Top-class cultural program for world-class sailing

Eva-Maria Kröger, Mayor of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock, looks back on her 87th birthday. Warnemünder Woche She is looking forward to the event, especially the international flair provided by sailors from all over the world, the extensive sports and cultural program on land, the Niege Ümgang (Nineteenth Festival), and the tapping of the keg at the opening, which she will conduct together with Minister-President Manuela Schwesig. "I am delighted that we are allowed to host the event and present Rostock-Warnemünde at its best," said Kröger.

A year ago, the mayor had promised to support the volunteers of the Warnemünder Woche to gain a better insight into their range of tasks. Now it is time to keep that promise. "I will be on site for two full days and am very excited about the many different tasks that await me. I have great respect for this commitment and the achievements that are made within the framework of the Warnemünder Woche are provided on a voluntary basis,” says Kröger.

In addition to the Warnemünder Woche A possible Olympic bid is currently an important topic for the mayor. Regarding the current status, she says: "The discussion surrounding the Olympic bid is, as always, very lively in Rostock. We are determined to continue actively promoting the hosting of the sailing competitions as part of the Olympic Games. Rostock has already successfully participated in the national discourse and is among the cities and regions that have signaled their willingness to compete internationally for Germany. We have a fantastic sailing area and can easily keep up with Kiel."

The priority now is to communicate the opportunities and potential of hosting the Games in Rostock-Warnemünde openly and in a way that is accessible to the public. "The focus of further planning is on how the application can be developed in collaboration with the city's residents. Especially given the still unresolved location issue in the competition with Kiel, it is crucial to tackle the next steps decisively, together, and inclusively," said the mayor. She added that obvious questions would continue to be carefully discussed. The necessary time and resources would be dedicated to a strong application.

Optimal new infrastructure and top-class sailing

The topic of the Olympic bid is also on the agenda of Peter Ramcke, sports director of the Warnemünder Woche, is at the top of the agenda. "The infrastructure, with regatta courses directly off the coast, is already Olympic-ready; now it's about accommodating the Olympic athletes and connecting spectators. What's wrong with setting up a cruise ship as an Olympic village for the athletes at the Mittelmole? Because the Mittelmole is easily secured, a security concept could be easily implemented, and the Olympic village on a cruise ship would be unmatched in terms of sustainability. No new areas would have to be developed. With the new sports school, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Sports Association has created a sustainable and future-oriented event center, which, with the new Mittelmole harbor, no longer needs to advertise its Olympic readiness; it simply has it all," says Ramcke.

He is also pleased for another reason that the new sports school will be completed in time for the 87th. Warnemünder Woche is completed and ready for use: "The wait was worth it; Warnemünde now has one of the best event infrastructures, including the harbor, berths on land, and in the water. The entire ambiance is complete, Olympic-ready, in one of the best waters in Europe. It's a huge advantage that many of the volunteers will now be housed directly in the sports school, creating physical proximity to the event for them."

On the water, the sports director expects the sailing competitions of the Warnemünder Woche Many highlights thanks to a broad mix of classes. He is particularly pleased about the OK Europeans with over 100 entries and the ILCA European Cup with almost 300 entries. When asked what makes the Warnemünde sailing area special, he said: "It's the straight coastline, which offers absolutely perfect sailing conditions, even in sea breezes, and can deliver fantastic waves for the athletes. Extremely short access routes from the new Mittelmole harbor to the regatta courses are another unique selling point of Warnemünde. To guarantee perfect conditions for the competitors, we employ experienced and internationally licensed race committees and proudly point out our cooperation with the Royal Danish Yacht Club in Copenhagen."

Strong field at the OK Dinghy European Championship

André Budzien, three-time world champion in the OK dinghy class, took part in the press conference on behalf of the sailors and is looking forward to the OK dinghy European Championship in Warnemünder Woche: "There is a super strong field with over 100 participants registered. Hardly anyone from the world's best is missing. Therefore, these European Championships can be considered just as strong as a World Championship." He expresses his own ambitions with a top-ten finish: "Of course, a podium place would be fantastic. But a lot has to come together for that, and the overall package has to be right. Then a medal is also within reach." The all-round sailor, who also competes in the Olympic Finn class and, with sporadic forays, in the O-Jolle, is hoping for winds of eight to ten knots and above. With his weight, he prefers medium to stronger winds - conditions that Warnemünde often offers. "The OK dinghies like to come to Warnemünde because, with the prevailing wind directions from the west, northwest or southwest, there is always great wind and great waves. And Warnemünde is a beautiful place too," says André Budzien.

