Name: Borkuschter Kerwa – Kirchweih Burgkunstadt 2026
Start: 2026-09-12T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Marktplatz und Pfarrhof Burgkunstadt

Borkuschter Kerwa

About Borkuschter Kerwa

The Burgkunstadt Kirchweih – known locally as 'Borkuschter Kerwa' – celebrates the consecration of the Catholic parish church, which was inaugurated on September 12, 1838, by Archbishop Maria Freiherr von Fraunberg. Ever since, the Kerwa has been held annually on the second weekend of September by Burgkunstadt's local associations in the parish courtyard and on the market square of the baroque old town on the Obermain. With an evening mass, a festive service, Franconian brass music, beer from the local Leikeim brewery, as well as Schäufele, Bratwurst, and Kerwa-Krapfen, the festival combines religious tradition with the unmistakable festival culture of Upper Franconia. Burgkunstadt, in the Lichtenfels district, thus belongs to the region's dense calendar of Kirchweih festivals.

Dates 12 Sep — 13 Sep 2026

Venue Burgkunstadt (09478)

Prices Free

Status —

Edition 2026

Borkuschter Kerwa — edition 2026

The Borkuschter Kerwa 2026 is expected to take place on the second weekend of September, from September 12 to 13, 2026, in the old town of Burgkunstadt. It begins with the Saturday evening mass, followed by the festive service and the Kirchweih procession on Sunday. In the parish courtyard and on the market square, local associations will provide Franconian specialties and live music.

The Burgkunstadt Kirchweih is traditionally held on the second weekend of September. For 2026, the Kerwa is therefore expected to take place on September 12 and 13. The festivities begin on Saturday, September 12, with the evening mass at 6 p.m. in the parish church of Mariä Verkündigung, followed by the festival activities in the parish courtyard.

On Sunday, September 13, the festive service with the subsequent Kirchweih procession around the market square will be the central event. The town band and dance bands will provide brass music throughout the day. The local associations' food stalls will serve beer from Leikeim and offer Schäufele, Bratwürste, and Kerwa-Krapfen.

Highlights Borkuschter Kerwa 2026

Evening mass in the parish church of Mariä Verkündigung
Festive service with Kirchweih procession on Sunday
Draft beer from the Leikeim brewery
Burgkunstadt town band and regional dance bands

Programme Borkuschter Kerwa 2026

Program 2026

Saturday, September 12 – 6:00 p.m. Evening mass, followed by festival activities in the parish courtyard
Sunday, September 13 – Festive service, Kirchweih procession, morning pint with the town band
Sunday afternoon – Live music on the market square, Franconian delicacies

Prices Borkuschter Kerwa 2026

Free admission. Food and drinks on-site: Beer 4 to 6 Euros per half-liter, Schäufele around 14 Euros.

Practical information

Practical information — Borkuschter Kerwa

Getting There

Burgkunstadt is located on the Obermain river in the Lichtenfels district. By car, take the A73 (exit Lichtenfels-Süd) and the B289. By train, travel to Lichtenfels and then take the regional train to Burgkunstadt. The market square is a five-minute walk from the train station.

Admission

Admission to the festival grounds and all services is free. Food and drinks are paid for on-site.

Best Time to Visit

Second weekend of September, Saturday and Sunday.

A Kerwa since 1838

The Burgkunstadt Kirchweih is a genuine parish fair: it commemorates the solemn consecration of the town's parish church of Mariä Verkündigung on September 12, 1838, by Archbishop Maria Freiherr von Fraunberg. For almost 200 years, this date has been celebrated annually on the second weekend of September. The 'Borkuschter Kerwa' – as it is called in the Franconian dialect – is a fixture in the Upper Franconian festival calendar.

Religious Framework

The actual start of the Kirchweih is marked by the Saturday evening mass at 6 p.m. in the parish church of Mariä Verkündigung. On Sunday, the festive service, followed by the Kirchweih procession around the market square, forms the solemn highlight. Both services are musically accompanied by the church choir and the Burgkunstadt town band.

Festival Atmosphere on the Market Square

The secular festivities take place in the parish courtyard and on the market square. Food stalls run by local associations serve draft beer from the traditional Burgkunstadt brewery Leikeim, accompanied by Schäufele, Bratwürste, Sauerbraten, and sweet Kerwa-Krapfen. The Burgkunstadt town band, along with other brass and dance bands from the Obermain region, provide the musical entertainment. The historic half-timbered buildings on the market square – Burgkunstadt is considered one of the most beautiful old town ensembles on the Obermain – form a picturesque backdrop.

Burgkunstadt – Shoe Town with a Parish Church

Burgkunstadt in the Lichtenfels district of Upper Franconia is known as a former shoe town: the famous BALDA felt factory and later Baur Versand were founded here in 1925. Today, the baroque old town, Burgkunstadt Castle, and the Obermain river characterize the town's identity. The parish fair complements the region's established tradition of civic and local festivals.