A rotary table for a machine tool comprising a stator unit, a rotor unit rotatable at least about a rotational axis, wherein the rotor unit comprises at least one receiving unit for the reception of a workpiece, a first bearing unit for the mounting of the rotor unit in the stator unit, and an electromagnetic motor drive for the motorized driving of the rotor unit. The rotor unit, at least in the region of the motor drive and/or of the first bearing unit, has at least one rotor-cooling apparatus, comprising a cooling medium and at least one cooling surface, for the cooling and/or absorption of waste heat from the motor drive and/or from the first bearing unit.