Brandenburger Water Festival Fürstenberg/Havel

Fürstenberg/Havel — Water City in the Three-Lakes Region

Fürstenberg/Havel in the Oberhavel district is a small town with just under 5,700 inhabitants and is one of Brandenburg's most beautiful water cities. The town is located at the transition from the Mecklenburg Lake District to the Märkische Wasserstraße (Märkische Waterway): Three large lakes — Schwedtsee, Röblinsee, and Baalensee — surround the old town. The Havel River connects Fürstenberg with the Elbe and the Baltic Sea. Water sports, boat rentals, swimming opportunities, and nature reserves make the town a popular summer destination.

29th Brandenburger Water Festival

The Water Festival in Fürstenberg is part of the series of events that has shaped the second weekend of July since 1998. 2026 will celebrate the 29th edition. The festival mile will be set up in the Stadtpark on the Schwedtsee — a spacious area directly on the shore. Stages, a festival tent, a shooting stand, a children's activity area, catering stands, and boat docks are concentrated here. Unlike purely folk festivals (Volksfeste), water is a central component — regatta competitions, boat parades, and dragon boat races characterize the scene on the lake.

Program — Regatta, Schützenfest, Stage

The 2026 program has not yet been fully published as of the editorial deadline (May 2026). What is known: The large Schützenfest runs parallel over the weekend — the Fürstenberger Schützengilde (marksmen's guild) invites you to competitions and the proclamation of the king. Regatta competitions and boat parades will take place on the lake. On the main stage in the Stadtpark, performances by regional bands (country, Schlager, rock, pop), dance groups, and sports demonstrations will alternate throughout the weekend. For children, there is a dedicated activity area with a bouncy castle, craft, and game stations. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, concerts and a fireworks display over the lake will be the highlights.

Getting There and Accommodation

Fürstenberg is located directly on the A 19 motorway (Berlin-Rostock) — approx. 1 hour 15 minutes from Berlin, 1 hour from Neubrandenburg. By train: Regional-Express RE 5 (Berlin-Rostock), stop Fürstenberg/Havel directly in the center. The town has several hotels, guesthouses, and holiday apartments — those who want to combine the weekend with nature experiences will find hiking trails, swimming lakes, and quiet forests in the neighboring Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park.