Name: Kiel Bootshafensommer 2026
Start: 2026-07-17T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-22T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Bootshafen Kiel (Floßbühne)

Bootshafensommer

About Bootshafensommer

The Kiel Bootshafensommer is arguably the most charming summer concert series in the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein: On six Fridays and Saturdays between July 17 and August 22, 2026, local newcomers, established North German bands, and themed programs will perform from 3 PM to 10 PM on a floating raft stage in the Bootshafen — right in the center of Kiel's inner city, directly on the water. Free admission, open air. Organized by Kiel-Marketing; the 18th edition of the festival is spread over twelve individual concert days with up to 40 bands. Genres: Rock, Pop, Reggae, Classical, themed weekends. A maritime summer tradition directly between the fjord and the city center.

Dates 17 Jul — 22 Aug 2026

Venue Kiel (01002)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Bootshafensommer — edition 2026

The Bootshafensommer 2026 runs over six weekends between July 17 and August 22. Concerts every Friday and Saturday from 3 PM to 10 PM on the floating raft stage in Kiel's Bootshafen. Up to 40 bands of all genres — Rock, Pop, Reggae, Classical, themed weekends. Free admission. Organizer: Kiel-Marketing. This is the 18th edition.

The 18th edition of the Bootshafensommer is spread across twelve individual concert days. Organizer Kiel-Marketing is seeking up to 40 bands and musicians of all genres for 2026 — applications are coordinated via the Backstage PRO platform and the Kiel-Marketing office.

As always, the concept is open air and free of charge, with the stage floating freely in the Bootshafen. Food and drinks are available at the surrounding café and bistro terraces by the harbor, as well as at mobile snack stands. In case of bad weather, the program will be flexibly adapted.

Highlights Bootshafensommer 2026

Floating raft stage in Bootshafen, free admission on six weekends, up to 40 bands, maritime open-air atmosphere in Kiel's city center.

Programme Bootshafensommer 2026

Concert Weekends 2026 (15:00 – 22:00 each day)

Friday, July 17 – Saturday, July 18, 2026 — Season opener
Friday, July 24 – Saturday, July 25, 2026
Friday, July 31 – Saturday, August 1, 2026
Friday, August 7 – Saturday, August 8, 2026
Friday, August 14 – Saturday, August 15, 2026
Friday, August 21 – Saturday, August 22, 2026 — Season finale

Genres

Rock
Pop
Reggae
Classical
Themed weekends (e.g., Reggae weekend, Classical Saturday, Newcomer Day)

Applications

Up to 40 bands sought. Applications via the Backstage PRO platform (backstagepro.de/kielerbootshafensommer2026). The final program overview will be published in May/June 2026 on kiel-sailing-city.de.

Prices Bootshafensommer 2026

Free. Food and drinks at the surrounding café terraces and snack stands by the harbor.

Practical information

Practical information — Bootshafensommer

Getting There

By train: Kiel Central Station (Hbf), then a 5-minute walk to Bootshafen. By car: Parking garages at Schlossgarten and in the city center. By bike: Ideal — Bootshafen is directly on the Fjord cycle path.

Admission

Free. Donations for the bands are welcome.

Dates

July 17 / July 24 / July 31 / August 7 / August 14 / August 21 — Fridays and Saturdays from 3 PM to 10 PM. Exact band program in summer 2026 on kiel-sailing-city.de.

Tip

Bring a blanket or a folding chair — the quay has limited seating. In case of rain, the event will be moved or the program adapted accordingly.

Floating Stage, Free Admission

The Kiel Bootshafensommer transforms the Bootshafen in the center of Kiel into a summer open-air stage for six weekends. The concept has remained unchanged since its premiere in 2009: A floating raft stage is moored in the harbor, the audience gathers on the quay edges, in the surrounding café terraces, and on the water. Free admission. Open air. Directly under the open sky amidst the yachts and the buildings of the city center.

Six Weekends, Twelve Concert Days

The Bootshafensommer 2026 runs on the following weekends:

July 17 – 18, 2026
July 24 – 25, 2026
July 31 – August 1, 2026
August 7 – 8, 2026
August 14 – 15, 2026
August 21 – 22, 2026

Concert times Friday and Saturday, 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM each day. Up to 40 bands and musicians are spread across the twelve days. Applications are handled through Kiel-Marketing.

Genres and Program

The program is deliberately broad: Rock, Pop, Reggae, and Classical alternate. Embedded are themed weekends with specific focuses — such as a Reggae weekend, a Classical Saturday, or a Newcomer Day. Local Kiel bands and North German acts dominate, supplemented by guest artists from across the country.

Kiel and the Bootshafensommer

The state capital Kiel is not only a port city with the Kiel Fjord and the Kiel Week in June, but also a city where water is consistently integrated into the urban landscape. The Bootshafen is located directly at Berliner Platz in the middle of the city center — you can walk from Holstenstraße to the stage in two minutes. The floating raft stage has been a trademark since 2009, continuing the social summer life on the water after the Kiel Week. Independent city of Kiel, state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Atmosphere

What makes the Bootshafensommer special is the mix of open-air classical music (folding chairs, blankets, picnics) and city strolling — the concerts are not a festival with a dedicated area, but an integral part of the urban space. Families, day-trippers, residents, and summer commuters from Hamburg mingle in front of the stage. Snacks, drinks, and small eateries line the harbor.