"New Year's Spectacle at the MEER" in Karlshagen

Karlshagen traditionally kicks off the new year on January 1 with a freezing-cold highlight: ice swimming! On New Year’s Day 2026, 191 brave ice bathers—some dressed in colorful outfits—once again ventured into the Baltic Sea, with air and water temperatures both at 2 degrees. Amid the cheers of hundreds of spectators, this year’s ice swimming promises to be another spectacular start to the new year. Become one of the “First Swimmers of 2027” and experience a refreshing start to the year in the waters off Karlshagen!

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Program Overview Fri, Jan. 1, 2027
starting at 11:00 a.m. Small NEW YEAR’S MARKET on the beach forecourt
starting at 11:00 a.m. FRÜHSHOPPEN ANGLÜHEN 2027: Mulled wine fun with upbeat music
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. “CLEAN START TO THE NEW YEAR” CAMPAIGN (garbage bags/trash drop-off to the right of the concert shell)

ICE BATHING 2027
starting at 12:00 PM REGISTRATION (at the band shell)
1:45 PM Athletic WARM-UP with personal trainer Frank Ziepel for EVERYONE (band shell)
2:00 PM ICE BATHING 2027: Karlshagen is looking for the first swimmers of the year (Beach 10 N)
2:45 PM LET’S GET ACTIVE! Frank Ziepel gets ALL the cold-sensitive folks fired up again with some exercise (Concert Shell)
approx. 3:00 PM ICE SWIMMERS’ RAFFLE (Concert Shell)
and approx. 3:15 PM RAFFLE: “A Clean Start to the New Year”
3:30 PM FAMILY QUIZ SHOW “Join In, Copy It, Do It Better” (Concert Shell)
4:00 PM LIVE: featuring cover band giant Marcus 2.0 live (Concert Shell)
5:00 PM LASER SHOW by the Firework Team (Concert Shell)