20th German Concrete Canoe Regatta

When students build a boat out of concrete

The German Concrete Canoe Regatta has been a unique German event since 1986: every two years, around 1,000 students from the construction and engineering fields meet to compete in self-built boats made of concrete. It sounds absurd, but it is technically highly demanding — and a flagship of German concrete and engineering culture. In 2026, the 20th edition will be held as a юбилей regatta on June 19 and 20 at the Beetzsee regatta course in Brandenburg an der Havel.

52 universities from all over Europe

Over 52 universities and vocational schools from Germany and Europe are registered. They have spent the year building their concrete canoes — with their own recipes, their own construction principles, and their own designs. The spectrum ranges from serious racing boats (as light and fast as possible) to creative open-class constructions, which are sometimes more sculpture than boat.

Date and schedule 2026

The regatta takes place over two days. On Friday, June 19, 2026, the boat inspection and jury evaluation will take place: construction, design, sustainability, and innovation will be assessed. On Saturday, June 20, 2026, it's time to hit the water: competitions from 8 a.m., Open Class boat parade around 1 p.m., semi-finals and finals from 2:10 p.m. Thousands of spectators line the regatta course — students, families, civil engineers, and curious residents of Brandenburg.

Beetzsee — the regatta course of the Federal Republic

The Beetzsee regatta course in Brandenburg an der Havel is one of the most modern rowing and canoe regatta courses in Germany. World, European, and German championships in rowing and canoe events are regularly held here. Its location in the city landscape near the Havel river, the grandstand, and the developed infrastructure make the course an ideal venue even for unusual sporting formats like the Concrete Canoe Regatta.

Sponsors and organizers

The regatta is supported by the InformationsZentrum Beton (IZB), with support from ALLPLAN, Köhler Beton, RECKLI, the VDB (Association of the German Cement Industry), and the City of Brandenburg an der Havel. The event also serves to promote young talent in civil engineering and to impart knowledge about materials — concrete is more than just a gray block; it is a highly complex composite material that makes amazing things possible.