Magical & Mystical: Carnival in Tirol

Some 900 men take part in the famous Imst Schemenlauf, one of the most spectacular and colourful carnival parades in Tirol. Months and months of preparations precede this century-old spectacle. The main characters that feature are “Roller” and “Scheller”. The youthful “Roller” – symbolising elegance and strength – prances in front of the “Scheller”, who wears a furrowed mask and must ring eight heavy, hand-forged bells fastened to his waist. On their heads they wear lavishly decorated headdresses with a mirror in the center symbolizing vanity, profligacy, lust and wickedness. Held every four years, the Imst Schemenlauf was added by UNESCO in 2012 to its World Cultural Heritage List. Two years before the main event, the Buabefasnacht (Boys' Carnival) is held, when around 400 young lads aged between 6 and 16 parade through Imst in their own version of the famous celebrations.

Upcoming event: Imst Schemenlauf Parade on 4 February 2024; “Buabefasnacht” (Boys' Carnival) in 2027

Held every three years, the Nassereith Schellerlaufen is an ancient custom in which locals symbolise the battle between winter and spring. It features many colourful figures with colourful names such as "Kehrer", "Roller", "Scheller" and "Spritzer" (“sweeper", "jumper", "ringer" and "sprayer"), which wear the finest silk costumes in Baroque and Rococo style. The event features on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.

Upcoming event: Nassereith Schellerlaufen on 1 February 2026

The Telfs Schleicherlaufen is one of Tirol's traditional carnival parades – and a fascinating example of a long-maintained tradition held every five years. It is a little different from the other Tirolean Shrovetide celebrations in that the 40 participants called “Schleicher” – exclusively men – wear hats that weigh up to 8 kilos and can be over one metre tall. The Telfs Schleicherlaufen was included by UNESCO in its World Cultural Heritage List in 2010.

Upcoming event: Telfs Schleicherlaufen on 2 February 2025

Another Tirolean carnival custom steeped in tradition are the parades of the "Muller" and "Matschgerer" in Innsbruck and the surrounding area. A huge crowd rallies to these events, often in freezing temperatures, to see colourful characters with names such as “Zottler”, “Zaggler”, “Klötzler”, “Melcher” and “Spiegeltuxer” dance and parade through the streets. A firm pat on the shoulder from a Muller or Matschgerer promises luck and fertility for the lucky person chosen. The villages of Rum, Thaur, Absam and Mils alternate to organise a large procession every year.

Upcoming events: Mullerlaufen on 4 February 2024 in Mils
 

One of the most original carnival celebrations in Tirol is the “Blochziehen” event that is held every four years in Fiss. This custom is deeply rooted in tradition and dates back to medieval times. The focal point of this original fertility cult is the “Bloch”, an impressive 30-metre-long pine log which is pulled through the village by masked revellers. This elaborate ceremony symbolises the plough breaking up the ground in spring for sowing. These Shrovetide celebrations carry on until late afternoon and end with a public auction where the valuable piece of timber is sold to the highest bidder.

Upcoming event: Blochziehen in Fiss in 2026

The village of Axams near Innsbruck is famous for its Wampelerreiten. Held each year, it features young men wearing black hats, latticed masks and white shirts padded out with hay. As they parade across the village they battle it out with the “Wampeler” (meaning “fat-bellied”) trying to keep their shirts white and the "Reiter" (meaning "riders") aiming to soiling the shirts. The result is taken to determine the year’s harvest in advance: the more “Wampeler” get through the day with clean shirts, the richer the harvest will be. Every four years they are joined by further colourful characters traditional to carnival in Tirol.

Upcoming event: Wampelerreiten & Axams Carnival on 8 February 2024

Every year on Crazy Thursday (the name given to the last Thursday of the carnival season) the village of Patsch hosts a unique women-only carnival celebration. In 2022 this tradition was added by UNESCO to its Cultural Heritage List.

Upcoming event: 8 February 2024