Diverse land program with exciting new highlights

But it's not just on the water that the 87th... Warnemünder Woche There is a lot to offer not only on the island but also on land. Matthias Fromm, Tourism Director of Rostock & Warnemünde, reveals the program highlights that visitors can look forward to: “The Warnemünder Woche 2025 promises another diverse and high-caliber program – with new ideas and time-honored, popular traditions. A new development is the increasing inclusion of the beach as an additional stage for cultural events. The musical highlight will be the Glashäger Beach Concerts on July 10th starting at 16 p.m., featuring four acts to create a summery atmosphere: Tocotronic, Hinterlandgang, Les Bummms Boys, and Lappalie.

But there's more to experience on the beach: other cultural events will also take place in this special setting thanks to a collaboration with the WAL Bar. "On July 5, Monchi will perform his podcast 'Weil's jeden Tag brennt' (Because Every Day It Burns), along with a surprise guest. On July 6, there will be a reading by Jessica Benjatschek, who will read from her book 'Freiheit, Wind und Mut' (Freedom, Wind and Courage). On July 9, Gottfried Haufe will host a reading of 'Die Welt des Fischbrötchens' (The World of the Fish Sandwich), accompanied by the shanty choir 'Möwe und die Ölmützen'," announces Fromm.

He cites another new highlight as an appearance by a true Rostock native: Roger G. will be performing in the Kurhaus garden on July 11th at 19 p.m. After the European Football Championship year of 2024, the WIRO Wish Film by the Sea will be part of the shore-based program again in 2025. On July 11th, 12th, and 13th, there will be open-air cinema on the middle pier at the WIRO lookout starting at 20 p.m. – film fans can look forward to "Wunderschön," "Barbie," and "Dirty Dancing." On Saturday, July 12th, there will be music at the WIRO lookout, when "Rostock sings" (RoSi) will be broadcast there from 18 p.m. During the day, the WIRO lookout is the perfect place to watch the sailboats on their way to the regatta course.

Of course, the tried-and-tested program classics are not missing either: the Niege Ümgang, the NDR Days in the Kurhaus Garden (5 and 6 July), the thrilling WIRO Sports Day at the Lighthouse (9 July), the spectacular open-air “Smoke on the Water” (10 July), the traditional Shanty Day (12 July), the beach sports tournaments and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Regarding the question of how such a comprehensive free offering can be financed, Fromm explains: "Our guests rightly expect high-quality offerings. They come here and want experiences that will remain in their fond memories for a long time. Of course, we also benefit from this when they tell their friends at home or come back themselves. But it is also clear that financing such events is always a challenge. We are fortunate to have strong sponsors on our side who support us with, among other things, very specific program components." He cited WIRO, which organizes the sports day and the open-air cinema, the Rostock municipal utilities with "Dance Energy Friday" in the Kurhaus garden, where Roger G. will perform, the NDR with two program days and Glashäger with the beach concerts, but also the Hanseatic Brewery Rostock, which is the Warnemünder Woche helps to attract additional attention with, among other things, your own fan articles or a special beer label.

From a tourist point of view, the Warnemünder Woche is one of the top visitor magnets and particularly attracts day visitors. "Two important areas of action in our tourism concept are the development of offers and quality development. This year's Warnemünder Woche an important contribution. Furthermore, with its traditional program elements and long history, it also ensures a strong sense of identification among the locals. This, too, is an important contribution to tourism acceptance," says Matthias Fromm.

