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- Kiel Week 2027 runs from Saturday, 19th June, to Sunday, 27th June 2027.<\/li>\n
- The regattas start from the Olympic Centre Kiel-Schilksee and are sailed on the outer and inner fjord, in 2026 with 35 classes and disciplines, around 2,000 boats and 4,500 sailors from over 60 nations.<\/li>\n
- The highlight on the water is the Tall Ships Parade, when traditional vessels, steamships and private boats sail out along the fjord together.<\/li>\n
- Events on shore and along the waterfront are free. You pay for guest sailing trips, harbour tours and refreshments.<\/li>\n
- The easiest way to get there is by train, bus and fjord ferry; buses to Schilksee run directly from the main station.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When is Kiel Week 2027?<\/h2>\n
Kiel Week 2027 begins on Saturday, 19th June, and ends on Sunday, 27th June 2027. The date is officially confirmed.<\/p>\n
How the regattas will be distributed across the days in 2027 and on which day the Tall Ships Parade will take place is not yet confirmed. For guidance, the 2026 schedule helps: that year the Olympic classes sailed in the first part from 20th to 24th June, the other international classes in the second part from 25th to 28th June. The Tall Ships Parade took place on the last Saturday of the week, 27th June 2026.<\/p>\n
What is Kiel Week?<\/h2>\n
Kiel Week is an international regatta week with a large summer festival throughout the city. Around three million visitors come to Kiel each year, in 2026 alone 300,000 to the Olympic Centre Schilksee.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nIts history goes back to 1882. At that time, 23 yachts started on the inner fjord near the Bellevue Bridge, and indeed directly from their berths rather than over a start line. The first starting gun was fired by members of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein from Hamburg together with Kiel sailors. The regatta week has officially borne the name Kiel Week since 1894. In 1972 Kiel hosted the Olympic sailing competitions, and the Olympic Centre in Schilksee remains the focal point of the regatta events to this day.<\/p>\n
The regattas are organised by Kieler Yacht-Club together with Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee. Kiel Week is part of the Sailing Grand Slam, a series of five major regattas for the Olympic classes, which includes the Trofeo Princesa Sof\u00eda off Mallorca and the Semaine Olympique Fran\u00e7aise in Hy\u00e8res, among others.<\/p>\n
Which boat classes sail at Kiel Week?<\/h3>\n
The programme for 2027 has not yet been published. In 2026 the Olympic classes sailed in the first part of the week: the single-handed dinghies ILCA 7 and ILCA 6, the skiffs 49er and 49er FX, the mixed-crew 470 dinghy and the catamaran Nacra 17, plus the youth class 420.<\/p>\n
In the second part of 2026, international classes such as 29er, Contender, ILCA 4, OK-Jolle, J\/24 and J\/70 sailed, and wingfoil races and the Flying Dutchman world championship were also held. In parallel, offshore regattas for keelboats ran throughout the week. Results there are calculated according to ORC, a rating system that makes yachts of different sizes and speeds comparable through time allowances. In 2026 these included the Aalregatta, the Kiel-Cup, the Senatspreis and the Silberne Band.<\/p>\n
What is the Tall Ships Parade?<\/h3>\n
In the Tall Ships Parade, the traditional vessels sail in a long formation from their berths in Kiel down the fjord towards the Baltic Sea, accompanied by steamships and around 150 private boats. In 2026 the Gorch Fock, the sail training ship of the German Navy, led the parade.<\/p>\n
In 2026 the vessels cast off from 9.45 a.m., the starting gun fired at 11 a.m., and by around 1 p.m. the front had reached the finish line beyond the Friedrichsort lighthouse. At about 4 knots, the parade is easy to follow from the shore. In the afternoon the vessels return to their berths. The date for 2027 has not yet been published (as of October 2026).<\/p>\n
Can you sail along at Kiel Week?<\/h2>\n
Yes. Many traditional vessels that come to Kiel for Kiel Week take guests for day trips, evening sails or the Tall Ships Parade. In 2026 most trips were booked through the city's tourism portal; the overview of vessels is on the page Traditional Sailing Vessels of Kiel Week<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In 2026 around 60 traditional sailing vessels and 19 steam and escort vessels were registered. Depending on the vessel, between about ten and 90 guests can come aboard for a day trip; some vessels also offer trips with overnight stays. Alongside classic sailing trips, in 2026 there were, for example, brunch sails and a trip to the closing fireworks. Guest sailing trips for 2027 are not yet bookable (as of October 2026).<\/p>\n
How sailing along on traditional vessels works at another major Baltic gathering, you can read in the article on Hanse Sail 2027 in Rostock<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Where can you watch at Kiel Week?<\/h2>\n
You experience the regattas at close range in Schilksee, the naval cutters and the traditional vessels along the Kiellinie in the city centre. You watch the Tall Ships Parade from the shore of the fjord.<\/p>\n
Kiel-Schilksee and the Olympic Centre<\/h3>\n
