Event Details
Welcome to the Midsummer Bonfires 2027
Around the longest day of the year, the mountain peaks of Tirol and Salzburg turn into a sea of light. At the midsummer bonfires, also called mountain fires or St John's fires, local clubs and volunteers light hundreds of fires on peaks, ridges and alpine pastures at dusk. The actual solstice in 2027 falls on Monday, 21 June; celebrations traditionally take place on the nearest weekend, mostly on Saturday, 19 June 2027.
Highlights
- Hundreds of mountain fires lit at once across Tirol and Salzburg
- Fires on the Wilder Kaiser, the Loferer and Leoganger Steinberge, and the Kitzbüheler Horn
- Mountains in flames around Ehrwald, Lermoos and Biberwier in the Zugspitze area
- Midsummer fire on the Hohe Salve near Hopfgarten
- Mountain fires in the Pinzgau region (Steinernes Meer, Kleiner Asitz)
- Traditional fire customs in the Gastein valley
- Listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in Tirol, Salzburg and Carinthia
Program
There is no central program; the midsummer bonfires are a decentralized tradition organized independently by numerous clubs, cable car operators and village communities. In the St. Johann in Tirol region (Wilder Kaiser, Kitzbühel Alps), the custom is called "Feia brenna"; the cable cars offer extended evening rides on this night. Around Ehrwald in the Zugspitze area, more than 300 fires turn the mountain massif into a sea of light, accompanied by a bonfire festival with Kaiserschmarren at the Confetti Alm. In Bavaria, for example on the Kampenwand, the fires are also lit on 19 June; some cable cars in the Pinzgau region (Asitz, Stubnerkogel, Schlossalm) run special rides until midnight. Some villages, such as Grainau, traditionally light their fire only on the eve of St John's Day, on 23 June. In case of bad weather, many organizers postpone the fire to an alternative date, usually the following weekend (25 or 26 June).
Tickets
Visiting the midsummer bonfires is free; no ticket is required. Cable car rides up and down the mountain are charged at regular fares in some locations, since many cable cars run special late night services on this evening. Exact prices vary by cable car and region.
Visitor Tips
- Choose a good viewpoint in the valley, since that is where you can see the most fires at once.
- Bring sturdy shoes and warm clothing, as mountain evenings cool down quickly even in summer.
- Check the last cable car down in advance, as many stop running by midnight.
- Expect heavy traffic and full parking lots on the event weekend; arrive early.
- If the weather looks uncertain, check the regional website beforehand, as fires can be postponed on short notice.
