Swiss National Shooting Festival in Chur
Aim, shoot, reload — amid a festive atmosphere. That is precisely what makes a shooting festival so appealing. Shooting sports have been a centuries-old tradition in Switzerland, reaching their peak every five years at the Eidgenössisches Schützenfest (Swiss National Shooting Festival).
What today resembles a sporting competition with the character of a folk festival has a long history. Competitive shooting has been widespread throughout the Swiss Confederation since the late Middle Ages. Initially, these were private gatherings organised by hunting societies and shooting exercises by groups of townspeople, though they primarily involved wealthy citizens rather than the lower classes. Over time, the festivals became increasingly politicised: some contributed to peace, while others fuelled conflict. An important milestone followed in 1824 in Aarau with the founding of the Swiss Shooting Sport Federation (known until 2002 as the Swiss Federal Shooting Association) and the first Eidgenössisches Schützenfest. Its purpose was to promote unity among the Swiss population. From the late 19th century onwards, ties between civilian shooting organisations and the military grew increasingly close, a development further reinforced by the two world wars. It was not until 1996 that the Federal Council abolished compulsory membership in a shooting association. As a result, shooting increasingly developed into a sport, and shooting festivals evolved into sporting events.
Today, the Eidgenössische Schützenfeste, alongside cantonal and regional events, are popular gathering places where men and women of all ages compete regardless of their background, celebrate together and keep the tradition of shooting sports alive. The festival follows a clearly structured programme, featuring numerous competitions and so-called special Stiche. What exactly is a Stich?
A national event such as the Eidgenössisches Schützenfest above all requires one thing: space. While around 4,000 people took part in the first Eidgenössisches Schützenfest held in Graubünden in 1842, around 36,000 shooters are expected in 2026. This places considerable demands on the infrastructure of Graubünden’s shooting associations. The festival grounds, shooting ranges and prize pavilion have always been among the festival’s major attractions.
Speaking of the prize pavilion: what would a competition be without awards and prizes? The variety of prizes at an Eidgenössisches Schützenfest is vast — and often surprising — ranging from medals and beer mugs to sausages and even baby cradles. Yet almost all participants share one thing above all else: the enjoyment of the experience itself. Anyone wishing to take a closer look at prizes from past festivals can explore them here:
The Eidgenössisches Schützenfest can be experienced first-hand in Chur and the surrounding area from 5 June to 5 July 2026. Porta Cultura will also be part of the festival, presenting exciting puzzles (including a competition) about previous Eidgenössische Schützenfeste in Chur in the festival tent. It’s well worth stopping by.
Graubünden is no stranger to hosting the festival: the Eidgenössisches Schützenfest has already taken place here three times before. Anyone wishing to delve deeper — and journey into the past — can explore more here: