Coburger Vogelschießen
The Vestestadt's largest and oldest Volksfest — since 1354
About Coburger Vogelschießen
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672 Years of Marksmen Tradition
The Schützengesellschaft Coburg 1354 e.V. is one of the oldest private marksmen's societies in the world. Founded in 1354, it is over 670 years old — and the Coburger Vogelschießen is the annual grand event with which it celebrates its long tradition. The festival's roots reach back to the Middle Ages: the Vogelschießen was originally a defensive exercise for the citizen marksmen, where a wooden bird was shot down from a pole. Over the centuries, this evolved into a Volksfest with a parade, festival tent, king's shooting competition, and amusement park.
Ten Days on the Ketschenanger Fairground
The venue is the Ketschenanger fairground, located very close to Coburg's city center — a flat meadow at the foot of the Veste Coburg, which is transformed for the festival week into a complex of tents with a large beer tent stage and an amusement park with carousels, a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, and food stalls. The schedule has followed a fixed pattern for generations: opening with a beer tapping ceremony and fireworks, a historic parade on the first Sunday, the king's shooting competition on the last weekend, and the grand coronation of the marksmen's king to conclude.
From Parade to Fireworks
Like few other Bavarian festivals, the Coburger Vogelschießen combines the two worlds of 'historic' and 'modern': on the first Sunday, the traditional parade in historic uniforms marches through the city center — marksmen, brass bands, historic costume groups, and floats. On weekdays, the large festival tent dominates the scene with changing live bands. Monday features the traditional crossbow shooting, Wednesday is Family Day with reduced ride prices, and the final Sunday hosts the king's shooting competition and the coronation of the new marksmen's king.
Coburg and the Volksfest
Coburg, the ducal residence of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and formerly a bridge to the British royal family (Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, was from here), is visually dominated by the mighty Veste Coburg. The Vogelschießen is more than just a festival — it is a central marker of identity for this city between Franconia and Thuringia, with a long history as a site of political and cultural mediation in Central Germany.
Coburger Vogelschießen — edition 2026
The 672nd Coburger Vogelschießen 2026 begins on Friday, July 31, with a memorial service for deceased marksmen, followed by the traditional beer tapping ceremony at 8:00 PM and a grand opening fireworks display over the fairground. For ten days, the festival tent, stage shows, amusement park, and shooting competitions will shape the program.
On Sunday, August 2, the historic parade of the Coburg marksmen marches through the Old Town — featuring brass bands, costume groups, historic uniforms, and floats. Monday hosts the crossbow shooting, Wednesday is Family Day with reduced ride prices. The conclusion on Sunday, August 9, features the king's shooting competition and the coronation of the new marksmen's king with live music until 11:00 PM.
Programme Coburger Vogelschießen 2026
Coburger Vogelschießen July 31 – August 9, 2026
- Friday, July 31, 2026 — Memorial service for deceased members, festival opening with beer tapping at 8:00 PM, followed by a grand opening fireworks display over Ketschenanger
- Saturday, August 1, 2026 — Festival opens at 2:00 PM, live music in the festival tent
- Sunday, August 2, 2026 — Festival service, followed by the historic parade of the Schützengesellschaft Coburg 1354 e.V. through the Old Town, festival tent with brass band and live music
- Monday, August 3, 2026 — Senior afternoon, club evening, traditional crossbow shooting
- Tuesday, August 4, 2026 — Festival open all day, live music in the beer tent
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026 — Family Day with reduced ride prices, children's program in the amusement park
- Thursday–Saturday, August 6–8, 2026 — Festival with changing bands in the tent, shooting competitions
- Sunday, August 9, 2026 — King's shooting competition, coronation of the new marksmen's king, festival finale with live music until 11:00 PM
Detailed daily program and festival tent stage schedule at vogelschiessen-coburg.de/programm. The festival tent and amusement park are open daily from 2:00 PM.
Highlights Coburger Vogelschießen 2026
Prices Coburger Vogelschießen 2026
Practical information — Coburger Vogelschießen
Getting There
Coburg is located in northern Bavaria, near the Thuringian border. By train, it's an ICE stop on the Berlin–Munich high-speed line. From the station to the fairground is about a 15-minute walk. By car, take the A73 (Suhl–Bamberg) and exit at Coburg. Parking is signposted nearby.
Admission
Entry to the fairground is free. Rides and food stalls are priced as typical for a Volksfest; Wednesday is Family Day with special prices. Festival tent catering is at usual Volksfest prices; individual concerts or themed evenings may require reservations.
Tips
The first Sunday (parade through the Old Town) and the final Sunday (king's shooting competition) are the most spectacular days. For the grand opening evening with fireworks on July 31, arrive early as the festival tent fills up quickly. Book accommodation well in advance — Coburg is often fully booked during the Vogelschießen week.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Coburger Vogelschießen al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Coburger Vogelschießen
Festplatz Ketschenanger
Schützenstraße, Festplatz Ketschenanger, 96450 Coburg