Kiel Bootshafensommer

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.