Alpine livestock drives scheduled for Vorarlberg and Allgäu in 2026

Alpabtrieb Viehscheid traditional customs Alpine livestock seasonal festivals

Traditional livestock drives, known as Alpabtrieb in Vorarlberg and Viehscheid in the Allgäu region, are scheduled for late summer and autumn 2026. These events mark the end of the summer season as herds return from mountain pastures to the valleys.

In Vorarlberg, numerous dates have been set across various locations, including Au-Schoppernau, Schwarzenberg, and St. Gallenkirch, spanning from late August through mid-September.

In the Allgäu region, the Viehscheid in Wertach is set for September 18, 2026, featuring a large market and approximately 700 cattle. In Oberstdorf, the festivities will occur over two days: Schöllang will host about 600 animals on September 11, followed by the main event in Oberstdorf on September 12 with roughly 1,000 animals. These celebrations often feature decorated ‘Kranzrind’ (wreath cattle) and local festivities.