Name: International Sund Swimming Stralsund 2026
Start: 2026-07-04T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-04T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Strelasund (Altefähr – Stralsund)

Sund Swimming

About Sund Swimming

The International Sund Swimming is Germany's oldest and most important long-distance swim. Since 1966, thousands of swimmers have crossed the Strelasund from the island of Rügen to the Hanseatic city of Stralsund. The approximately 2,300-meter course from Altefähr across the Sund is considered both a sporting challenge and a maritime experience. A children's Sund swim over a shorter distance complements the program. The coveted starting places are regularly taken within seconds – proof of the appeal of this summer tradition in Vorpommern.

Dates 04 Jul — 04 Jul 2026

Venue Stralsund (13073)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Sund Swimming — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 61st International Sund Swimming will take place on July 4, 2026. The main race over approximately 2,300 meters starts at 11:00 AM from Altefähr, and the Children's Sund Swim, in its 24th edition, starts at 1:00 PM. All approximately 1,000 starting places were taken within seconds of the registration opening.

The 61st edition of the International Sund Swimming is scheduled for July 4, 2026. The main race over approximately 2,300 meters from the Rügen municipality of Altefähr to the Hanseatic city of Stralsund begins at 11:00 AM. At 1:00 PM, the Children's Sund Swim over about 800 meters follows, which will be held for the 24th time in 2026. The organizer is the DLRG local group Stralsund e.V. Demand was once again enormous: all approximately 1,000 starting places were taken in seconds after registration opened.

Highlights Sund Swimming 2026

61st edition of Germany's oldest long-distance swim
All 1,000 starting places sold out in seconds
Children's Sund Swim in its 24th edition

Programme Sund Swimming 2026

Schedule

11:00 AM – Start of Main Race (approx. 2,300 m, Altefähr → Stralsund)
1:00 PM – Children's Sund Swim (24th edition, approx. 800 m)

Prices Sund Swimming 2026

Participation only with a secured starting place; registration via sundschwimmen.de. Free for spectators.

Practical information

Practical information — Sund Swimming

Getting There

Stralsund is accessible by train (main station) and via the A20 motorway. Start in Altefähr on Rügen, finish on the Stralsund shore.

Registration

Online registration usually opens at the beginning of January; the approximately 1,000 starting places are, as experience shows, taken within seconds. Waiting list possible.

Tip

Spectators can best follow the arrival from the Stralsund shore.

Swimming from Rügen to Stralsund

When a thousand swimmers enter the Strelasund from the beach of the Rügen municipality of Altefähr on the first Saturday in July, one of Northern Germany's most traditional sporting events begins. The International Sund Swimming covers about 2,300 meters of open water to the Hanseatic city of Stralsund – Germany's oldest and most significant long-distance swim, with a history dating back to 1966.

Sporting Challenge in Open Water

The Strelasund connects the Baltic Sea with the Bodden of Greifswald and separates the island of Rügen from the mainland. Currents, wind, and water temperature make the crossing a real sporting task that appeals to ambitious open-water swimmers as well as recreational athletes. Accompanying boats from the DLRG secure the field along the entire route.

Main race over approx. 2,300 meters, start at 11:00 AM
Children's Sund Swim over a shorter distance of about 800 meters
Limited number of participants – starting places are extremely sought after

Organizers and Tradition

The organizer is the DLRG local group Stralsund e.V., which organizes the swim with great volunteer effort. For the Hanseatic city in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, the Sund Swim is a summer highlight: numerous spectators follow the arrival of the swimmers on the Stralsund shore.

Stralsund on the Strelasund

The UNESCO World Heritage Hanseatic city of Stralsund is the gateway to the island of Rügen and offers an attractive summer program around the Sund Swim. The event uniquely combines sport, maritime scenery, and Hanseatic atmosphere.