As well as the sporting aspect, which will take centre stage at Kieler Woche 2026, the programme of events and supporting activities on land also plays a major role. You’ll find all the important information here.
The three evening fireworks displays are causing quite a stir. The necessary closures of the relevant waterways have been published by the responsible Baltic Sea Waterways and Shipping Authority in the Notices to Mariners (BfS).
Tugboat fireworks display at the Ostseekai
The festivities will kick off on Sunday, 21 June 2026, from around 6 pm until around 6.40 pm, with the tugboat fireworks display for the cruise ship “AIDA bella” north-east of the Ostseekai. The restricted area It is situated between the shoreline and the port side of the “AIDA bella” and extends along the entire length of the ship.
Fireworks in Strander Bay
The second fireworks display will take place on Wednesday 24 June 2026 in Stader Bay, south-east of the Schilksee Olympic Harbour. The closure applies to the period from around 11.00 pm until the end of the fireworks display, and extends to a radius of at least 125 m around the location (54° 25.67'N 010° 10.72'E) of the moored pontoon carrying the launch equipment.
Closing fireworks display in the Inner Fjord
As always, the event will draw to a close with the grand finale fireworks display at Kieler Woche, this time on Sunday 28 June 2026 from around 10 pm. As well as the fireworks, the programme also includes a torchlight swim.
The restricted area required for this covers the inner fjord between the two banks, running westwards along the Kiel line from the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament building down to the cruise terminal at Ostseekai, and on the eastern bank from the mouth of the Schwentine to the German Naval Yards shipyard site.
Extended restricted area for the Navy
An extended restricted area was also designated from Thursday 18 June 2026 up to and including Sunday 28 June 2026 in the vicinity of the Kiel Naval Base, south of the Holtenau locks on the Kiel Canal.
The area is bounded by the lines connecting the following points: The southern corner of the barracks at the Kiellinie, the buoy south of the Gorch-Fock breakwater head, the buoy east of the Oskar-Kusch breakwater head, the buoy east of the AM-AN pier corner, and the northern end of the barracks at the Stalzus gate.
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
