How the Kocherlball 2026 went

Sunday, 19 July 2026

Dancing at dawn

At six in the morning, with the English Garden still half in darkness, the first couples were already turning at the Chinese Tower. The Kocherlball 2026 once again brought thousands in traditional dress to their feet.

As every year, the day began long before the first note. From four o'clock the long tables filled with breakfast baskets, candlesticks and thermos flasks, and whoever arrived at half past five already walked through a dense scene of Dirndls, Lederhosen and historic servants' clothing. At six sharp the band struck up; the first waltz belonged, as always, to the fearless on the gravel in front of the tower.

Until ten the morning followed its familiar rhythm: open dancing, the guided group dances in between, and towards the end the great Munich Francaise, in which half of Munich laughed its way through rows and squares. Then the ball handed the square seamlessly back to regular beer garden service, and the first guests headed home while other Munich residents were just having breakfast.