Name: International German Gold Panning Championships Goldkronach 2026
Start: 2026-06-26T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-28T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Goldberg Goldkronach — Infohaus

Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach

About Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach

Goldkronach in the Fichtelgebirge is one of the few places in Germany where gold has actually been found – and it hosts the International German Gold Panning Championship. On the Goldberg, at the Infohaus, participants from numerous nations compete against each other in several disciplines for three days. The 36th edition of this unusual sporting event will take place in 2026.

Dates 26 Jun — 28 Jun 2026

Venue Goldkronach (09472)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach — edition 2026

From June 26 to 28, 2026, the 36th International German Gold Panning Championship will take place on the Goldberg in Goldkronach. Participants from numerous nations will meet at the Infohaus am Goldberg to compete for the title in several disciplines. Awards ceremony on Sunday around 2 PM.

The 36th International German Gold Panning Championship will take place from June 26 to 28, 2026 on the Goldberg Goldkronach. The venue is the Infohaus am Goldberg, from where the competitions start and the awards ceremony is also organized.

Over the weekend, several disciplines will be held — individual awards for women, men, juniors, and seniors, as well as team awards. International participants from numerous nations are expected; according to the Bayreuth Tourism region, this is a key feature of the Goldkronach championship.

Highlights Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach 2026

36th edition of the International German Championship
Participants from many nations on the Goldberg
Demonstration panning for families
Guided mining hikes
Awards ceremony on Sunday around 2 PM

Programme Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach 2026

Program Outline

Friday, June 26, 2026 — Arrival and accreditation of international participants at the Infohaus am Goldberg, opening program with local catering
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Competition day with several disciplines: individual awards for women, men, juniors, and seniors, team awards
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — Final competitions; awards ceremony around 2:00 PM at the Infohaus am Goldberg

Supporting Program

Demonstration panning for visitors
Guided hikes on the mining and gold history of Goldkronach
Explanatory stations at the Infohaus on the geology of the Fichtelgebirge
Catering with regional specialties from the Bayreuth region

Prices Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach 2026

Participation in the competitions requires a registration fee (amount varies by discipline, inquire with the town of Goldkronach). Spectators have free access to the event grounds; catering is paid for on-site.

Practical information

Practical information — Gold Panning Championship Goldkronach

Getting There

Goldkronach is located about 12 km northeast of Bayreuth. By car, take the A 9 (exit Bad Berneck-Himmelkron). Train travelers should go to Bayreuth Hbf and then take a bus to Goldkronach. The Goldberg can be reached on foot from Goldkronach, with signage provided.

Registration

Registration for the competition disciplines and information about the supporting program are available through the town of Goldkronach or the Bayreuth Tourism region.

Tip

Even without participating in the competitions, a visit is worthwhile: a demonstration panning pool, explanatory stations at the Infohaus, and guided hikes on the mining history of the Fichtelgebirge make the visit a family experience.

Goldkronach — one of Germany's few gold-bearing sites

The Upper Franconian town of Goldkronach in the Bayreuth district is located on the edge of the Fichtelgebirge, in a landscape historically linked with gold and mining for centuries. Gold was already extracted on the Goldberg in the Middle Ages, and even today, the town is one of the rare places in Germany where gold is demonstrably present in the rocks and streams. This tradition has made Goldkronach the permanent venue for the International German Gold Panning Championship for decades.

36th Edition 2026: Three Days of Gold Panning Sport

From June 26 to 28, 2026, participants from many nations will once again gather at the Infohaus am Goldberg to compete for the title of German Champion in gold panning across several disciplines. Speed, accuracy, and completeness in washing gold flakes from a standardized sand-water mixture are evaluated.

How does Gold Panning Work as a Sport?

Standardized buckets with embedded gold flakes are provided to participants
Using a gold pan, the flakes are washed out within a limited time
The disciplines differ in the number of flakes, time limits, and scoring systems
There are awards for individuals, teams, juniors, women, and seniors

Spectacular Mountain Experience

The atmosphere on the Goldberg is unique: In the middle of the Fichtelgebirge landscape, people from different linguistic backgrounds — Germans, Czechs, Austrians, Swiss, Scandinavians — concentrate on a discipline that is more of an outdoor hobby in our region. The awards ceremony on Sunday around 2:00 PM marks the grand finale. During these days, Goldkronach presents itself with a supporting program of guided hikes on mining history, exhibits at the Infohaus, and regional catering.