Schützenfest Höxter — Schützengilde 1595

Schützenfest Höxter — Tradition since 1595

From July 3rd to 5th, 2026, the Schützengilde Höxter von 1595 e.V. will celebrate its grand Schützenfest on the market square and in the festival tent. It is a festival that does not take place every year in this dimension: the guild celebrates the grand Schützenfest only every two years — which further emphasizes the significance of the 2026 edition.

Program — Three Days of Festivities

Friday, July 3rd, 2026

• Großer Zapfenstreich (Grand Tattoo) with marching bands and marksmen's music
• Kommers — a festive club evening with speeches and honors

Saturday, July 4th, 2026

• Parade through Höxter's city center
• Reception of Guest Clubs in the festival tent
• Königsball (King's Ball) in the evening

Sunday, July 5th, 2026

• Schützenfrühstück (Marksmen's Breakfast) in the festival tent
• Proclamation of the new King and Queen
• Königsball as the festival finale

King's Shoot on June 27th, 2026

One week before the actual festival, on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, the King's Shoot will take place. Here, the new monarch will be determined — the highlight of a centuries-old ritual that combines the marksmen's competition with social dignity.

Schützengilde Höxter von 1595

The Schützengilde Höxter von 1595 e.V., with its founding year of 1595, is one of the oldest organized marksmen's associations in Ostwestfalen. For over four centuries, it has shaped the city's customs — from its origins in citizen defense to modern tradition preservation. Today, the guild is organized into four companies and is involved in social and cultural activities in the city, in addition to its marksmen's traditions.

Tradition of the King's Oak

A special Höxter tradition: the reigning King and Queen plant a "Königseiche" (King's Oak) on the Königsallee (King's Avenue) every year — a custom that has been maintained for over 40 years. In May 2026, the 19th King's Oak was planted.

Höxter — Hanseatic City on the Weser

The city of Höxter (approx. 28,000 inhabitants) is the district capital of the Höxter district in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia. It is picturesquely located on the Weser river, at the tri-border area of Lower Saxony / Hesse / NRW. Höxter is a Hanseatic city and home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Corvey Abbey. The historic market square with the town hall, St. Kiliani town church, and characteristic half-timbered houses forms the backdrop for the Schützenfest.