The regatta boats are berthed at the Olympic Centre Schilksee, and there is also an event area with a stage on the beach. For a close-up view of the regattas and for photographs, Schilksee is the best place.<\/p>\n
Kiellinie and Inner Fjord<\/h3>\n
In the Inner Fjord off the Kiel Line, the naval cutters race in five classes, regularly with over 1,000 sailors. The races can be followed from the shore without binoculars. The event traditionally concludes with cutter rowing, where the boats are rowed. The tall ships are also moored in the city centre, in 2026 mainly at Sartorikai, at Bl\u00fccherbr\u00fccke, at Tiessenkai, in Germaniahafen, at Willy-Brandt-Ufer and at Bahnhofskai.<\/p>\n
The Kiel Line is also home to the naval base Tirpitzhafen, which welcomes naval vessels from several countries during Kiel Week. In 2026, tours on board were available on three afternoons.<\/p>\n
From the water<\/h3>\n
The fjord ferry F1 runs from Bahnhofsbr\u00fccke via Laboe to Schilksee and Strande and is therefore an affordable way to see the fjord from the water during Kiel Week. On the morning of the Windjammer Parade in 2026, it was suspended until 1.30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Getting to Kiel Week: train, bus, ferry and parking<\/h2>\n
The best way to travel is by train to Kiel Hauptbahnhof and from there by bus or ferry. In 2026, parts of the city centre were closed to cars on weekdays from 5 p.m. and at weekends from 11 a.m., and parking spaces are scarce.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
You can reach Kiel Hauptbahnhof by regional train. In 2026, additional trains ran during Kiel Week, including on the L\u00fcbeck\u2013Kiel route. If you are coming by car from the surrounding area, you can leave it at a station in the region and travel the last stretch by train.<\/p>\n
Bus, shuttle and ferry in Kiel<\/h3>\n
In 2026, bus routes 12 and 13 ran from Hauptbahnhof to Schilksee, to the Olympic Centre, also at weekends with good frequency. Between Hauptbahnhof and Reventloubr\u00fccke, the KiellinienExpress (route 44) ran in 2026 every 15 minutes daily from 12.30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and stopped directly at the festival areas. In 2026, the bus network ran for an hour longer than usual during the week, after which the night buses took over.<\/p>\n
Tickets<\/h3>\n
In 2026, there was a Kiel Week ticket for 14 euros, valid for ten days on buses and trains in the Kiel city area including Schilksee; with the fjord ferries it cost 31 euros. It was not valid on weekdays between 6 and 10 a.m., but was transferable. The Deutschlandticket was valid on buses and trains as well as on fjord ferries F1 and F2. Prices for 2027 have not yet been published (as at October 2026).<\/p>\n
Car and bicycle<\/h3>\n
If travelling by car, you must expect road closures, diversions and full car parks; the city shows occupancy live online. In 2026, motorhomes could be parked at Koesterallee, among other places. In 2026, the city set up four free supervised bicycle parking areas with a total of around 1,250 spaces. Further information is available on the Kiel Week service page<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Coming to Kiel Week with your own boat<\/h2>\n
If you are coming with your own yacht: berths for sports boats during Kiel Week are allocated by Sporthafen Kiel GmbH; berths for traditional ships by the harbour office. In Schilksee harbour, the maximum speed is 3 knots; in Strander Bucht, 10 knots.<\/p>\n
Private boats may also take part in the Windjammer Parade. They sail in groups, each led by tall ships. In 2026, all participants kept watch on VHF channel 11 from 9.30 a.m., which was also used for the starting signal. Anyone unable to maintain position must leave the formation safely and report to operations control by radio. Ships may only return to the fjord once the last parade vessel has crossed the finish line.<\/p>\n
If you only want to accompany the parade: spectator boats must not disrupt the formation during assembly, but may join it immediately after the start. The complete rules are in the Windjammer Parade Captain's Handbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
When is Kiel Week 2027?<\/h3>\n
From 19 to 27 June 2027, from Saturday to the following Sunday (as at October 2026).<\/p>\n
Does Kiel Week charge admission?<\/h3>\n
No. Events on land and watching from the shore are free. You pay for guest sails, boat tours, fairground rides and refreshments.<\/p>\n
On which day is the Windjammer Parade?<\/h3>\n
In 2026, the parade took place on the last Saturday of Kiel Week, 27 June, with a start at 11 a.m. The day for 2027 will be published with the programme.<\/p>\n
How do I get from Hauptbahnhof to Schilksee?<\/h3>\n
In 2026, by bus routes 12 or 13 to the Olympic Centre or by fjord ferry F1 from Bahnhofsbr\u00fccke.<\/p>\n
Will the Tall Ships Races come to Kiel in 2028?<\/h3>\n
Yes. Kiel will be the first port of the Tall Ships Races from 22 to 25 June 2028, an international regatta for tall ships. From there the race continues to Turku, Tallinn and Szczecin.<\/p>\n
More Baltic sailing<\/h2>\n
If Kiel Week gives you a taste for more, the Baltic is also a good sailing area for a few days on board outside regatta week. On T\u00f6rnfinder you will find offers for Sailing in the Baltic Sea<\/a>, berths on racing yachts in regatta sailing<\/a> and in the trip overview<\/a> all sailing areas and dates.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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