The marina is centrally located, right in the heart of Kiel. Surrounded by maritime charm and within easy reach of Kiel Town Hall, the Old Market and the Kiel Fjord. Address: Bootshafen 24103 Kiel – 54°19'15.7"N 10°08'19.5"E
16 July to 21 August 2027
Bootshafensommer
Free and outdoors for everyone: summer, music and the sea! The ‘Bootshafensommer’ brings live music right into the heart of Kiel city centre over six weekends. On the floating stage, visitors can enjoy local up-and-coming artists, well-known acts and a varied programme featuring rock, pop, reggae and classical music. There’ll also be delicious snacks, refreshing drinks and the unique maritime backdrop – the perfect event for enjoying summer right in the heart of the city.
A look back
These were the programme highlights of Bootshafensommer 2026
Kiel Democracy Festival
On Friday 31 July, the Kiel Partnership for Democracy hosted the Democracy Festival at Kiel’s boat harbour.
The duo Akkordarbeit opened the festival with a lively, interactive concert. Visitors of all ages were able to explore a wide range of activities offered by Kiel-based clubs, initiatives, as well as ZEIK and the ZEIK Creative Workshop from Gaarden, across eight pavilions.
Together, we celebrated democracy!
Summer Festival of Kiel’s Overseas Associations
The summer festival organised by Kiel’s international associations offered a journey around the world right on Kiel’s marina. With traditional songs, dances, culinary specialities and fascinating insights into various communities, the event’s diversity delighted visitors.
This is how the North plays
Casino Kiel hosted the weekend’s events at the Bootshafen Sommer festival
Under the theme ‘This is how the North plays’, guests were treated to a fresh mix of music with a summery atmosphere, chilled drinks and delicious food. Everyone raised a glass to the casino’s 30th anniversary, and there were a few special surprises in store.
Live broadcast of the summer theatre production: Faust
Goethe’s *Faust* was staged as an open-air musical as part of the summer theatre programme on the Kiel Fjord. The free premiere was broadcast live from 8 pm on a big screen at the marina, whilst the performances took place at the MFG5 site in Holtenau-Ost until 6 September.
In addition, the supporting film ‘KIELympia’ from 2022, produced by ZeitZeugenStudio e.V. using previously unpublished amateur footage, showcased the sailing competitions at the 1972 Olympic Games and the transformation of Kiel.
Charity weekend
When cups and glasses were returned, the deposit was waived so that the money could be donated to a good cause. The ‘Gastro-Helden’ then topped up the amount by a further €1,000.
No deposit, no problem!
AIDA Ship Tours
Will it be love at first sight? Discover the fascinating world of AIDA live on board! On a guided tour of the ship, you’ll get to know the public areas, take a look at various cabin categories and enjoy a delicious lunch in one of the on-board restaurants. Let yourself be swept away by the unique AIDA experience and find out if this is where your new favourite holiday begins. You can book dates in Kiel via the link below, or, with a bit of luck, you could win 5 x 2 places for this exciting experience!
20th Kiel Duck Race at the Bootshafensommer
At the 20th Kiel Duck Race, around 3,000 numbered yellow ducks raced against each other in the marina. The race took place on the last Sunday of the Kiel Marina Summer.
Racing licences could be purchased in advance. For sustainability reasons, only ducks that were present on the day of the race were used. The winning numbers were announced afterwards.
Recent photos from the 2026 concerts
© Jan-Michael Böckmann, Kiel-Marketing e.V.
Bootshafensommer on social media
We’re sharing more information about the Bootshafen Summer on our social media channels, and you can listen to the artists on Spotify.
Follow us now!
© Matthias Masch
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
How to get there
The marina is centrally located right in the heart of Kiel and can be easily reached by bus, bicycle, car or on foot.
Bus
The ‘Bootshafen’ bus stop is served by KVG bus routes 30S, 32, 41/42 and 61/62. You can find timetable information here via Nah.SH.
Car
There are plenty of parking spaces available in the immediate vicinity. For further information, visit www.parken-plus.info.
Bicycle
Bicycle racks are available. You can also make use of the SprottenFlotte bike-sharing scheme.
Accessibility
The venue is accessible to all; there is a disabled toilet available for holders of a Euro-WC key.
That’s Parken-Plus
Whether you’re travelling by car, bus, ferry or bike – simply show your ticket, valid for that day, when you pay and get at least €0.50 back on purchases of €10 or more. Over 50 shops, restaurants and service providers in Kiel city centre are taking part. Your ticket remains valid and can be used multiple times – so, in the best-case scenario, you’ll save more than the cost of getting there!
© Matthias Masch
Without you, Bootshafensommer wouldn’t be possible:
Thank you!
The best photos
That was Bootshafensommer in recent years
Your points of contact
Christian Schütze
Head of Events Management
Tel.: 0431 / 679 10-53
Email: c.schuetze (at) kiel-marketing.de
Nicolas Grimm
Programme Co-ordinator / Band applications
Email: nicolas.grimm@great-shows.de
Eva Zeiske
Press Officer
Tel.: 0431 / 679 10-26
Email: e.zeiske (at) kiel-marketing.de
To the Press material