Summer festival program: Great commitment of the Warnemünde Association

The identification of the locals with the Warnemünder Woche This is also evident again and again at the summer festival program organized by the Warnemünde Association. The association's deputy chairwoman, Ingeborg Regenthal, gave an initial overview of the program at the opening press conference. Regarding the traditional Niege Ümgang, just before the official opening on July 5th, she revealed: "Like last year, we expect around 2500 to 3000 participants, which we are very pleased about. With two marching bands, there will be plenty of music again, and for the second time, the "Min Herzing" will be represented as a historical figure in the Ümgang. There will be a small mascot parade, and new participants include the Strandläufer daycare center with their own mascot, as well as Caritas Warnemünde." Mathias Stagat (Lighthouse Association) and Silke Janz (NDR) will comment on the colorful hustle and bustle at the red arrow, while Carl Z will moderate the event on Kurhausstrasse. On Saturday evening of the opening weekend, the St. Afra Meißen gospel choir will perform the festive opening concert in the Warnemünde church from 19 p.m.

Regarding the rest of the summer festival program, Regenthal says: "Together with the KVS agency, we have once again put together a diverse program. There will be live music every day in the Kurhaus garden, with a special focus on the diversity of musical styles, so there's something for everyone. For the first time, Warnemünde musician Olaf Hobrlant will be hosting Shanty Day. Furthermore, after a year's hiatus, the Glashäger stand will be back on the promenade, selling free drinks provided by Glashäger to benefit the club's coffers. The mayor will also be taking a shift there. The partner municipality of Guldborgsund will also be there with its information van.

For Ingeborg Regenthal an era is coming to an end: 2025 will be her last year in a leading role at the Warnemünder Woche"Our association's board elections will take place at the beginning of 2026, and our chairwoman Astrid Voß and I will not be running again. We view this with mixed feelings. Of course, we will miss all the hustle and bustle, but we've done it for so long; now it's someone else's turn. However, an orderly transition is very important to us. Since our agency KVS will also no longer be involved next year, we have already decided on a successor. The Rostock-based event agency Highlights Event Management will handle market activities on our behalf, and the tourist office will take over the lead with regard to the cultural program," she says. This will ensure that the traditional events can continue to be held, enabling a smooth handover to the future successors at the helm of the association. "The Niege Ümgang remains entirely the responsibility of the association," she announces.

A new highlight of the onshore program was represented at the opening press conference by musicians Pablo Himmelspach and Albert Münzberg. Together they form the duo Hinterlandgang, which will co-headline the Glashäger Beach Concerts on July 10th. The band's music explores the clichéd view of the East German provinces, thus striking a chord not only in their hometown, a small town in Western Pomerania, but also in the city. "We are delighted to be able to perform at the premiere of the Glashäger Beach Concerts. The setting on the beach with the Baltic Sea in the background will be spectacular. It will be a fantastic evening," said Himmelspach. The band is currently touring across Germany with their album "Rosa Mitsubishis" and is rapidly gaining a large, loyal, thoughtful, and diverse fan base. What is particularly remarkable is the balancing act they perform. While the songs are very lyrically focused and almost melancholic, the musicians easily manage to get concertgoers dancing and jumping from the very first song. The Hinterlandgang's performance thus makes an important contribution to reaching new target groups for the Warnemünder Woche to inspire.

Dragon boats and beach sports: sporting action in the sand and on the water

Another highlight on the water is the Dragon Boat Festival on the final weekend (July 12-13). Organizers from SV Breitling are once again expecting lots of fun and exciting races on the water, as well as a fantastic atmosphere on the southern banks of the Alter Strom.

There will also be some sporting action on Warnemünde's beach. On the opening weekend (July 5/6), beach handball players will battle it out for the crown on the sand. And on the second weekend, the beach lacrosse tournament (July 12/13), supported by Rostock's municipal utilities, and the beach rugby tournament (July 12) promise sporting action against the Baltic Sea backdrop.

Warnemünder Woche celebrates anniversary in 2026

At the end of the press conference, Mayor Eva-Maria Kröger spoke again. When asked how she imagined the Warnemünder Woche When asked about the event's 2026th anniversary in 100, she replied: "Sporting and cultural events are important for our city, so I hope for continued development, not necessarily quantitatively, but qualitatively, and that the sailing area continues to be considered one of the best in the world. Above all, however, I hope that the many hundreds of volunteers who put this event together will continue to participate or find new members."

Summer party program

Sailing program