25th Elbebadetag Wittenberge

25 Years of Water Festival on the Elbe

The Elbebadetag Wittenberge has been the maritime summer festival of the Prignitz region for a quarter of a century. What began 25 years ago as a small Elbe swim has developed into a four-day festival week that attracts tens of thousands of visitors from Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt, and Lower Saxony to Wittenberge every year at the beginning of July. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 25th edition — and Freizeit Park Wittenberge GmbH is planning the biggest program in the festival's history.

Dragon Boat Racing, Elbe Swimming, Bathtub Regatta

The heart of the festival is water sports: In the dragon boat race, company teams, clubs, and groups of friends compete against each other, while anyone who can swim can register for the public Elbe swim — the current is secured by the DLRG (German Life Saving Association) and water police. A highlight for many visitors: the curious bathtub regatta, where bathtubs made seaworthy compete against each other on the Elbe. Those who build a seaworthy tub will be awarded trophies.

Folk Festival at Nedwighafen

The festival grounds extend around Nedwighafen: a stage with live bands ranging from classical to pop to rock, food stalls with regional and international specialties, a beer tent, carousels, and amusement rides. During the day, the children's program is in full swing with bouncy castles, craft tables, and hands-on activities; in the evenings, DJ sets and major concerts attract the younger generation to the festival mile. On one of the evenings, a large fireworks display over the Elbe crowns the day.

Wittenberge — Prignitz on the Elbe

Wittenberge, with a good 17,000 inhabitants, is the largest town in the Prignitz district in the state of Brandenburg. The historic port and industrial city is located directly on the Elbe, in western Brandenburg on the border with Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony. Nedwighafen was formerly a transshipment point for river barges — today it is a mooring for pleasure boats and the venue for city festivals. The Elbebadetag perfectly fits the city's identity: a festival between steel girder romance, river landscape, and closeness to the people.

Season Opener of Summer Highlights

In the Prignitz region, the Elbebadetag is followed by other summer highlights such as the city festival, the Schützenfest (marksmen's festival), and the Backofenfest (oven festival) in Premnitz — but the Elbebadetag remains the biggest crowd-puller in the region.