Paderborn Schützenfest

Paderborn in Green — when the PBSV calls for the Schützenfest

In July, Paderborn turns green. The cathedral city in the Hochstift transforms into a Schützenstadt (shooting town), where thousands of members of the Paderborner Bürger-Schützenverein 1831 e.V. (PBSV) in their green shooting uniforms shape the cityscape. With well over 3,000 active marksmen, the PBSV is one of the largest and oldest shooting clubs in Germany — a scale that elevates the Schützenfest far beyond the local level.

When: July 10th to 13th, 2026

The Paderborn Schützenfest 2026 runs from Friday, July 10th, to Monday, July 13th, 2026 — four days packed with events:

• Friday, July 10th: Kick-off with concerts in the square, opening of the festival marquee
• Saturday, July 11th: Parade march, king's shot, coronation ball
• Sunday, July 12th: Grand parade through Paderborn
• Monday, July 13th: Morning pint, festival finale, bird shooting

Where: Schützenplatz Paderborn

The main venue is the Schützenplatz on the southwestern edge of Paderborn's city center — a spacious area with festival marquees, a bird shooting stand, and a clubhouse, nestled within Paderborn's urban landscape with the Domplatz, Padersee lake, and Kaiserpfalz palace. The festival marquee can hold several thousand people, and the festival grounds offer additional space for stalls, amusement rides, and a stage.

Concerts in the Square, Parades, and the Grand Parade

Over four days, three program elements characterize the festival:

Concerts in the Square and Parade Marches

Several PBSV companies march through Paderborn's city center with their brass bands. Meeting points: Marienplatz, Rathausplatz, Domplatz, Königsplätze. The Platzkonzerte (concerts in the square) are freely accessible open-air performances by the club's own music groups — from march music to popular hits.

Grand Parade on Sunday

The highlight is the Großer Festumzug (Grand Parade) on Sunday afternoon through Paderborn's city center. Over 3,000 marksmen in green uniforms, along with brass bands, drum corps, mounted units, decorated floats, and guest clubs from the Hochstift Paderborn, march through the city. The parade lasts several hours — spectators line the streets in multiple rows.

King's Shot and Proclamation

The Königsschuss (king's shot) on the Schützenplatz is the central sporting moment of the festival. Whoever knocks the bird off the pole becomes the new Schützenkönig (shooting king) for the coming year. The proclamation and presentation of the new royal couple take place on the festival evening with a ceremonial coronation in the marquee.

Paderborner Bürger-Schützenverein — History Since 1831

The PBSV was founded in 1831, in the spirit of the Restoration period and following the medieval shooting tradition of the cathedral city. Even in the Middle Ages, Paderborn was a shooting town — citizens' shooting competitions ensured city defense. Today's club is one of the largest in Germany, organized into numerous companies (Bürgerkompanien, Jägerkompanien, Schützenkompanien) and hosts several traditional events besides the main festival — Sebastiani Festival in January, shooting competitions, pilgrimages, receptions.

Paderborn — The Cathedral City in the Hochstift

Anyone visiting the Paderborn Schützenfest should also plan to explore the city itself. Paderborn is the historical capital of the Hochstift Paderborn, a spiritual center with the famous St. Mary and St. Liborius Cathedral, Charlemagne's Imperial Palace, and the Pader springs — Germany's shortest river originates right in the city center. The festival weekend is ideal for combining tradition and history: a cathedral tour in the morning, the parade in the afternoon, and the festival marquee in the evening.

Getting There and Tips

Paderborn is easily accessible via the A33 motorway and the main train station (IC connections from Hanover, Cologne, Frankfurt). From the main train station, it's about a 15-minute walk to the city center and the Schützenplatz. Tip: Arrive early for a good spot at the parade on Sunday — the central street sections (Westernstraße, Rathausplatz) fill up quickly. If you want to experience the festival marquee, it's advisable to reserve seats for the main evenings (coronation ball on Saturday, festival evening on Sunday).