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Sylt Storm Week 2027

Achim Hille was already a lifeguard on the "Samoa" section of Rantum beach when most of us were still splashing around in the primordial soup. Ever since the Berlin native became the boss of the beach's sauna sometime in the late 80s, he's been a legend. Together with his sweetheart, Ruth, "Hille" celebrates a sauna culture in his wooden house at the foot of the dunes, offering everything that makes sweating by the sea an unforgettable experience. Including the roaring North Sea for a refreshing dip just a few steps away.

Exclusively for the duration of Storm Week, Ruth and Achim are interrupting their winter break and will be available for you every day. Book your slot now!

There are Sylt nature guides, and then there's Werner Mansen: This certified national park guide is in a class of his own, and for this kickoff to "Sylt Storm Week," he's simply rearranged his travel plans. On Friday, January 16th, this Sylt native will lead a hike around the southern tip of the island (approximately six kilometers) with everyone who wants to celebrate the Sylt night and the raw power of nature. A truly unique moment. Moreover, this shared nature experience is guaranteed to broaden your horizons: On the tour along the high-tide line, Mansen will not only explain natural features but also share his extensive knowledge. Everything that makes the southern tip of the island such a unique place, energetically speaking, will be palpable on this hike. And with luck, the moon and stars will illuminate the path along the shore. If not, bringing a small flashlight and, of course, very weatherproof clothing is highly recommended. Individual dogs are welcome after prior arrangement with Werner Mansen.

Nestled right on the dunes, with the surf within earshot, lies the Surfhouse at the campsite in southern Westerland. Here, where sunbathers and surfers usually enjoy the summer, creative tranquility and Nordic coziness now reign: time for the sewing workshop of the SMG event series "Sylt Storm Week." The workshop invites participants to experience the raw legacy of the sea in a new way. Piles of fabrics and materials lie before the participants, including storm-battered fragments of the legendary Sylt beach chairs. These blue-white and sand-colored symbols of beach life, shaped by the North Sea wind, are now to be given a new form. 

In the cozy, wood-paneled room of the surf house, decorated with surfboards and nautical pictures, the participants sit and work on their projects. The whir of sewing machines mingles with the sound of the surf as everyday thoughts drift away. Under the guidance of experienced craftsman Andi, they create bags, wine coolers, and unique souvenirs – each piece a tribute to the wild North Sea. As they sew and design, the participants engage in good conversation and create new memories. At the end of the day, they leave not only with a handmade memento but also with inspiring memories.

Four degrees Celsius air, two degrees Celsius water – cold-water swimming feels like an espresso for the senses: You strip off your warm clothes, trudge to the sea, briefly ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" – and seconds later you know exactly why. To experience this state between "Help!" and "Wonderful!" together, there's a weekend winter-bathing program during Storm Week: Medical journalist and lifeguard Ela Schnebbe will briefly explain to participants at the "Sturmhaube" restaurant what cold water can do – for your health, mind, and mood. Preparing for this "entry" also includes discussing potential risks and practicing breathing techniques. Test whether the course is for you: After a warm shower, simply turn the tap to "ice cold"! First for 30 seconds, later for up to two minutes. Or: try a barefoot walk on the beach or in the garden! Your body's reaction is more honest than any advice book. A medical check-up for heart health completes the preparation. 

Please bring: Warm, woolly clothing that you can easily slip back into after your winter swim. A hat and gloves are also essential! The meeting point is the seminar room of the "Sturmhaube" restaurant. Hot drinks will be available for purchase at the kiosk after your swim.

Tattoo artist Stella Mara Wiener, with her own studio, international renown, and provocative tribal style, is one of the most outstanding figures in her field. She is also an academic expert on the significance of tattoos in world history. In the tranquil setting of the Sylt Museum in Keitum, she and the "living example" Sören Hansen from Morsum will demonstrate the role that sailors' tattoos played in the global spread of body art and why their motifs and meanings continue to resonate today. 

