Weißenburger Kirchweih
South Franconia's largest Kirchweih festival with boxing matches, dog races, and parade
About Weißenburger Kirchweih
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Tradition since 1327 — and Festival Tent since 1902
The Weißenburger Kirchweih has an exceptionally well-documented history. The tradition dates back to the consecration of the parish church of St. Andreas in the year 1327. It was first mentioned as a festival in 1455 — making it one of the oldest Kirchweih festivals in Southern Germany. Since 1902, it has been celebrated in its modern form as a folk festival with its own festival tent and wine village (instead of in the town's inns, as originally). Since then, the festival has developed into South Franconia's largest Kirchweih festival — attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.
What makes the Weißenburger Kirchweih unique
- Boxing Matches (Kirchweih Boxing): Traditional boxing competitions in the festival tent — a rare mix of folk festival and sport, cultivated in Weißenburg for decades
- Dog Races: Another highlight of curiosities — dogs of all breeds compete against each other, the crowd cheers
- Stone Lifting: Traditional Franconian strength sport — who can hold the heavy stone the longest?
- Kirchweih Cycle Race by RC Germania Weißenburg: A tradition since 1954, several race classes through the city
- Festival Tent with Live Music: Ten days of festival tent operation with brass music, dance bands, and party music
- Wine Village: Pavilions with Franconian vintners, Schoppenwein (local wine by the glass), and snacks
- Children's Program: Carousel, rides, face painting
- Grand Fireworks Display: On the final day
- Flower and Costume Parade: On the final day — one of the most beautiful parades in Franconia, with costume groups, floats, flower-adorned horses, clubs, marksmen, and music bands
Weißenburg in Bayern — Roman City in the Franconian Lake District
Weißenburg in Bayern (approx. 18,000 inhabitants) is the district town of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen in the Franconian Lake District. The city is primarily known as a Roman City: the Roman Limes ran through here, and the Weißenburg Roman Museum displays famous Roman finds, including the spectacular Roman Treasure Hoard (discovered in 1979 during construction work, one of the most important Roman finds in Germany). The old town itself has an intact city wall with the famous Ellinger Tor, the medieval town hall, burgher houses, and churches from several centuries.
Who should go
Anyone who wants to experience an authentic, organically grown Franconian major folk festival — with traditional costumes, beer, wine, a parade, sporting curiosities, and a grand fireworks display — will find the Weißenburger Kirchweih to be exactly the right place. Compared to the world-famous Bavarian folk festivals (Oktoberfest, Wiesn), it is more manageable, more regional, and more authentic. For the people of Weißenburg, it is the home festival of the year, to which emigrants from all over the world also return.
Weißenburger Kirchweih — edition 2026
The Weißenburger Kirchweih 2026 kicks off on Friday, August 14 at 7:00 PM with the beer tapping ceremony in the festival tent — preceded by the parade of clubs and marksmen's brotherhoods. This is followed by festivities in the tent with brass music and the traditional opening atmosphere.
The following ten days offer the full program of a major Franconian Kirchweih: the festival tent with daily changing live music, the wine village with Franconian vintners and Schoppenwein, boxing match evenings (Kirchweih Boxing), dog races, stone lifting competitions, the Kirchweih cycle race by RC Germania Weißenburg (a tradition since 1954), a children's program, and amusement rides. The highlight on the final Sunday (August 23) is the grand flower and costume parade through Weißenburg's old town, followed by the closing fireworks display.
Programme Weißenburger Kirchweih 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026 — Opening
- 7:00 PM — Beer Tapping Ceremony in the festival tent after the parade of clubs
- Following — Festival tent atmosphere with brass music
Festival Week August 15–22, 2026
- Daily festival tent operation with live music and dancing
- Wine village with Franconian vintners
- Kirchweih Boxing: Boxing match evenings in the festival tent
- Dog Races: Competition for dogs of all breeds
- Stone Lifting: Traditional strength sport
- Kirchweih Cycle Race by RC Germania Weißenburg (several race classes)
- Children's program and family afternoons
- Amusement rides and stalls at the festival grounds
Sunday, August 23, 2026 — Final Day (Highlight)
- Morning — Frühschoppen (morning pint) and festival tent lunch
- Afternoon — Grand Flower and Costume Parade through Weißenburg's old town (costume groups, floats, decorated horses, clubs, marksmen, music bands)
- Evening — Last festival tent evening
- Late Evening — Grand Fireworks Display to conclude the festival
A detailed daily program will be published before the start of the Kirchweih at weissenburg.de/kirchweih.
Highlights Weißenburger Kirchweih 2026
- Beer tapping ceremony on Friday, August 14 at 7:00 PM
- Kirchweih Boxing — Boxing match evenings in the festival tent
- Dog Races — one of South Franconia's curiosities
- Stone Lifting — traditional Franconian strength sport
- Kirchweih Cycle Race since 1954 (RC Germania Weißenburg)
- Grand Flower and Costume Parade on the final Sunday
- Grand Fireworks Display to conclude the festival
Prices Weißenburger Kirchweih 2026
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Boxing match evenings may have an admission fee — details at weissenburg.de/kirchweih. Beer and food at the stalls typically at folk festival prices (Mass of beer approx. €11–€13, pork knuckle €15–€22).
Practical information — Weißenburger Kirchweih
Getting There
By car via the A9 (exit Allersberg) and B2 to Weißenburg. By train to Weißenburg (Bay) station; special shuttle buses run from the station to the festival grounds during the Kirchweih.
Admission
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Tickets for special events (boxing match evenings) may require admission — details at weissenburg.de/kirchweih.
Shuttle Buses
During the Kirchweih, special bus lines operate to the festival grounds and the town center.
Parade
Grand flower and costume parade on the final Sunday through the old town — free viewing spots along the route.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses in Weißenburg; further options at Brombachsee, in Gunzenhausen (15 km), or Treuchtlingen (10 km).
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Weißenburger Kirchweih al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Weißenburger Kirchweih
Festplatz Weißenburg
Festplatz Weißenburg, 91781 Weißenburg in Bayern