CONGRESS
The World Nativity Congress
Every few years, the world’s nativity associations meet in a different city. There have been twenty-three congresses since 1952, only one in France (Nice, 1982), and none yet in the Americas. The next one will be in Austria in 2028, organized by four countries together.
What it is
The world congress is the main gathering of Un.Foe.Prae, the international nativity federation. For four or five days, it brings together member associations, their delegates, and enthusiasts who come on their own.
Nothing is for sale; it’s not a trade show. The program mixes the federation’s general meeting, talks, concerts, Masses, and above all exhibitions set up for the occasion around the host region. The idea is to get to know a nativity tradition you’re not familiar with, right where it lives, and that’s exactly why the congress moves around.
The first one, in Barcelona in 1952, was the founding meeting. Since 1988 the congress has been held roughly every four years, each time in a different country, region or city.
Congresses since 1952
From the founding meeting to the congress planned for 2028.
A note on the numbering: it depends on the source. The table follows the federation’s own list, which counts twenty-three congresses held since 1952. The Austrian organizers of 2028, though, call theirs the twenty-third: they count the meetings differently. We give both rather than pick one.
| No. | Year | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1952 | BarcelonaSpain | founding congress |
| 2nd | 1954 | RomeItaly | |
| 3rd | 1957 | BarcelonaSpain | |
| 4th | 1961 | MunichGermany | |
| 5th | 1964 | SalzburgAustria | |
| 6th | 1967 | MadridSpain | |
| 7th | 1970 | NaplesItaly | |
| 8th | 1974 | InnsbruckAustria | |
| 9th | 1975 | San SebastiánSpain | |
| 10th | 1979 | NurembergGermany | |
| 11th | 1982 | NiceFrance | the only congress held in France |
| 12th | 1985 | InnsbruckAustria | |
| 13th | 1988 | Genoa and RapalloItaly | |
| 14th | 1992 | MadridSpain | |
| 15th | 1996 | CologneGermany | |
| 16th | 2000 | PamplonaSpain | |
| 17th | 2002 | BarcelonaSpain | |
| 18th | 2004 | Hradec KrálovéCzech Republic | |
| 19th | 2008 | AugsburgGermany | |
| 20th | 2012 | InnsbruckAustria | |
| 21st | 2016 | BergamoItaly | |
| 22nd | 2020 | AachenGermany | with Belgium and the Netherlands |
| 23rd | 2023 | SevilleSpain | |
| 24th | 2028 | VorarlbergAustria | with Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany |
The map tells a story: Spain has hosted eight times, Germany five, Austria four, Italy four. France has hosted once in seventy years, even though it’s home to the best-known santon tradition in the world. That’s the French paradox: a very strong tradition, but very few associations.
Nice 1982
The eleventh congress was held in Nice from October 14 to 17, 1982. It’s the only one ever held in France.
Nice was a natural choice: it’s home to the Association Française des Amis de la Crèche, founded four years earlier, which is still the federation’s French member today. The city also sits where the Provençal and Italian nativity traditions meet.
2028: four countries, one nativity
The next congress will be held October 18 to 22, 2028, in the Lake Constance region, under the title “Four countries, one nativity.” The organizers call it the twenty-third; by the federation’s list, it would be the twenty-fourth.
What makes it different: it’s organized jointly by Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany, with exhibitions in all four countries. No earlier congress had so many partners: Aachen in 2020 brought in Belgium and the Netherlands, but with Germany as the single host.
The corner of the Alps where these four countries meet is also one of Europe’s busiest centers of nativity building, with village clubs, building schools and Advent exhibitions. See events in Germany and Austria.
Before that, the federation plans to celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, April 9–11, 2027. As of this writing, it isn’t on the federation’s public calendar, so check with the federation before booking anything.
Going
The congress is open to more than delegates: the federation describes it as open to “associations, federations, friends and enthusiasts of the nativity scene.” So far, no registration details have been published for 2028; the organizers say they’re working on plans for visitors and send questions to the federation.
For an American nativity lover, it’s probably the best way into this world, and a great reason for a fall trip to the Alps: in four days you’ll see what neighboring traditions do with something you thought you knew. Members of Friends of the Creche can get updates through their association.
Dates are a guide only. The 2028 program isn’t final and registration details haven’t been published. Check with the federation before booking.
Page current as of September 13, 2026.