Bierfest Schloss Neuhaus Paderborn

Bierfest Schloss Neuhaus — Ostwestfalen's Big Beer Event

From May 14th to 17th, 2026, the traditional Bierfest will take place in the baroque garden of Schloss Neuhaus in Paderborn — one of the largest and most diverse beer events in Ostwestfalen. Organized by the City of Paderborn. Over 30 stalls, more than 100 beer varieties from around the world, a magnificent baroque park as a backdrop, and a four-day program with Ascension Day opening, weekend highlight, and a relaxed Sunday closing.

Over 100 Beer Varieties on the Lindenallee

The centerpiece of the festival is the variety of beers: along the Lindenallee in the baroque garden, over 30 beer stalls line up, offering more than 100 beer varieties from Germany and the world. The spectrum ranges from:

• German Classics — Pilsner from Sauerland, Helles from Bavaria, Kölsch from the Rhineland, Weizenbier from Southern Germany
• Regional Specialties of Westphalia — Warsteiner, Veltins, Krombacher, Paderborner Bier, Detmolder Privatbrauerei
• International Varieties — Belgian Trappist ales, British ales, Irish stouts, Czech lagers, Dutch witbiers
• Craft Beer — Independent breweries with IPAs, Sour Beers, Stouts
• Seasonal Specialties — Maibocks, Spring Bock beers, fruity summer specials

Ascension Day Tradition — the Keg Tapping

The opening day, Thursday, May 14th, 2026, is also Ascension Day — and in Germany, Father's Day (Vatertag). Double symbolism: a religious holiday and the day when groups of men traditionally travel the country with handcarts and beer. The opening of the Bierfest on Father's Day has been a landmark event for years — the Mayor of Paderborn traditionally taps the first keg, a ceremonial moment celebrated in front of the public and press, officially opening the festival.

Program — Four Days and Four Moods

Thursday, May 14th, 2026 (Ascension Day / Father's Day) — 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Opening with the Mayor's keg tapping in the late morning. Father's Day atmosphere with groups of men, live music on stage, bratwurst and snack stands, live sports broadcasts if needed.

Friday, May 15th, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

After-work beer day — Paderborn's professionals come after work, the program focuses on live bands in the late afternoon and evening.

Saturday, May 16th, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

The main festival day with the densest visitor traffic. All-day stage program, families during the day, adults in the evening.

Sunday, May 17th, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The winding down. A quieter, family-oriented Sunday afternoon — shorter opening hours, often with a brunch feel.

Schloss Neuhaus — Baroque Complex with Garden

Schloss Neuhaus is one of the most important moated castles in the Weser Renaissance style and the former residence of the Prince-Bishops of Paderborn. Built mainly in the 16th and 17th centuries, it now houses schools, the Museum of City History, and is the center of a sprawling park with a baroque garden. The Lindenallee, where the Bierfest takes place, is part of this historic garden complex — a festival setting that few other beer festivals can offer. The castle also hosts the annual Landpartie Schloss Neuhaus and several cultural events.

Paderborn — City of Bishops and Springs

The large city of Paderborn, with its approximately 154,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in Ostwestfalen and the district town of the Paderborn district. Famous for its Cathedral (one of the largest and most important Romanesque cathedrals in Germany), the Pader springs (200 springs, Germany's shortest river), the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum (the world's largest computer museum), and its large university (with a focus on Business Informatics and Mathematics). The districts of Neuhaus and Schloss Neuhaus are particularly distinctive due to the castle and park — and their large student population, which has made the Bierfest one of their favorite spring events for years.