For Kiel Week 2025, it was the Bochum-based artist Cihan Tamti whose design had won over the jury. This year, Erik Brandt from Minneapolis in the US state of Minnesota prevailed against competition from Germany and Denmark. If you’d like to see for yourself: these five designs from Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Kiel and Copenhagen can be seen here.
This year’s winner, the son of a German father, also has roots in this country and spent part of his childhood in northern Germany. Erik Brandt has been working as a graphic designer since 1994 and is currently a professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
The design for Kiel Week 2026
Summery – According to the jury, the colours in Erik Brandt’s design played a major part in securing victory in the selection process: they described the design as “friendly, relaxed and with a particular lightness”, adding that “the summery colour scheme conveys openness and a zest for life”. Four of the three levels each feature the white lettering ‘KIWO’ in cross-section, each on a different background colour.
Visually, however, the focus is on an orange regatta buoy, with sails and the sun behind it. According to the jury, it serves “as a powerful symbol linking sailing with the open, festive atmosphere of the summer festival”. Even though the designs often opt for more or less abstract representations, the motifs usually have a distinctly maritime feel to them. Erik Brandt’s design for Kiel Week 2026 is no exception.
Not just for the poster
In addition to the iconic poster, the Kieler Woche design also encompasses a whole range of other applications and must therefore be truly multifunctional and highly recognisable. This includes classic merchandise such as caps, mugs and bags, as well as other promotional items such as flags and banners. The design must even be suitable for use as a car paint scheme.
The winning design has been selected through a competition since 1959. Other designs from that period can be found here. By comparison, they not only highlight the long history of Kieler Woche, but also offer a maritime insight into the design trends of past decades.
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
