Overview

• The festival opens on June 21 when Bundesratspräsidentin Anke Rehlinger and THW Kiel star Rune Dahmke sound the traditional “Leinen los” signal and Ministerpräsident Daniel Günther strikes the ship’s bell.
• About 400 concerts on 20 stages will offer free performances by artists such as Die Prinzen, Michael Schulte and Alvaro Soler across the city’s waterfront and plazas.
• Sailing competitions will feature 4,000 athletes from over 60 nations racing on 14 lanes and at a new second venue in Stein alongside Kiel-Schilksee.
• The German sail training ship Gorch Fock will lead roughly two dozen tall ships from 12 countries in the Windjammer Parade on June 28.
• Police will carry out knife controls, erect mobile barriers and enforce a ban on weapons to maintain public safety throughout the nine-day event.