Schützenfest Bad Driburg — Bürgerschützengilde

Citizens' Shooting Tradition in the Spa Town

Bad Driburg, a spa town in the Höxter district, is known beyond the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia for its mineral springs, the Gräflich von Oeynhausen spa, and its gently rolling landscape in the Eggegebirge. Less known, but all the more important to the residents of Bad Driburg, is the traditional Schützenfest of the Bürgerschützengilde. From July 10th to 12th, 2026, the guild will host its annual Schützenfest — the social and club highlight of the year in the district town.

King's Shoot in Advance on June 27th

A special feature of the Bürgerschützengilde Bad Driburg is the temporal separation of the King's election and the actual Schützenfest: The King's Shoot takes place two weeks before the festival weekend — on Saturday, June 27th, 2026. This means the new shooting king is known before the Schützenfest, and the festival weekend can be celebrated with a coronation and parade without having to incorporate the competition into the program. This separation is widespread in the Höxter district and the Diocese of Paderborn.

Three Festival Days in Bad Driburg

The festival weekend from July 10th to 12th, 2026, follows the traditional Westphalian Schützenfest choreography: Opening on Friday with assembly and dance evening in the festival tent, main festival day Saturday with coronation and coronation ball, conclusion Sunday with a festival service and parade through the Bad Driburg city center. Throughout the weekend, the festival tent with bar, food, and dance floor is open — embedded in the club life of the shooting fraternity.

Schützenfeste Season 2026 in the Höxter District

Bad Driburg is just one of many Schützenfeste in the Höxter district in the summer of 2026. The Neue Westfälische publishes a list of Schützenfest dates for the entire season: from spring (Driburg) through midsummer (Höxter, Brakel, Steinheim, Beverungen) into autumn. Thus, the district town is embedded in a larger regional festival calendar that stands for local ties and Westphalian club life.

Bad Driburg in the Höxter District

Bad Driburg is located in the Höxter district in Ostwestfalen-Lippe and has around 18,000 inhabitants. The town is a member of Heilbäder Westfalen-Lippe and has been a state-recognized spa town since 1782 — with the Driburg mineral springs, the Gräfliche Park, and the neighboring Eggegebirge as its scenic hinterland. Schützenfest and Bürgergilde are a central identity feature in this small-town structure — a tradition that determines the entire city life for a week in the summer.