The world at anchor

Hamburg’s heart beats faster this year: With two new, spectacular evening shows on the floating stage on the river Elbe, breathtaking fireworks, magnificent parades featuring majestic windjammers, and many other new programme highlights, the people of Hamburg and their guests will celebrate the 836th HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY. Around 250 participating ships from around the world will create a unique maritime backdrop. From the fish auction hall to the iconic Elbphilharmonie building, as well as at Sandtorhafen, in the historic Speicherstadt district, at Hansahafen and at the Oevelgönne museum port, guests will spend an unforgettable weekend from 9 to 11 May.

Attention-grabbing highlights

On Friday at 01:00 pm, the grand Arrival Parade will reach the port. Tall ships such as “Dar Młodzieży” and “Alexander von Humboldt II” along with numerous sailing ships large and small will enter the port to the delight of the admiring guests. This enthralling scenery will be enhanced by naval vessels, state-of-the-art specialised craft, tugboats, motor vessels, historic and museum ships, and countless sport boats.

On Saturday at 3:45 pm, the unique tugboat ballet will be performed against the backdrop of Hamburg Harbour. In a fascinating choreography, nimble tugs boasting up to 3000 hp will dance to music on the Elbe in an impressive symphony. The tugboats and captains will work closely with the ‘conductor’, port pilot Götz Bolte. The music selections and colourful smokescreen effects regularly give the spectators goosebumps.

Especially worth seeing: new live shows on Friday and Saturday evening
Elbe in Concert: Harbour at its best!

On Friday, beginning at 7:45 pm, guests can look forward to a spectacular evening show full of harbour atmosphere, presented on the floating stage on the river Elbe facing the landing stages. A programme featuring a harbour quiz, rousing live music, an XXL choir, and electrifying musical performances will celebrate Hamburg Harbour. In captivating interviews, captains, dockers, shipowners, fishermen and other “Hamburg archetypes” will tell their intriguing stories. Guests will experience pure harbour excitement!

Elbe in Concert: Happy Birthday, Hamburg Harbour!

At 9:00 pm on Saturday, Guest will witness the enthralling live show “Happy Birthday, Hamburg Harbour!” on the spectacular Elbe stage facing the landing stages. Surprise star appearances will bring the mood at the port to the sizzling point. Guests will experience Hamburg characters chatting away and are sure get some real hoots too. The dazzling finale of the spectacular Happy Birthday show follows around 10:45 pm: When the music blends with the sparkling effects of the great fireworks, a breathtaking display of dancing colours and lights will light up the Elbe, letting the night sky sparkle in overwhelming brilliance.

First responders in action: A demonstration of maritime rescue operations

On Sunday morning, guests will experience pure action: At 10:45 am, the German Federal Police will deliver a fascinating demonstration of on-water emergency response action in our new programme “Maritime Safety at Sea”, which involves a specialised police vessel, special forces helicopters, and high-speed boats. The precise placement of rescuers and the subsequent landing of the police helicopter “Super Puma” on the ship, as well as the fly-past of Hamburg’s rescue helicopter “Christoph 29” will be impressive highlights of the show.

Christening of hybrid patrol boats

At 11:00 am on Saturday, Guests can witness the christening ceremony of two patrol boats, "Bürgermeister Brauer” and “Bürgermeister Weichmann”, at the landing stages. Both craft are new additions to the Hamburg fleet and will be used by the Hamburg harbour police.

100th anniversary of life-saving association DLRG Hamburg: Lifeboats conquer the river Elbe

DLRG Hamburg celebrates its 100th anniversary. As part of the festivities, guests can expect a special highlight at 1:30 pm on Saturday: An impressive parade of 100 different lifeboats on the Elbe.

HADAG presents: three ferry generations on the Elbe

Yet another new programme highlight will be presented on the river Elbe at 6:30 on Saturday. Visitors can look forward to “HADAG Port Ferries – History Meets Modernity”: Three generations of HADAG ferry boats, the proven type-2000 craft, the innovative Model 2030 and the time-honoured “Kirchdorf”, will give impressive demonstrations of their individual manoeuvring capabilities while allowing visitors to experience the evolution of port ferries in a tangible way.

Celebrating life together to the rhythm of the port

Stretching for kilometres along the river Elbe, a glittering and vibrant array of entertainment opportunities with stages, acts, street art and events will captivate visitors. Whether at the new “Hafenwirtschaft” fun world, the open air events on the landing stages and along the colourful Harbour Mile, or at the Harbour Beatz, Harbour Pride, the port museum or the vintage flea market – unforgettable adventures appealing to all senses await visitors at every corner, all that combined with the unique maritime flair that enthrals Hamburg natives, guests from around the world, the young and the seasoned, landlubbers and shellbacks alike.

The HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY is organised by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg as represented by the Hamburg Ministry for Economics and Innovation. Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH coordinates the HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY events on behalf of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.