Wissen Schützenfest

Largest Schützenfest in the North of Rhineland-Palatinate

The Wissen Schützenfest is one of the most traditional and largest Volksfeste in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate. For four days on the 2nd weekend of July, it transforms the Sieg-Stadt (city on the Sieg river) Wissen into an attraction for festival-goers from the entire Westerwald, Siegerland, and the Cologne-Bonn region. Organized by the Schützenverein Wissen (Marksmen's Association), the festival combines Schützen customs with great Volksfest culture, live music at the highest cover band level, and one of the most impressive funfair miles in the region.

Köttingsbach Fairground

The Köttingsbach fairground in Wissen is completely reserved for the Schützenfest over the four festival days. The large marquee forms the musical center, the shooting range area is the stage for Schützen traditions, and the amusement rides and stalls of the funfair occupy the rest of the extensive area.

Music Program 2026 — Top Cover Band HOTSPOT

The musical highlight in 2026 will be the cover band HOTSPOT from Kobern-Gondorf on Saturday evening. HOTSPOT was awarded Best Cover Band Rhineland-Palatinate 2025 and is thus among the top of the German cover band scene. The band is supported by DJ Stocki, who handles the breaks and the later evening. On Sunday, the band De Pänz, with almost 35 years of band history, will perform, followed by the Wolpertinger-Buam Sunday Brunch — the Bavarian party band is back in 2026 after their successful debut in 2025. On Monday evening, DJ Sascha Sunshine will conclude the marquee festivities.

Traditional Schützen Music

The Schützen traditions are accompanied by the Stadt- und Feuerwehrkapelle Wissen (City and Fire Brigade Band Wissen), the Musikverein Brunken (Brunken Music Association), the Bergkapelle Birken-Honigsessen (Birken-Honigsessen Mountain Band), the Musikverein Concordia Friesenhagen (Concordia Friesenhagen Music Association), and the Tambourcorps Ottfingen (Ottfingen Drum and Bugle Corps). The Tambourcorps Ottfingen will be participating for the first time in 2026 in the traditional Großer Zapfenstreich (Grand Tattoo) on Saturday evening — a special highlight for the festival marksmen.

Spectacular Funfair Mile

The funfair mile in Wissen, with its amusement rides, is one of the most impressive in the entire region. In 2026, the Rocket giant swing, a Ferris wheel, and the Jaguar Express will be among the attractions. Classic attractions like bumper cars and Breakdance complement the offerings, while a nostalgic mile with old carousels recalls the beginnings of funfair tradition.

Wissen — City on the Sieg River at the Transition to Siegerland

Wissen is located on the Sieg river in the north of the Altenkirchen district, at the transition from Rhineland-Palatinate to the North Rhine-Westphalian Siegerland. With about 8,000 inhabitants, the town is the economic and cultural center of the Wissen administrative district. The Schützenfest strengthens this central function and attracts visitors from both federal states.