Wednesday 2 December 2026, in front of Schloss Mirabell (Mirabell Palace): at 5.15 pm the Weisenbläser – wind players performing traditional Alpine melodies – start to play, and shortly before 6 pm you can hear the Krampus bells by the big Christmas tree. For us at the Salzburg Christmas market at Mirabellplatz, Krampus in Salzburg 2026 means this: St. Nicholas and Krampus – a horned, fur-clad figure from Alpine folklore who accompanies St. Nicholas – come to visit us. On top of that there are the Krampus runs around the city, all with sources.
What is Krampus? Krampus is the shaggy, horned companion of St. Nicholas from Alpine folk tradition. He’s out and about around 5 and 6 December. Perchten (fur-clad, masked figures from Alpine winter folklore) are separate figures who only come out in the Rauhnächte – the traditional “rough nights” of midwinter – from 21 December.
Our own Krampus evening at Mirabellplatz is on 2 December. The time and programme are further down.
When does Krampus come to Mirabellplatz in 2026?
On Wednesday 2 December 2026 at 6 pm, St. Nicholas and Krampus hand out sweets to the children. With them comes the Altgnigler Krampus- und Perchtenpass, a local Krampus group that is part of our market every year. Before that, at 5.15 pm, the Weisenbläser of Postmusik Salzburg play in front of the palace. All dates are on our programme page.
Right in the middle of it all is Tanja Konrad’s stall, directly by the big Christmas tree. “The Krampus run starts here … right in the thick of it, not just watching!” she says. Last year she ventured out briefly to film a video: “Before I knew what was happening, the Krampus had pulled my hat off my head and I had to go and get it back. […] But afterwards I got sweets from St. Nicholas for it!”
Christmas programme
Wednesday 2 December 2026: the Weisenbläser play in front of the palace at 5.15 pm, and at 6 pm St. Nicholas and Krampus arrive with the Altgnigler Pass. All dates for 2026 at a glance.
Salzburg Krampus runs 2026: dates and schedule
Krampus figures are out and about in other parts of the city during Advent too, at Krampus runs, sometimes called Krampus parades. The table only lists dates that the respective organiser gives themselves (as of 23 October 2026). Apart from our own evening on 2 December, we’re not the organiser of these events.
| Date | What | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 Dec | St. Nicholas and Krampus with the Altgnigler Pass | Christmas market at Mirabellplatz | 6 pm |
| Fri 4 Dec | Run of the Grossgmainer Krampusse | Hellbrunner Adventzauber, in front of the palace steps | 6 pm |
| Sat 5 Dec | Krampus run (“Lauf der Krampusse”) | Domplatz | expected at 7 pm |
| Sat 5 Dec | Krampus run of the Salzburger Falkenpass | from Bürgerspitalplatz through Getreidegasse to Alter Markt | to be announced |
| Sun 6 Dec | St. Nicholas and the Kinderkrampus (children’s Krampus) | Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz – Christkindlmarkt is the Austrian name for a traditional Christmas market | 3.30 pm |
| Sun 13 Dec | Tag der Krampusse (“Krampus Day”) | Hellbrunner Adventzauber | during the day |
Times can change, so check them with the organiser the day before. What else is happening on Domplatz is in our guide to the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt. At the Hellbrunner Adventzauber, the Advent market in front of Schloss Hellbrunn (Hellbrunn Palace), there’s an entry fee until 7 pm – so the run on 4 December starts while you still pay for entry.
Krampus with children: which date suits?
These dates are particularly good for children:
- At Mirabellplatz on 2 December: St. Nicholas and Krampus hand out sweets, and entry is free. The square is flat and easy to get around with a pushchair (stroller).
- On Domplatz on 6 December: St. Nicholas and the Kinderkrampus at 3.30 pm, while it’s still light.
- At Hellbrunn on 13 December: at the “Tag der Krampusse”, the Anifer Krampusse come without their masks, explain the difference between a Krampus and a Percht, and children can try on the masks.
Afterwards, a Kinderpunsch (alcohol-free punch for children) from Christl-Alm or from Alexander Reisinger will warm you up, and Markus Dimmer has candyfloss and Maroni (roasted chestnuts). There’s more in our article on food and drink at Mirabellplatz. Our full programme is on the programme page.
Krampus or Perchten? A quick explanation
Krampus and Percht are two different figures, each with its own time of year. The Altgnigler, who come to us at Mirabellplatz, go out with St. Nicholas from the first Advent weekend until 8 December as a Krampus-Pass, that is, a group of Krampus figures. From 21 December until Epiphany (Dreikönig) they’re out as Schiachperchten, the wild, “schiach” (ugly) Perchten. The association, which has existed since 1966, sets great store by the two figures not being confused.
If you’d like to see the Perchten: on Monday 21 December at 7 pm, there’s the Perchten run for the first Rauhnacht on Domplatz.
Getting there on the Krampus evening
On 2 December our market is open until 8 pm. Trolleybus (Obus) lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 stop right at Mirabellplatz, and from the main station (Hauptbahnhof) it’s a walk of around 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll find all the details on our info page.
Opening hours & getting here
Opening hours, trolleybus lines and the walk from the main station at a glance.
You’ll find all the Christmas markets in the city in our overview of the Salzburg Christmas markets.
Frequently asked questions
Most Krampus dates fall around 5 December. At Mirabellplatz, St. Nicholas and Krampus come on Wednesday 2 December at 6 pm; on Domplatz the Krampus run is on Saturday 5 December, expected at 7 pm.
On Wednesday 2 December 2026 at 6 pm, St. Nicholas and Krampus hand out sweets to the children, together with the Altgnigler Pass. Before that, at 5.15 pm, the Weisenbläser play in front of the palace.
Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) is on 5 December, the eve of St. Nicholas’ Day. That’s why many Krampus runs take place on that evening.
For young children, the best dates are the ones where St. Nicholas comes too: at Mirabellplatz on 2 December with sweets, and on Domplatz on 6 December at 3.30 pm with the Kinderkrampus. At Hellbrunn, the Krampus figures come without masks on 13 December and explain their masks.
No. Entry to the Christmas market at Mirabellplatz is free, on the Krampus evening too.
Krampus accompanies St. Nicholas – the Altgnigler, for example, are out as a Krampus-Pass until 8 December. Perchten run in the Rauhnächte, from 21 December until Epiphany. Our date with St. Nicholas and Krampus is on the programme page.
Sources
All details retrieved on 23 October 2026: Christmas market at Mirabellplatz: programme 2026 · questionnaire from Tanja Konrad (October 2026) · Altgnigler Krampus- und Perchtenpass, association website · organiser of the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, “Wichtige Termine” (important dates) · organiser of the Hellbrunner Adventzauber, “Krampuswelt” (Krampus exhibition) and “Programm” (programme) · Salzburger Falkenpass, Krampus run · Salzburg Tourism: Krampus and Perchten