Nienburg (Saale) Swimming Pool Festival – 70 Years of the Swimming Pool

A Swimming Pool with History

The Nienburg (Saale) swimming pool opened in 1956 – in the early years of the GDR, when outdoor pools were being built everywhere in the small towns of Saxony-Anhalt as meeting places for the population. Seven decades later, the pool is still the same – maintained by a support association that fights against any austerity measures and preserves the pool as an indispensable part of town life. In the summer of 2026, this commitment will be honored with a double anniversary: 70 years of the swimming pool and the 10th Swimming Pool Festival combined.

One Festival, One Commitment

The Swimming Pool Festival is a fixture on the summer calendar in Nienburg (Saale), a small town in the Salzlandkreis district at the confluence of the Saale and Bode rivers. The festival has been organized since the late 2010s by the Friends of the Nienburg (Saale) Swimming Pool Association, a group of citizens who support the outdoor pool financially and organizationally. The proceeds from stall sales and donations go directly to the maintenance of the facility – pump technology, pool renovation, playground equipment.

A Summer Festival with Character

The program includes a classic family festival with water games, food stalls, music, and entertainment. Those who wish can also take a dip in the pool afterwards – the pool will remain open until the evening on the festival day. The double anniversary in 2026 promises a special touch: The support association announces a "big party" with a special program on the history of the pool, former employees as guests of honor, and possibly a photo exhibition from 70 years of swimming seasons.

Saxony-Anhalt's Pool Landscape

The Nienburg outdoor pool is part of a long tradition of municipal pools supported by public engagement in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Many of these pools had to close in the 1990s and 2000s – the fact that Nienburg was able to preserve its pool is not least thanks to the support association, whose Swimming Pool Festival generates money and attention for the facility every year.