Name: Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026
Start: 2026-06-26T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-29T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Ortsmitte Bubenreuth

Bubenreuther Kerwa

About Bubenreuther Kerwa

The Bubenreuther Kerwa is one of the most traditional Kirchweihen in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. The highlight is the raising of the tree: Early in the morning, the Kerwasburschen (young men) fetch the 'Baam' (tree) from the forest, decorate it with colorful ribbons, and in the afternoon, carry the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum (Kirchweih tree) by hand to the village center – in the old Franconian manner, with music and singing. The festival is supported by the Kerwasburschen and Kerwamadli (young women) under the leadership of the Oberkerwabuschen (head Kerwasbursche), closely linked to the Bubenruthia fraternity and the old village center. Bubenreuth is known as a violin-making village – this heritage also resonates during the Kerwa.

Dates 26 Jun — 29 Jun 2026

Venue Bubenreuth (09572)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Bubenreuther Kerwa — edition 2026

The Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026 will be celebrated at the end of June (June 26–29). The focus is on the raising of the tree with the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum, carried by the Kerwasburschen and the Bubenruthia fraternity. This is accompanied by festival activities with festival beer, Franconian cuisine, music, and the concluding Kerwa burial. A confirmed program item is June 28 (including a club evening at the Mörsbergei beer garden).

The Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026 will take place from Friday, June 26, to Monday, June 29, 2026, in the center of Bubenreuth. The established schedule includes the beer tapping and the start of the festival activities, the big Kerwa day with the tree raising, and finally, the traditional Kerwa burial.

During the tree raising, the Kerwasburschen fetch the decorated 'Baam' from the forest early in the morning, march through the village with drums and trumpets, and in the afternoon, manually raise the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum. The festival activities with festival beer, Franconian delicacies, and music accompany the days; on June 28, a club evening at the Mörsbergei beer garden is announced, among other things. The detailed daily program will be announced by the Kerwasburschen Bubenreuth; it was not yet fully available at the time of research.

Highlights Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026

Tree Raising: approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum, erected by hand
Procession of the Kerwasburschen with drums and trumpets
Customs of the Bubenruthia fraternity and close connection to the violin-making village
Traditional Kerwa burial as conclusion

Programme Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026

Schedule of the Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026

June 26–29, 2026, Bubenreuth village center. The traditional Kerwa schedule:

Opening – Beer tapping and opening of the festival activities
Tree Raising (Kerwa Day) – Early morning fetching of the tree from the forest, decorating with colorful ribbons, procession of the Kerwasburschen with drums and trumpets to pick up the Madli; in the afternoon, raising of the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum in the old Franconian manner by the young men and the Bubenruthia fraternity, with music and singing
Festival Activities – Festival beer, Franconian cuisine, dancing, and music; club evening at the Mörsbergei beer garden, among other events (June 28)
Kerwa Burial – Traditional conclusion at the end of the festival

Specific times and music groups for 2026 will be announced by the Kerwasburschen Bubenreuth via the municipality; they were not yet fully available at the time of research.

Prices Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026

Admission is free. Costs are incurred for festival beer, food, and drinks at the festival grounds.

Practical information

Practical information — Bubenreuther Kerwa

Getting There

Bubenreuth is located directly north of Erlangen in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. By train via the Bubenreuth stop (Nuremberg–Bamberg line), from there a few minutes to the village center. By car via the A73 (exit Erlangen-Nord / Bubenreuth).

Admission

Entry to the festival grounds and the tree-raising is free; payment is for food, drinks, and festival beer.

Contact

Municipality of Bubenreuth, Tel. +49 9131 8839-0. Organization by the Kerwasburschen Bubenreuth.

Franconian Kirchweih with Heart and Soul

The Bubenreuther Kerwa is the annual Kirchweih of the municipality of Bubenreuth in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district (Middle Franconia, Bavaria). It stands in the lively tradition of the Franconian Kerwa and is voluntarily organized by the Kerwasburschen and Kerwamadli. 'Kerwasau is not a profession, but a calling' – this sentence sums up the dedication of the young people who uphold the customs.

Raising the Tree

The central event is the raising of the tree. Early in the morning, the 'Baam' is fetched from the forest, decorated with colorful ribbons, and the Kerwasburschen march through the village with drums and trumpets to pick up the Madli. In the afternoon, the young men and members of the Bubenruthia fraternity raise the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum using spades, poles, and ladders – on the command of the Oberkerwabuschen, accompanied by music and singing. The communal raising is both a feat of strength and the highlight.

Violin-Making Village and Customs

Bubenreuth is known beyond the region as a center for violin making – a heritage established after 1945 by instrument makers who moved from Schönbach in Bohemia. This musical heritage resonates during the Kerwa, for example, when the music band plays its instruments. The festival is closely linked to the old village center, the local inns, and the fraternity.

From the Beer Tapping to the Kerwa Burial

The Kerwa shapes village life for several days: festival activities with beer, Franconian cuisine, and music, a day dedicated to raising the tree, and finally, the traditional 'Kerwa-Beerdigen' (Kerwa burial). The mayor and the community are closely involved – a festival connecting generations that visibly demonstrates the cohesion in the village.