community

Name: GTEV Grabenstätt: Gau Festival of the Chiemgau Alpine Association in Marquartstein 2026
Start: 2026-07-26T11:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-27T01:59:59+02:00
Location: Festzelt Marquartstein am Heizkraftwerk

Gau Festival in Marquartstein: When traditional costumes, brass music, and community shape the summer

On July 26, 2026, Marquartstein will become the heartbeat of the Chiemgau Alpine Association. The 88th Gau Festival celebrates 100 years of the Gau's founding and brings traditional costume wearers, families, and guests together for a grand festive Sunday. In the festival tent in Marquartstein at the power plant, living tradition meets vibrant festival atmosphere, festive music, and a true multi-day experience in the Achental valley.

A festival with history, attitude, and a sense of home

The Chiemgau Alpine Association organizes the Gau Festival 2026 together with the G.T.E.V. Marquartstein-Piesenhausen. The organizers officially announce the date as a central anniversary event for the 100th anniversary of the association. The festive Sunday is seen as the highlight of the festival week: receptions of the associations, church procession, festive service, large traditional costume parade, and brass music shape the day and make the Gau Festival a culturally deeply rooted gathering place for the region.

What visitors can expect on festive Sunday

From 8:00 AM, the arriving associations will be welcomed in the festival tent. The church procession will start moving at 9:30 AM, followed by the festive service at 10:00 AM, and the large traditional costume parade will proceed through Marquartstein from 2:00 PM. Around 4,000 traditional costume wearers and guests are expected. In addition, there will be honorary dances, music from bands, and the special atmosphere of a festival that focuses not on effects, but on authenticity, community, and the unmistakable rhythm of traditional costume culture.

Festival atmosphere between the festival tent and the parade

Those who experience the Gau Festival live will quickly feel: This is not just about a program, but about a lively sense of community. The festival tent at the power plant becomes a stage for encounters, and the location itself becomes a backdrop for traditional costumes, music, and moving images. Particularly in the interplay of the church procession, festive service, and parade, a rare mix of contemplation, celebratory joy, and regional identity emerges.

Music, sound, and living tradition

With the Marquartstein music band, several brass bands, and the Berchtesgaden boys, the festive Sunday features a strong musical line-up in the spirit of Bavarian festive culture. The program points are tightly scheduled but never hectic. This is exactly what creates the special allure of a Gau Festival: clear festival organization, traditional processes, and an audience that consciously savors the moment.

Conclusion: A must-attend event for traditional costume fans and festival lovers

The Gau Festival of the Chiemgau Alpine Association in Marquartstein combines homeland, music, and customs into an impressive festive day with great radiance. Those who want to experience tradition not only in sight but also in feeling will witness one of the most important cultural festivals in the region live here. A visit is worthwhile for everyone seeking genuine festival atmosphere with regional character.