Schwedenfest in Wismar – Swedish history and folk festival in Germany

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | The Schwedenfest in Wismar is a unique folk festival in northern Germany, where the city's long Swedish history takes center stage. For a few days in August, Wismar's old town is filled with blue and yellow flags, carols, historical displays, music, market stalls and festivities.

We visited Schwedenfest 2018 together with a group of Swedish campervan travellers. It was a day with everything from muskets and galloping horses to outdoor cafes, rain showers and a lot of Swedish recognition in the middle of Germany.

Schwedenfest celebrates Wismar's Swedish history

Wismar is located on the Baltic coast in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and has a long history as a Hanseatic city. But the city also has an unusually strong connection to Sweden.

Swedish troops captured Wismar as early as 1632 during the Thirty Years' War. Through the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the city formally passed to the Swedish crown and became part of Sweden's possessions in Germany.

The Swedish period left a clear mark on the city. Among other things, the Royal Swedish Tribunal was established in Fürstenhof in 1653, as the highest court for the Swedish provinces in Germany. Today, this part of history is commemorated every year during the Schwedenfest.

Schwedenfest is one of Wismar's largest folk festivals.

The Schwedenfest has grown into one of the major annual events in Wismar. The festival is held over several days in August and spreads mainly over the Marktplatz and the area around the old harbor.

The program varies from year to year, but recurring features are historical Swedish troops, Carolines in period uniforms, music, market stalls, activities and various performances. Swedish groups participate regularly, including Bohus Elfsborghs Caroliner. In 2026, the 25th Schwedenfest was celebrated, which says something about how established the festival has become.

Historical displays are a big part of the festival

When we visited the Schwedenfest, many people gathered at the Marktplatz in front of the town hall to see the historical displays.

At first it was more narrative and historical scenes, but then there was significantly more action. Infantry and cavalry marched in, horses galloped across the square, and the air was filled with smoke as muskets and cannons were fired.

It was effectively done – and a little extra fun for us Swedes to suddenly hear commands in Swedish in the middle of a German city.

The whole of Wismar is colored blue and yellow

During Schwedenfest, the Swedish theme is felt throughout the city center. Swedish flags are visible on buildings, restaurants and market stalls, and people in historical uniforms move among the visitors. It is at the same time as much a modern folk festival as a historical event, with music, food, drink and activities.

When we were there, it almost felt a little strange to see so much blue and yellow in the middle of northern Germany. But the more you know about Wismar's history, the more logical it becomes.

Wismar was Swedish for more than 150 years

It is sometimes said that Wismar was Swedish until 1903, but the history is actually a little more nuanced.

The city belonged to Sweden from 1648 to 1803. At that time, Sweden mortgaged Wismar and the surrounding areas to Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 1.25 million thalers, with the option to redeem the area after a hundred years.

When the hundred years had passed in 1903, Sweden chose not to retake Wismar. This formally ended the Swedish connection and the area became definitively Mecklenburgian again. However, traces of the Swedish era remain in the city's history and cityscape.

Swedish traces remain in Wismar

Even outside of Schwedenfest, you can look for memories from the Swedish period. In Fürstenhof was the royal Swedish tribunal. Armory, the old cloth house, is another building from the time, and around the town there are signs and details that tell about Wismar's Swedish history.

The so-called Swedish heads, the Swedish heads, is also a symbol that still appears in various places in Wismar. This makes the city extra interesting for Swedish visitors, even when there is no festival.

Wismar is worth discovering even without Schwedenfest

The festival is of course a good reason to go here, but Wismar is a city worth visiting all year round. The historic city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with Stralsund, and is filled with brick Gothic architecture, old merchant houses, churches and a large marketplace.

At Marktplatz you will find, among other things: Water art, the historic water art, and the old house Old Swede. From here it is also close to Fürstenhof, the churches and the old harbor.

READ MORE: Things to do in Wismar – attractions and Swedish history

Our experience of Schwedenfest

We came to the festival together with a large group of Swedish campervan travellers. We stayed in nice Baltic Sea campsite on the coast and took us into central Wismar by bus or bike.

Our experience began with historical displays in the square and continued with caroling, horses, market stalls and outdoor seating. The weather alternated between rain and drizzle, but it didn't matter much – the city center was full of people and the festival atmosphere continued all day.

We had a beer in the middle of town in the afternoon and in the evening we ate breaded pike perch down by the old harbor. The evening ended with fireworks. We were a part of a truly wonderful and unique folk festival!

More to experience in Germany

Of course, there is much more to see and experience in Germany. Are you interested in history or do you like festivals? Here you will find tips and reports:

• Festivals in Germany
• Things to do in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
• German beer-themed experiences
• Places in Germany with a Swedish connection