This play describes the national consciousness and human feelings in Nuremberg, Germany in the Middle Ages. The main characters include a couple and many people in the street. The story revolves around the shoemaker poet saxophone and the secretary of the town hall Bessie Mei Sen. Wagner shows the conflict between the deep-rooted tradition and the progressive artistic trend of thought through the characters.

Knight Stolzin asked to join the singer's guild, hoping to win the singing contest and win the heart of the goldsmith's daughter Eva. The audition of Stolzing was not successful because the singer only cared about the details of obeying the rules. However, with the help of saxophone, he beat his opponent Bessie Mei Sen with a new song and finally won Eva's heart.