Name: Wismar Harbor Festival 2026
Start: 2026-06-12T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-14T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Alter Hafen Wismar

Harbor Festival Wismar

About Harbor Festival Wismar

Every summer, the Wismar Harbor Festival transforms the Old Harbor – the medieval harbor basin in the UNESCO World Heritage site – into a maritime festival mile. Since 1991, the festival has invited visitors for four days to see traditional sailing ships and museum ships at the quay, dragon boat races, a barrel race, and sailing competitions. Live music from sea shanty choirs to current acts is performed on three stages, especially the large Sparkassen-Bühne (stage) at the Baumhaus with a view of the Baltic Sea. A barrel parade opens the festival, and a fireworks display concludes Saturday. Market stalls with regional cuisine and products from the sea round off the program.

Dates 12 Jun — 14 Jun 2026

Venue Wismar (13074)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Harbor Festival Wismar — edition 2026

The Wismar Harbor Festival 2026 will be celebrated over four days; the official opening will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026. The barrel parade starting from the Schabbell Museum with gun salutes will kick things off. Traditional sailing ships and museum ships will be docked at the quay, dragon boat races and a barrel race will liven up the water, and three stages will provide live music. On Saturday evening at 10:45 PM, a fireworks display will take place.

The Wismar Harbor Festival 2026 will take place at the Old Harbor, with the official opening scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2026.

Program

3:00 PM — Barrel parade from the Schabbell Museum, with gun salutes and official opening by the city
Ships at the quay: three-masted schooner »Albatros«, lightships »Fehmarnbelt« and »Elbe 1«, brigantine »Roald Amundsen«; Open Ship on the offshore rescue cruiser »Wolfgang Wiese« and a boat from the water police
Water Sports: Dragon boat races, start of the barrel race, sailing competition
Stage Program on three stages, the main stage is the Sparkassen-Bühne at the Baumhaus
Saturday, 10:45 PM — Fireworks display over the harbor

Highlights Harbor Festival Wismar 2026

The opening barrel parade, the traditional sailing ships and museum ships to explore, the dragon boat races, and the fireworks display over the Old Harbor.

Programme Harbor Festival Wismar 2026

Friday, June 12, 2026

3:00 PM — Barrel parade from Schabbell Museum
Gun salutes and official opening by city representatives
Live music on three stages, including the Sparkassen-Bühne at the Baumhaus

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Open Ship on traditional sailing ships and museum ships at the quay
Dragon boat races, start of the barrel race, sailing competition
Stage program from sea shanty choirs to current live music
10:45 PM — Fireworks display over the Old Harbor

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Ship tours, maritime market activities, and stage program to conclude the festival

The complete stage program with artist names will be published by Hafentage Wismar GbR on hafen-fest-wismar.de.

Prices Harbor Festival Wismar 2026

The Harbor Festival is a public Volksfest (folk festival) with free access to the harbor area. Individual ship tours or program items may have separate conditions.

Practical information

Practical information — Harbor Festival Wismar

Getting There

Wismar is located on the railway line to Schwerin and Rostock; the Old Harbor is within walking distance from the train station. By car, take the A20 (exit Wismar).

Admission

The Harbor Festival is a public Volksfest (folk festival) with free access to the harbor area; individual program items may have separate conditions.

Tip

The fireworks display on Saturday around 10:45 PM can be well observed from the harbor bank. Allow time for the ship tours in the morning.

Four Days at the Old Harbor

The Wismar Harbor Festival – also known as Wismar Harbor Days – has been celebrated since 1991 at the Old Harbor of the Hanseatic City of Wismar. The medieval harbor basin is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and forms the backdrop for a four-day maritime Volksfest (folk festival) that highlights the Hanseatic character of the city in the Nordwestmecklenburg district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Ships to Touch

Traditional sailing ships and museum ships dock at the quay: the three-masted schooner »Albatros«, the lightships »Fehmarnbelt« and »Elbe 1«, and the brigantine »Roald Amundsen«. On the offshore rescue cruiser »Wolfgang Wiese« and a boat from the water police, there is an open ship – visitors can go aboard and see the ships from the inside.

Dragon Boats, Barrel Race, and Stage Program

On the water, dragon boat races, the start of a barrel race, and sailing competitions provide excitement. On land, three stages entertain the harbor area – the large Sparkassen-Bühne at the Baumhaus with a view of the Baltic Sea is the main stage. The program ranges from traditional sea shanty choirs to current live music. Market stalls offer regional cuisine and products from the sea.

Barrel Parade and Fireworks

The Harbor Festival is opened with the barrel parade, which starts from the Schabbell Museum and is accompanied by gun salutes and an official opening. A fireworks display over the harbor marks the highlight on Saturday evening. The organizer is Hafentage Wismar GbR.