Name: International Festival Maritim 2026
Start: 2026-07-31T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-02T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Maritime Meile, Bremen-Vegesack

Festival Maritim

About Festival Maritim

The International Festival Maritim in Bremen-Vegesack is one of the world's largest maritime music festivals. Around 100,000 visitors celebrate along the Maritime Mile on the Weser river when about 30 bands and groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands play shanties, folk, and folk-punk on eight open-air stages. Free and outdoors, with a grand finale fireworks display – a highlight of the Bremen festival summer.

Dates 31 Jul — 02 Aug 2026

Venue Bremen (04011)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Festival Maritim — edition 2026

The 26th International Festival Maritim will take place from July 31 to August 2, 2026, in Bremen-Vegesack along the Maritime Mile. Around 30 bands and groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands will perform shanties, folk, and folk-punk on eight open-air stages. Free and outdoors, with a grand fireworks finale on the Weser.

From July 31 to August 2, 2026, the 26th International Festival Maritim will transform the harbour town of Vegesack into a huge stage area on the Weser. Around 30 international bands and groups will perform on eight stages, with a programme ranging from shanties to folk-punk. The festival remains free and outdoors and concludes with a grand fireworks display.

Highlights Festival Maritim 2026

26th edition focusing on 50 years of Bremen-Gdańsk twinning (Polish acts Orkiestra Samanta and ZA HORYZONTEM); British classics Kimber's Men, The Sea Band, and The Silver Darlings; Argentinian folk-rockers Triddana; Hungarian folk-punk highlight Jolly Jackers; local staples like Bremer Shanty-Chor and Seemanns-Chor Vegesack; eight open-air stages along the Maritime Mile; free and outdoors; grand fireworks finale on Sunday evening.

Programme Festival Maritim 2026

26th Festival Maritim - July 31 to August 2, 2026

Three days of maritime music along the Maritime Mile on the Weser in Bremen-Vegesack, on eight open-air stages, free and outdoors. Focus 2026: 50 years of Bremen-Gdańsk Twinning with a special focus on Poland in the line-up.

2026 Line-up by Country of Origin

Germany

1. Bremer Ukulelenorchester
Bremer Shanty-Chor
Foggy Crew
Folksaenger Gunnar Wiegand
Hart Backbord
High Germany
Seemanns-Chor Vegesack
Tammie Norrie

Netherlands

Armstrong's Patent
De Kaapstander
Unicorn

United Kingdom

Kimber's Men
LocTup Together
The Sea Band
The Silver Darlings

Poland (Focus 50 years Bremen-Gdańsk)

Orkiestra Samanta
ZA HORYZONTEM

Hungary

Jolly Jackers

Argentina

Triddana

Programme Structure and Venues

Friday — Festival opening on the main stages along the Maritime Mile
Saturday daytime — Street music in the alleys around the Vegesack pedestrian zone
Saturday evening — Full programme on all eight open-air stages
Sunday — Closing day with a grand fireworks finale over the Weser in the evening

Eight stages by the water, from shanty choirs to Celtic folk and folk-punk, Maritime World Music, and energetic rock. Stage assignments and set times per band will be published daily on festival-maritim.de (Programme).

Prices Festival Maritim 2026

Free admission (free and outdoors). Food, drinks, and festival merchandise available on-site for purchase.

Practical information

Practical information — Festival Maritim

Getting There

Maritime Meile, Bremen-Vegesack, 28757 Bremen. Very well accessible by regional S-Bahn and bus from Bremen; due to large crowds, arrival by public transport is recommended.

Admission

Admission is free (free and outdoors). Food, drinks, and festival merchandise are available on-site for purchase.

Maritime Music on the Weser

When Vegesack comes alive with sound, it's Festival Maritim: For one weekend, the historic harbour town in northern Bremen transforms into a huge stage area. Eight open-air stages are lined up along the Maritime Mile directly on the water, where around 30 bands and groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands perform shanties, folk, and folk-punk. With around 100,000 guests, the festival is one of the largest of its kind worldwide.

Free and Outdoors

The special feature: The entire festival is free and outdoors. You can wander freely between the stages, moving from shanty choirs to folk-punk bands, all while enjoying the view of the Weser river. Vegesack, with its museum harbour and promenade, provides the ideal maritime backdrop – a fusion of Hanseatic harbour tradition and international music scene, creating a grand Volksfest (public festival).

From Shanties to Fireworks

The musical spectrum ranges from traditional sea shanties and Celtic folk to energetic folk-punk. The event culminates in a spectacular fireworks display over the Weser – an atmospheric highlight that crowns the festival weekend. The event is organised by Vegesack Marketing.

A Meeting Point for the Whole Region

The Festival Maritim has long been a meeting point where people reconnect with friends and acquaintances, discover new bands, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere by the water. Its location directly on the Weser and free admission make it one of Bremen's most popular major events.