culture
Culture
PASSION PLAY ERL
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ERL PASSION PLAY
The Erl Passion Play looks back on a tradition of more than 400 years. Since the 17th century, the story of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ has been performed in Erl, making it one of the oldest passion plays in the German-speaking world.
Every six years, the entire village becomes a stage: more than 500 participants from Erl actively contribute to the performances. This strong local involvement, the special atmosphere of the Passion Play House and the collectively supported production shape the unique character of the Erl Passion Play and make it an event of great cultural and spiritual significance.
The 2025 Passion Play – a retrospective
The most recent Passion Play took place in the summer of 2025, from May to October. During this period, the Passion Play House opened its doors to visitors from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Performances began at 1.30 pm and lasted until approximately 5.15 pm, including an intermission.
Around 600 participants took part in the productions, bringing the biblical story to the stage as a shared community project.
Outlook: the next Passion Play in 2031
The next Passion Play in Erl is planned for the summer of 2031. Information on performance dates and ticket sales will be announced in due course ahead of the season.
Erl – just a few minutes’ drive from Kufstein
The village of Erl is located just a few minutes’ drive from Kufstein and is ideal for a cultural excursion in the Kufstein region. A visit to the Passion Play can easily be combined with other activities in the town of Kufstein or the surrounding area.