Name: 65th Potsdam Fleet Parade and Harbour Festival 2026
Start: 2026-04-12T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-04-12T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Potsdamer Hafen / Lange Brücke

Potsdam Fleet Parade

About Potsdam Fleet Parade

With the 65th Fleet Parade and the traditional Harbour Festival, the Weiße Flotte Potsdam opens its season on the Havel and Schwielowsee on Sunday, April 12, 2026. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Lange Brücke at Potsdam Harbour transforms into a festival mile with stage performances, a tourism market, and family activities. The highlight at 3 p.m. is the departure of the entire fleet: six ships — MS Fridericus Rex, MS Charlottenhof, MS Königswald, MS Schwielowsee, MS Stadt Potsdam, and DS Gustav — will set sail together for a 2.5-hour corsair cruise. Admission to the Harbour Festival is free.

Dates 12 Apr — 12 Apr 2026

Venue Potsdam (12054)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Potsdam Fleet Parade — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 65th Potsdam Fleet Parade opens the season for the Weiße Flotte. On stage at the harbour, the Pub Choir, Potsdam Cheerleaders, and the Water Police Maritime Choir will perform. At 3 p.m., six ships — MS Fridericus Rex, MS Charlottenhof, MS Königswald, MS Schwielowsee, MS Stadt Potsdam, and DS Gustav — will depart on a 2.5-hour corsair cruise.

Harbour Festival 2026 — Season Opening of the Weiße Flotte

On Sunday, April 12, 2026, Potsdam celebrates the 65th anniversary of the Fleet Parade from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the Harbour Festival is free, the stage programme runs all day, and at 3 p.m., six ships will depart for the traditional corsair cruise.

On Site

Over 30 stalls will offer regional food products, tourism information, and family entertainment. The DLRG and Water Police will be present, and for children, there will be carousels and craft activities.

Highlights Potsdam Fleet Parade 2026

Departure of the entire Weiße Flotte at 3 p.m. with six ships including DS Gustav (historic paddle steamer); raffle with travel vouchers at 5:15 p.m.

Programme Potsdam Fleet Parade 2026

Stage Programme Sunday, April 12, 2026

11:00 a.m. — Musical morning pint with the Potsdamer Kneipenchor
12:45 p.m. — Dance and acrobatics by Cheerleader Potsdam e.V.
1:30 p.m. — Maritime Choir of the Water Police
3:00 p.m. — Fleet Departure: MS Fridericus Rex, MS Charlottenhof, MS Königswald, MS Schwielowsee, MS Stadt Potsdam, DS Gustav. Musical accompaniment on land: Werderaner Musikverein
3:30 p.m. — Genthiner Musikexpress: Rock, Pop, Film Music
5:15 p.m. — Raffle with travel vouchers

All day DJ DeeNoeRee between acts. Market with honey, baked goods, sausage specialties, Brandenburg and Berlin tourism stands, children's carousels.

Prices Potsdam Fleet Parade 2026

Admission to Harbour Festival is free. Tickets for the corsair cruise in advance from Weiße Flotte Potsdam.

Practical information

Practical information — Potsdam Fleet Parade

Getting There

Train: S7 or regional trains to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof, then a 10-minute walk across the Lange Brücke.
Tram/Bus: Stop „Alter Markt / Landtag“ or „Lange Brücke“.
Car: A115 exit Potsdam, parking in the underground garages Bassinplatz or Lustgarten.
Address: Lange Brücke 6, 14467 Potsdam.

Admission and Tickets

Admission to the Harbour Festival is free. Tickets for the corsair cruise are available in advance at schifffahrt-in-potsdam.de, Tel. (0331) 275 92 -10/-20/-30 (Mon–Fri 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.).

Tip

Arrive early, as seats on the ships are limited and sell out quickly.

65 Years of Season Opening at Potsdam Harbour

The Potsdam Fleet Parade is one of Brandenburg's oldest spring events and will be celebrated for the 65th time in 2026. It marks the official start of the season for the Weiße Flotte Potsdam — the largest passenger shipping company in the state capital — and draws thousands of Potsdam and Berlin residents to the Havel every spring. On Sunday, April 12, 2026, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. directly at the Lange Brücke 6 pier.

Stage Programme — from Pub Choir to Genthin Music Express

A stage will entertain the harbour square all day long. The Potsdamer Kneipenchor (Potsdam Pub Choir) opens at 11 a.m. during the musical morning pint. At 12:45 p.m., the cheerleaders of the Potsdamer Cheerleader-Verein will follow with dance and acrobatic performances. At 1:30 p.m., the maritime choir of the Water Police will sing sea shanties. At 3:30 p.m. — parallel to the fleet's departure — the Genthiner Musikexpress will play rock, pop, and film music. DJ DeeNoeRee will play between acts throughout the day. At 5:15 p.m., the grand raffle with travel vouchers will take place.

3 p.m. — The Fleet Departs

Precisely at 3 p.m., six passenger ships will depart for the traditional corsair cruise: MS Fridericus Rex, MS Charlottenhof, MS Königswald, MS Schwielowsee, MS Stadt Potsdam, and the historic paddle steamer DS Gustav. The parade will last 2.5 hours, travelling over the Havel and Tiefen See along Potsdam's palace and park landscapes. Musical accompaniment on land is provided by the Werderaner Musikverein. Tickets for the cruise are available in advance and usually sell out quickly.

Family Festival on the Shore — Tourism, Children, Enjoyment

Around the stage, a market will offer honey, baked goods, sausage specialties, and regional products. Tourism stands will present Brandenburg and Berlin as travel destinations, while the DLRG (German Life Saving Association) and the Water Police will demonstrate their water rescue equipment. For children, there will be carousels, entertainment, and craft activities. The Volkssolidarität (a social welfare organisation) will also have a stand.

Location and Significance

Potsdam Harbour is centrally located on the Lange Brücke between Alter Markt and the main train station, in the state of Brandenburg and the independent city of Potsdam (state capital). Its location directly on the Havel makes it the natural starting point for all regional passenger shipping — from here, you can reach Schwielowsee, Werder, Caputh, and the Berlin waterway network.