Name: Quer durch Berlin – International Long-Distance Regatta 2026
Start: 2026-10-10T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-10T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Spree und Havel – Start/Ziel-Bereich Haus der Kulturen der Welt / Regattastrecke Grünau

Quer durch Berlin

About Quer durch Berlin

Quer durch Berlin is the annual international long-distance regatta of Berlin rowing – one of Europe's oldest and most traditional rowing competitions. First held in 1927, the regatta will celebrate its 97th edition in 2026. The competition takes place through Berlin's city centre: hundreds of boats in various classes (singles, doubles, fours, eights, all age groups from juniors to masters) start in staggered races throughout the day. The organiser is Spree-Ruder-Club Berlin. Registrations are via meldeportal.rudern.de. Free admission for spectators – the course along the Spree is easily visible from many bridges and riverside paths.

Dates 10 Oct — 10 Oct 2026

Venue Berlin (11000)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Quer durch Berlin — edition 2026

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, hundreds of boats rowed the 97th edition of Quer durch Berlin on the Spree. The start and finish area is at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt; the competition day runs from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM in a time trial format across all boat and age classes. Organiser: Spree-Ruder-Club Berlin. Registration via meldeportal.rudern.de.

The 97th edition of Quer durch Berlin continues the almost hundred-year tradition of the regatta. Boats from numerous German clubs and a growing number of international teams are expected. Throughout the day, junior, senior, and masters classes will start in all classic boat classes from singles to eights.

The event day begins in the morning with the first senior classes, followed by junior races in the late morning, and masters classes in the afternoon. Award ceremonies take place directly at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. In dry weather, it's a highlight in the Berlin sports calendar – with good visibility for strollers along the Spree.

Highlights Quer durch Berlin 2026

97th edition of one of Europe's oldest long-distance regattas (since 1927)
Rowing race through the heart of Berlin's government district
Hundreds of boats in all classic boat classes and age groups
Start/finish area at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt
Viewing points: Spreebogen, Marschall Bridge, Weidendammer Bridge, Museum Island
Free to watch

Programme Quer durch Berlin 2026

Saturday, October 10, 2026

09:00 AM – Event start at the start/finish area Haus der Kulturen der Welt
09:00 AM–12:00 PM – Senior and Masters classes (early starts)
12:00 PM–03:00 PM – Junior and Senior classes, mixed boat classes
03:00 PM–07:00 PM – Masters classes and large boats (eights)
ongoing – Award ceremonies on site
08:00 PM – Event end

Exact schedules by boat class available via meldeportal.rudern.de and spreeruderclub.de.

Prices Quer durch Berlin 2026

Free to watch. Participation only for registered club boats via meldeportal.rudern.de.

Practical information

Practical information — Quer durch Berlin

Start/Finish Area

Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin (Mitte district, Tiergarten locality). S-Bahn/U-Bahn Berlin Hauptbahnhof (approx. 10 minutes walk) or Bus 100 stop Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

Course and Viewing Points

Course approx. 6–7 km on the Spree through the government district. Classic spectator points: Spreebogen in front of the Bundestag, Marschall Bridge, Friedrichstraße Bridge, Weidendammer Bridge, Bode Bridge / Museum Island. Freely accessible.

Participant Registration

Registration exclusively via meldeportal.rudern.de. Information on the announcement and schedule via spreeruderclub.de.

A Berlin Sports Tradition Since 1927

Quer durch Berlin was first held in 1927, making it one of the city's oldest regular sporting events. Despite war, division, and political upheavals, the format has endured: one day in October, hundreds of rowing boats, a course through the heart of the capital. In 2026, the 97th edition will start – a testament to the reliability of an event with such a tradition. Today, the regatta is organised by Spree-Ruder-Club Berlin; participating clubs come from all over Germany as well as from Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.

Format and Course

Quer durch Berlin is a long-distance time trial regatta: boats start at staggered intervals, and the total time over the course is measured. The distance is traditionally between 6 and 7 kilometres, rowed on the Spree through Berlin's government district. The start and finish areas are at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt on the Spreebogen – an impressive setting between the Bundestag, Hauptbahnhof, and Chancellery. The exceptional situation of 'competitive sport in the middle of Berlin's city centre' makes the regatta special both sportingly and in terms of public interest.

Boat Classes and Participants

There are competitions in almost all Olympic and non-Olympic boat classes: singles (1x), double sculls (2x), pairs without coxswain (2-), quadruple sculls (4x), fours with/without coxswain (4+/4-), and eights (8+). In addition, there are age groups from Junior B (up to 16 years) through Senior A and B (elite level) to numerous Masters classes (from 27 years in five-year increments up to Masters K, from 80 years). In total, usually 600–800 boats participate, starting in waves between 9 am and 8 pm.

Spectating and Atmosphere

Quer durch Berlin is explicitly open to the public: anyone strolling along the Spree between Spreebogen, Reichstag, Friedrichstraße, and Museum Island will see boats passing by all day. The bridges (Friedrichstraße Bridge, Marschall Bridge, Weidendammer Bridge) are classic viewing points. At the start/finish area at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, there is a festival atmosphere all day with food stalls, commentators, and award ceremonies.