Carnival: Dance and Games in Nuremberg

11.11.2025 – 15.02.2026

What is known in Germany as the ‘fifth season’ has brought joy to people for centuries. Nuremberg became a carnival hotspot in the Late Middle Ages, based on customs steeped in the liturgical year.

On the occasion of the city’s 975th anniversary, the special exhibition ‘Fastnacht: Dance and Games at the Nuremberg Carnival’ presents the fascinating history of Nuremberg’s nearly 600-year-old carnival tradition.

In addition to the many popular Fastnachtsspiele (carnival plays) that are performed in taverns and homes to this day, the people of Nuremberg started celebrating the so-called Schembartlauf (‘bearded-mask’ parade) in the early 15th century. Participants dressed in colorful costumes paraded through the city center, enacting a ‘topsy-turvy world’ and handing out sweetmeats. Within a few decades, the patriciate had transformed the Schembartlauf into an extravagant procession with increasingly elaborate costumes.

The starting point of the exhibition are the precious Schembart books, which were produced in large numbers after the arrival of the Reformation. They found their way around the world and continue to provide insight into the history of the Nuremberg Fastnacht.

What does a closer look at these books reveal? It becomes clear that those involved had political motives and a hunger for power and prestige. What was the Nuremberg Fastnacht really like, beyond the crafted image conveyed in such depictions? The exhibition invites you to embark on a journey through history and explore the Nuremberg Fastnacht through interactive exhibits and a stimulating educational and events program for young and old.