Störtebeker Festival: Pirate season ends with big fireworks!

Störtebeker Festival: Pirate season ends with big fireworks!

The Störtebeker Festival in Ralswiek on the picturesque island of Rügen has ended its 2025 season. The final curtain fell last weekend, an exciting finale with a spectacular fireworks display that thrilled visitors and employees alike. Festival director Anna-Theresa Hick spoke of a consistently positive audience response, even if not all 8,800 seats were sold out on the final day - still a good sign for the future of the popular open-air stage. n-tv reports that the new game cycle started this year with the play “Publicator of the Seas”, which tells the exciting adventures of Klaus von Alkun, who eventually becomes the feared privateer Klaus Störtebeker.

Although the weather was not always good this summer and the number of rain performances did not reach the record-breaking 45 from 2011, the loyal audience always remained supportive of the festival. In fact, in the past there were over 300,000 visitors throughout the entire season. This shows that the passion for the pirate saga remains unbroken despite the capricious weather.

A look at the future

And what happens next? The Störtebeker Festival will continue its tradition next year and start on June 20, 2026 with the new piece “Likedeeler”. A magnificent experience that will captivate spectators with over 150 performers, 30 horses, 4 ships and numerous spectacular stunts and special effects. The performances take place from Monday to Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and the unique setting of Ralswiek, one of the largest open-air theaters in Europe, promises a live theater event in a class of its own. Information about tickets can be found via the official website can be accessed, and it's also worth taking a look at the Störti boutique with Fairtrade products.

But the Störtebeker Festival is not alone in its popularity. According to the latest figures from Theater statistics It is important for many other stages in Germany to assert themselves this season. Overall, theaters in Germany topped 22.4 million visits, marking a 64% increase compared to last year and suggesting that interest in live events is growing strongly. Despite challenges such as the energy crisis and economic concerns of recent years, theaters and festivals show that the arts scene is vibrant.

In general, the Störtebeker Festival also marks the end of the open-air season for numerous other large stages in the state, including the Müritz Saga, the Vineta Festival and the Pirates Open Air. While the Pirates are now going into the winter break, fans can look forward to the coming adventures in 2026.