18th Neuhausen Water Festival

Water, Dragon Boats, Lausitz

When the Spremberg Reservoir glistens in the west wind at the end of June, it can no longer be an ordinary weekend: From June 26 to 27, 2026, the Neuhausen Water Festival will take place for the 18th time. The North Beach of the reservoir — in the Klein Döbbern district of the municipality of Neuhausen/Spree, bordering the town of Spremberg to the south — becomes the playing field for dragon boats, bathtubs, and thousands of visitors from all over the Lausitz region and beyond. The organizer is the municipality of Neuhausen/Spree, which has been organizing and consistently expanding the event since 2008.

Dragon Boats — Regatta and Tug-of-War

The centerpiece of the festival is the international dragon boat regatta. Teams from Brandenburg, Saxony, and the Czech Republic compete against each other in the classic 200- and 500-meter sprints. A special feature is the dragon boat tug-of-war, where two boats are connected by a central rope, and the stronger crew must pull the other boat across the center line — a spectacular show where synchronicity and pure muscle power are crucial. New in 2026 is the 2,000-meter long-distance cup across the reservoir.

Bathtub Races and Family Program

The bathtub race is also a tradition, where homemade, buoyant constructions are raced with paddles — a guarantee for laughs and wet crews. For families, there are bouncy castles, pony rides, face painting, crafts, and demonstrations by the youth fire department. While the adults follow the competitions, children find their own universe on the festival grounds.

Friday Night Race and Beach Party

The 18th edition in 2026 will have a special highlight: On Friday evening, night races with illuminated dragon boats will be held — a magical sight on the reservoir. Saturday evening concludes with a beach party featuring a Roland Kaiser tribute band, singing classics of the Schlager idol between sand and water. A weekend that combines sport, folk festival, and summer evening into a unique mix in the Lausitz region.

Spremberg Reservoir — the Largest in Lausitz

With an area of around 7.7 km², the Spremberg Reservoir is the largest reservoir in Lower Lusatia. It was built between 1958 and 1965 for flood protection on the Spree River and is now a local recreation area, water sports venue, and home to rich birdlife. The North Beach with its fine sand, shallow water, and large sunbathing area is the most popular bathing spot — and for a few days in June, the venue for one of the largest open-air folk festivals in southern Brandenburg.