Event Details
Welcome to the Zirler Kirchtag 2026
On Sunday, 18 October 2026, the market town of Zirl near Innsbruck celebrates its traditional Kirchweihsonntag (church consecration Sunday), always held on the third Sunday of October according to old tradition. At the heart of the festival is the Zachäussingen, a singing custom more than 300 years old that was added to Austria's national list of intangible UNESCO cultural heritage in 2015. In the early hours of the morning, locals and visitors gather in front of the Parish Church of the Holy Cross to sing the Zachäus song together and receive a blessing for the town.
Highlights
- Zachäussingen: listed as intangible UNESCO cultural heritage since 2015
- Solemn bell ringing starting at 4:30 AM
- Singing of the Zachäus song at the church tower, church square and village square
- Blessing of the town by the local parish priest
- Music and dancing on the village square afterwards
- Kirchtag eve on Friday with music and a relaxed gathering
- Traditional Kirchtag doughnuts and a farewell schnapps to close out the celebration
Program
Celebrations start already on Friday, 16 October, with the so called Kirchtag eve at the B4 event centre (6:00 PM to 11:00 PM). The real highlight is Sunday: at 4:30 AM Zirl's church bells solemnly ring in the day, first all five bells together, then one by one, and finally together again. From 5:00 AM, the brass players of the local music band together with the church choir perform the Kirchtag song and the Zachäus song, first at the church tower, then at the church square and finally at the village square. In front of the church, the priest blesses the town using a replica of the monstrance once used to bless Emperor Maximilian. Afterwards there is a small schnapps, before the band strikes up dance music on the village square. The morning winds down with Kirchtag doughnuts and tea at the B4 centre. A festive mass with a following reception also takes place at 10:00 AM.
Tickets
The Zirler Kirchtag is a free, public village celebration; no tickets are required. For individual program points at the B4 event centre, such as the Kirchtag eve, local associations may collect voluntary donations or charge for food and drinks.
Visitor Tips
- To experience the Zachäussingen live, arrive at the church square by around 4:45 AM at the latest.
- Warm clothing is essential, as the ceremony takes place outdoors in the cool October night.
- Zirl is only about 15 kilometers west of Innsbruck and is easily reached by train or bus.
- The Kirchtag flag (a white cross on a red background) hangs from the church tower throughout the preceding week; a good sign that the festival is approaching.
- Those who prefer to skip the early morning hours can join the festivities during the day at the village square and at the B4 centre.
