Surf Festival Fehmarn

Season Opener on the Südstrand

When the first warm winds sweep across the Baltic Sea in mid-May, the Südstrand of Fehmarn island transforms into a huge water sports playground. The Surf Festival Fehmarn powered by Salitos is Europe's largest windsurfing outdoor trade fair and, at the same time, the unofficial start to the German windsurfing season. What began in 1987 as a small surfer gathering has become an event with over 30,000 expected visitors, more than 30 exhibitors, and a program ranging from semi-professional regattas to beach taster courses.

Test What the Industry Has to Offer

The heart of the festival is the large Test Center: brands like Fanatic, JP, Naish, RRD, Severne, HiFly, or Goya bring their latest boards, sails, and foils to Fehmarn and make them available to visitors free of charge. From classic windsurfing setups to wing and foil boards, you can test everything directly on the water. For many manufacturers, Fehmarn is the most important showcase for their current collection in Germany.

Competition Highlights

Sportingly, three formats are at the center of attention:

• Racer of the Sea – the popular regatta for ambitious hobby and recreational riders, where you can compete against experienced material testers yourself.
• German Freestyle Battles – the German freestyle competitions with the country's best tricksters on Saturday evening.
• Academy – tips and coaching from regatta pros and stars of the scene.

Family Program and Introductory Courses

The festival is not just a professional stage but also extremely family-friendly: The Kids Camp for 7- to 18-year-olds offers a playful introduction to windsurfing, and free taster courses are open to beginners of all ages – including equipment and professional instruction, in cooperation with the Surf School Kalifornien and the Bundeswehr. Additionally, there's Yoga4Surfers on the beach, a Beach Camp as an affordable accommodation option directly at the event grounds, and a festival stage with talks, live acts, and after-show parties.

A Final Season on the Südstrand

2026 will be the last edition at the usual Südstrand promenade: The area is earmarked for long-term tourist development with holiday hotels and high-quality apartments. From 2027, the festival will move to the Westmole on the Südstrand in Burgtiefe – around 4.5 hectares of space will be available there. Those who want to experience the festival at its traditional location should be there in 2026.

Fehmarn and Ostholstein

The island of Fehmarn in the Ostholstein district has been the home of German windsurfing for decades. With its location between the Baltic Sea and the Fehmarnsund, its wide beaches, and consistent winds, it offers ideal conditions that have long been known beyond the water sports scene. Visitors to the festival should take time for the island: Burg auf Fehmarn as the main town, the Wallnau bird reserve, and the steep coasts in the north are worth a detour.