Schützenfest St. Hubertus Sundern

Schützenfest Gütersloh-Sundern — 395 Years of St. Hubertus Tradition

The St. Hubertus Schützenbruderschaft 1631 e.V. in the Sundern district of Gütersloh is one of the oldest marksmen's brotherhoods in Westphalia. Since 1631 — in the midst of the Thirty Years' War — it has cultivated Westphalian marksmen's traditions, which, unlike the Rhenish Schützenfest, place a stronger emphasis on the Protestant character (predominantly Protestant region, with a marksmen's mass as an element of the festival tradition). From July 4th to 6th, 2026, the 2026 annual main festival will take place in the Hubertus-Arena — three days of Schützenfest with all the classic elements of the Westphalian brotherhood tradition.

Kaiserschießen — The Crown of All Marksmen Kings

The highlight of the 2026 festival is the Kaiserschießen (Emperor's Shoot) on Saturday, July 4th. The Kaiserschießen is a rare special form of the bird shoot: it does not take place annually, but at intervals of several years (often every 25 years or for special anniversaries), and only former marksmen kings of the brotherhood are eligible to participate. The winner becomes the Schützenkaiser (Emperor of Marksmen) — the highest honor a marksmen's club can bestow. This makes the 2026 Sundern Schützenfest a special event in the Westphalian marksmen's calendar.

The Festival Program

• Saturday, July 4th, 2026 — Kaiserschießen as the opening, festival evening in the marquee with a live band
• Sunday, July 5th, 2026 — Marksmen's Mass, festival parade through Sundern with all friendly brotherhoods, proclamation of the King and Emperor, coronation ball in the evening
• Monday, July 6th, 2026 — Morning pint (Frühschoppen), relaxed end to the festival, honor roll

Pre-festival events in June: On June 19th, a demonstration of the marksmen's birds (assembly and testing of the wooden birds), on June 14th, 20th, and 25th, the German national team's matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be shown in the Hubertus-Arena — the marksmen's brotherhood is turning its hall into a public viewing area for the World Cup games.

Sundern — Gütersloh District with Community Life

The district of Sundern is located in the east of the city of Gütersloh, in a rural-bourgeois residential area with single-family homes and established structures. The St. Hubertus Brotherhood is the social and cultural heart of Sundern — it not only organizes the Schützenfest but also Carnival events, the Sundern Summer Festival, and is involved in local youth work. The Hubertus-Arena, as the club's venue, is a meeting point for the citizens of Sundern.

Gütersloh — Bertelsmann, Miele, and East Westphalian City Life

The district city of Gütersloh, with its approximately 100,000 inhabitants, is home to world-renowned companies such as Bertelsmann SE (one of Europe's largest media companies) and Miele (household appliances). Shaped by Protestant bourgeoisie (which developed the Bertelsmann family into an economic power) and the East Westphalian character, Gütersloh combines economic strength with established districts like Sundern, Spexard, or Avenwedde. Worth seeing are the City Museum, the Mohns Park, and the beautiful city center with the Apostelkirche.

Gütersloh District — Westphalian Economic Powerhouse

The Gütersloh District is located in the south of East Westphalia and is considered one of the economically strongest districts in Germany — in addition to Gütersloh itself, companies such as Claas (agricultural machinery) in Harsewinkel, Storck in Halle (Werther's Original), or Pott (printing presses) are located here. Marksmen's traditions are particularly deeply rooted in the Protestant-influenced Gütersloh District — almost every municipality has its brotherhood, many with centuries of history. The Sundern Schützenfest is one of the most traditional in the region.