Name: Vegesacker Pappbootregatta 2026
Start: 2026-05-16T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-17T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Museumshaven Vegesack

Pappbootregatta

About Pappbootregatta

At the Vegesacker Pappbootregatta, self-built boats made of paper and newspaper compete in exciting races – at the Vegesack Museumshaven, with maritime flair, music, and culinary delights for the whole family. Companies, youth groups, circles of friends, and brave individual starters compete in the categories of creativity and speed. The following day, the Maritime Mile continues: maritime breakfast on the Weser promenade, guided tours, art, and culinary offerings.

Dates 16 May — 17 May 2026

Venue Bremen (04011)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Pappbootregatta — edition 2026

The 13th Vegesacker Pappbootregatta will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, starting at 12 PM at the Vegesack Museumshaven, under the motto 'Phenomenal'. On Sunday, May 17, the Maritime Mile follows with a maritime breakfast, guided tours, art, and culinary offerings along the Weser promenade.

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, starting at 12 PM, self-built boats made of paper and newspaper will compete in races for the 13th time at the Vegesack Museumshaven. The motto for this edition is 'Phenomenal'. Starts will be in the categories of creativity and speed, with only about 20 starting places available. Maritime flair, music, and culinary offerings accompany the race. On Sunday, May 17, the Maritime Mile invites you from 11 AM for a maritime breakfast on the Weser promenade, guided tours of the city garden, art exhibitions, and a wide range of culinary offerings.

Highlights Pappbootregatta 2026

13th edition under the motto "Phenomenal"
First race at 3 PM, opening at 2 PM, award ceremony at 5:30 PM
Creativity and speed categories – only about 20 starting places
DJ party with Locki & Hannes from 6:30 PM
Maritime Mile on Sunday with breakfast, guided tours, art, and cutter pulling at 12:30 PM

Programme Pappbootregatta 2026

Saturday, May 16, 2026 – Pappbootregatta at Vegesack Museumshaven

Motto of the 13th edition: "Phenomenal". Self-built boats made of paper and newspaper compete in the categories of creativity and speed. Only about 20 starting places – registration required.

from 12:00 PM — Interactive stations, exhibitions, and open ship tours at the Museumshaven
2:00 PM — Official opening ceremony
3:00 PM — Start of the first paper boat race
5:30 PM — Award ceremony for the creativity and speed categories
6:30 PM to 10:00 PM — DJ music with Locki & Hannes at the harbor

Sunday, May 17, 2026 – Maritime Mile

from 11:00 AM — Maritime breakfast on the Weser promenade
Presentation of sailing teams and harbor tours
Guided tours of the city garden, art exhibitions
12:30 PM — Cutter pulling (competition)
Wide range of culinary offerings along the Maritime Mile

Registration & Helpers

Team registration via Microsoft Forms; team profiles by email to Birgit Benke. Sponsor deadline: February 4, 2026. Helper meeting: April 10, 2026, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the Nautilus House. Contact: [email protected], Tel. 0160-842 9956.

Note 2026: MTV Nautilus must plan infrastructure, music, and catering stands independently this year – a special challenge for the volunteer-run festival.

Prices Pappbootregatta 2026

Entry to the festival is free. Participation in the regatta only with registration – about 20 starting places. Registration via [email protected].

Practical information

Practical information — Pappbootregatta

Getting there

Vegesack is easily accessible by Regio-S-Bahn (Bremen-Vegesack station) and bus. The Museumshaven is within walking distance of the train station and the Weser promenade.

Admission

Entry to the festival is free.

Participation

Only about 20 starting places available. Written registration of teams usually required by mid-January. Contact: [email protected], Phone 0160 8429956.

Those who can swim may start

The Vegesacker Pappbootregatta is one of the most original folk festivals in the north of Bremen: self-built boats – exclusively from paper and newspaper – compete against each other in races at the Vegesack Museumshaven. The organizers' motto says it all: Those who can swim may start. It's less about high-tech and more about ingenuity, team spirit, and a healthy dose of courage, as not every boat survives the run dry.

Starts are in two categories: creativity and speed. Companies, youth groups, circles of friends, and individual starters build their paper boats in a few weeks and send them onto the water of the historic Museumshaven. Maritime flair, music, and culinary offerings create a convivial family festival.

Maritime Mile on the following day

The regatta is embedded in a larger maritime weekend. On the following day, the Maritime Mile along the Weser promenade invites you to a maritime breakfast, guided tours of the city garden, art exhibitions, and a wide range of culinary offerings – from classic bratwurst to fish to cake. Thus, the sporting fun of the regatta is combined with a relaxed stroll through maritime Vegesack.

Experience Vegesack maritimately

The Vegesack Museumshaven with its historic ships is the perfect backdrop for this unusual race. Anyone who wants to get to know the north of Bremen from its maritime, hands-on side will find it here.