Event Details
Welcome to Drachenstich Furth im Wald 2026
From 31 July to 16 August 2026, the Bavarian town of Furth im Wald hosts Germany's oldest folk play. For more than 500 years, this legendary open-air theatre has brought the battle between knight and dragon to life. Twelve performances featuring around 350 amateur actors transport audiences back to the Middle Ages, set against the backdrop of the Hussite Wars. The star of the show is the mechanical dragon Tradinno: weighing 11 tonnes, measuring 16 metres in length and 5 metres in height, he holds a Guinness World Record as the largest four-legged walking robot in the world.
Highlights
- 12 performances from 31 July to 16 August 2026
- Mechanical dragon Tradinno, the world-record-holding robot
- Around 350 local amateur performers
- Knight couple 2026: Julia Baumann and Maximilian Wild
- Historic procession through the town on 9 August 2026
- Further Ritterspiele (jousting show) on 1 and 2 August 2026
- Historic children's festival on 15 and 16 August 2026
- Drachenstich fair with funfair from 8 to 17 August 2026
Program and Performance Dates 2026
All performances begin at 8:00 PM, with gates opening at approximately 7:00 PM. Each show runs for around two hours without an interval. Dress rehearsals take place on 29 and 30 July 2026.
- Premiere: Friday, 31 July 2026
- Saturday, 1 August 2026
- Sunday, 2 August 2026
- Thursday, 6 August 2026
- Friday, 7 August 2026
- Saturday, 8 August 2026
- Procession Sunday: Sunday, 9 August 2026
- Wednesday, 12 August 2026
- Thursday, 13 August 2026
- Friday, 14 August 2026
- Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Closing night: Sunday, 16 August 2026
The Further Ritterspiele jousting show takes place on 1 August (4:45 PM) and 2 August (1:30 PM), each lasting around 60 minutes. The historic children's festival with the Junior Drachenstich runs on 15 and 16 August.
The Folk Play: Story and History
The Drachenstich is rooted in the legend of St. George and the Dragon and traces its origins to the late Middle Ages. The current production by Alexander Etzel-Ragusa is set during the Hussite Wars and tells the timeless story of good versus evil. At its heart stands the mechanical dragon Tradinno, packed with cutting-edge electronics and spectacular special effects. Unlike other medieval events, the Drachenstich is genuine theatre: a fixed script, defined characters and a dramatic arc that captivates audiences from beginning to end.
Tickets
Tickets for the dress rehearsals are available from €21.00. Tickets for regular performances range from €27.00 to €36.00 depending on seat category (plus €1.00 booking fee per ticket). Children aged 4 to 14 receive a €6.00 discount on all seats. People with a disability grade of GdB 80 also receive a €6.00 reduction. Tickets for the jousting show cost €12.00 for adults and €8.00 for children under 14. Tickets are available at www.drachenstich.de and via okticket.de.
Visitor Tips
- Gates open at approximately 7:00 PM; arriving early is recommended to find your seat.
- Furth im Wald train station is around 10 minutes' walk from the Drachenstich Arena.
- Several free and paid car parks are available near the venue; a map with all parking options can be found on the official website.
- Dedicated coach parking is available close to the arena.
- August evenings in the Bavarian Forest can be cool; bring an extra layer for the open-air performance.
- Book accommodation early as the Bavarian Forest region is very popular in summer.
