To cool off in the heart of the city this summer, you can either swim in front of one of Berlin’s most famous theaters or visit one of the many beach resorts in the area. There are plenty of options—but this Thursday, a very special swimming event will be added to the mix , one that also serves an important cause. On August 20, 2026 , Fluss Bad Berlin will organize the next so-called “Swim-Along Demonstration” at Schinkelplatz in Berlin-Mitte.
The coat check opens at 4:30 p.m., before the rally begins at 5:00 p.m. Afterward, a group swim in the Spree Canal is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The meeting point is at Schinkelplatz in 10117 Berlin-Mitte. Registration for the event is optional. In principle, anyone interested can also drop by spontaneously. However, anyone who actually wants to join the swim should follow the organizer’s safety guidelines. It’s also important to note that this is not a regular public swimming event, but a registered demonstration.
The swimming event on August 20 differs from previous events. This time, Fluss Bad Berlin, together with the Volksbühne at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, is calling for a “Swim-Along” demonstration . The VOLKSBAD there will therefore be closed to the public on this day. Instead, the two organizers invite everyone to swim together in the Spree Canal. Through this collaboration, the Volksbühne and Fluss Bad Berlin aim to draw attention to the fact that public waters can be understood more broadly as public space and a common good . The Spree will symbolically become a free “public swimming pool” and is intended to demonstrate how a major city’s existing resources could be used differently in the future.
Behind this unusual swimming event lies a specific political demand. Fluss Bad Berlin is campaigning for the repeal of Berlin’s blanket ban on swimming and the restoration of the right of public use in accordance with Section 21 of the Berlin Water Act. In the long term, therefore, the goal is not merely to be able to swim in the Spree on individual days of action. Rather, the initiative aims to make river swimming regularly possible at suitable locations in Berlin , provided that water quality and safety conditions allow it, for example. Fluss Bad Berlin has been addressing this issue for many years. The association was founded in 2012 by 15 river swimming enthusiasts and now has more than 500 members. In the run-up to the Berlin elections, Fluss Bad Berlin has organized a whole series of “swim-along” demonstrations for 2026. From May through September, a “swimming day” will take place on the 20th of each month. The five dates are May 20, June 20, July 20, August 20, and September 20, 2026.
The date was not chosen at random. On May 20, 1925, the Berlin City Council decided to close the river bathing facilities. The kickoff of this year’s series of events was therefore held under the motto “Vote to end 101 years of the swimming ban!” The final swimming day of the series will take place on September 20—the day of the Berlin House of Representatives election.
