Name: Kirchweih Neunkirchen am Brand 2026
Start: 2026-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-05T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Marktplatz und Festgelände Neunkirchen am Brand

Neikergna Kerwa

About Neikergna Kerwa

The Neunkirchner Kirchweih — in Franconian "Neikergna Kerwa" — is one of the major Kirchweihen in the Forchheim district. Every year on the first October weekend, the market town of Neunkirchen am Brand transforms into a Volksfest with a traditional Kirchweih tree, carousels, rides, stalls, Franconian cuisine, and customs. Four to five days of festivities, the entire region on the edge of the Franconian Switzerland foothills celebrates along.

Dates 01 Oct — 05 Oct 2026

Venue Neunkirchen a.Brand (09474)

Prices Free

Status —

Edition 2026

Neikergna Kerwa — edition 2026

The Neunkirchner Kerwa runs in 2026 on the first October weekend. Four to five days of Volksfest with Kirchweih tree, carousels, stalls, Betzen austanzen, and Franconian festival cuisine in the market town of Neunkirchen am Brand.

As every year, the Kirchweih in Neunkirchen am Brand is celebrated on the first Sunday in October — in 2026, the festival will accordingly run from Thursday, October 1st, to Monday, October 5th. The festival opens with the erection of the Kirchweih tree by the Burschenschaft vom Torplatz. During the festival days, carousels, stalls, and rides are spread across the squares Klosterhof, Erlanger Straße, Bei der Scheune, and at the bus station. The highlight of the customs is the traditional Betzen austanzen, complemented by a festive church service, Sunday shopping, and catering in local restaurants.

Highlights Neikergna Kerwa 2026

Erection of the Kirchweih tree, traditional Betzen dance, Sunday shopping, and carousel program on four festival grounds.

Programme Neikergna Kerwa 2026

Festival Schedule (Classic Structure)

Thursday — Erection of the Kirchweih tree by the Burschenschaft vom Torplatz, beer tapping.
Friday — Festival operations with rides, stalls, catering.
Saturday — Carousels and stalls on several festival grounds, evening entertainment music in the beer tents.
Sunday — Festive church service, Sunday shopping, all-day festival operations, Betzen austanzen.
Monday — Closing with Frühschoppen, last carousel rides.

Prices Neikergna Kerwa 2026

Free admission to the festival grounds. Carousels and stalls at usual Volksfest prices. Food and drinks in the beer tents and snack stands at Stadtfest rates.

Practical information

Practical information — Neikergna Kerwa

Getting There

By car via the A73 (exit Forchheim-Süd), then take the B470 towards Ebermannstadt — Neunkirchen am Brand is directly on the route. Parking on the outskirts of town, within walking distance to the festival grounds. Accessible by bus from Erlangen or Forchheim.

Admission

Free admission to the entire festival grounds. Rides and stalls at usual Volksfest prices. Food and drinks in the beer tents, festival restaurants, and at the snack stands.

On Site

Program overview available in the market municipality and the Forchheim Tourist Information. Festive church service in the parish church, followed by festivities on the market square. Sunday shopping at the stores on the festival day.

Kerwa Tradition in Franconian Switzerland

The Kirchweih in Neunkirchen am Brand is part of the rich Franconian Kerwa calendar. The word "Kerwa" — a diminutive of Kirchweih — denotes the festival of the church's consecration and thus also the biggest secular festival of the year. In Neunkirchen am Brand, the Kerwa is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday in October and offers four to five days of events from Thursday to Monday.

Program and Customs

Traditionally, the festivities begin with the erection of the Kirchweih tree by the Burschenschaft vom Torplatz, which organizes the festival. During the festival days, carousels, stalls, and rides are spread across several squares — Klosterhof, Erlanger Straße, Bei der Scheune, and Busbahnhof. The highlight on Sunday or Monday is the Betzen austanzen, a regional custom: dancers spin in a circle around a bouquet until the music stops, and the couple holding the bouquet at that moment wins. The Kerwa is combined with Sunday shopping, a festive church service, and catering by local restaurants.

Neunkirchen am Brand

Neunkirchen am Brand is a market town with just under 8,000 inhabitants in the Forchheim district in Upper Franconia (Bavaria), on the southern edge of the Franconian Switzerland Nature Park. The town is located about 18 km northeast of Erlangen and 25 km from Nuremberg, with good access to the A73 motorway. The historic market square with the church, Klosterhof, and rows of houses from the 17th and 18th centuries forms the backdrop for the Kerwa. Visitors can combine their stay with a hike through Franconian Switzerland or a visit to neighboring Ebermannstadt.