In conversation with Imke Wein, Stella Mara Wiener answers all questions about tattoos and provides deep insights into the world of body art. To conclude, she demonstrates live on Sören Hansen how a tattoo is applied. An evening that literally gets under your skin.

In art, the seemingly invisible becomes visible: how wind, a gentle breeze, and even a vehement storm are depicted on canvas has challenged and inspired artists throughout history and across all eras. This theme also captivated creative minds on Sylt, and they found compelling visual solutions. However, the subject of "air movement on canvas" has remained largely unexplored by art historians.

It's high time that changed, says art historian Dr. Karen Michels. Her lecture, however, is guaranteed not to be dry and overly academic: Dr. Michels sees it as her life's work to make art accessible and to awaken enthusiasm for the language of painting—beyond a specialist audience. She is a highly sought-after speaker at the Klappholttal Academy by the sea, as well as on art tours organized by her Hamburg-based "Agency for Artistic Understanding." For "Storm Week," she will present examples, techniques, and surprising anecdotes on the theme of "Storm in Art" in an enchanting location amidst the dunes.

When the wind is howling outside, it's a wonderful moment to indulge your writing urge with a hot cup of tea and some Frisian biscuits, immersing yourself in the magic of words. Joyful. Powerful. Unique. Sylt-based author and writing workshop instructor Dorothée Gommen-Hingst will take us on a fantastic journey to our creative wellsprings. We'll find inspiration on a short walk in nature, in postcards, pictures, and music. Thoughts will coalesce. Poems will emerge. Stories will be born – full of rhythm, artistry, and linguistic poetry. Building on the resounding success of the mini-writing retreat during Storm Week 2025, we invite you once again this year to a sparkling afternoon beyond space and time. We will write. We will read. We will invent, create, and spin tales. But above all, we will do one thing: We will unleash the storm of creativity with our pens and let it race across the paper. Writing pleasure guaranteed with wind force 9!

Stormy periods are crucial for nature, in almost every respect, including when it comes to trash. On stormy days, trash is washed ashore and can be collected particularly effectively. Every clean-up makes a noticeable difference for the beach and the sea. So, let's get to it! 

The activists from “Bye Bye Plastic“We provide the necessary tools. If everyone pitches in, the cleanup takes exactly 1,5 hours and begins with a meeting at the “Sansibar 2” parking lot. After all the Bye-Bye Plastic campaigns of recent years, one thing is clear: you always meet nice people, keep your joints flexible, and do something good for yourself and, above all, for nature. Remember to wear weatherproof clothing, bring your friends, and, if you like, your dog too.”

Promenade nostalgia in the winter living room of the "Golden Gull"

Shortly after the first bathers discovered Sylt as a summer retreat in 1855, the first "promenade by the sea" was created on the Westerland coast. With the wooden promenade, completed in 1879, a development began in which the promenade – despite numerous structural changes, expansions, and repeated destruction – remains to this day a central place for strolling, meeting, and cultural and social life on Sylt.

On January 21st, the Sylt Storm Week picks up on this vibrant story in a place that shows how relaxed gastronomic experience and zeitgeist can be combined: in the winter living room of the "Golden Gull" diagonally opposite the "Shell".

The team from the Sylt archive brings stories and insights from its archives and takes the audience on a nostalgic, sometimes amusing, sometimes surprising journey through time along the Westerland promenade.

Fabi de Vries, Dirk Effler, and the team at the "Möwe" will serve up fitting delicacies, such as promenade stew, drinks, and music – each perfectly tailored to the era of the footage being shown. "We want to indulge in nostalgia this evening, but also brainstorm ideas for the future," says host and surf entrepreneur Dirk Effler.

Our neighboring country is praised worldwide for its ability to shape everyday interactions into truly soulful experiences: "Fællesspisning"—the communal meal in a large group—is one of so many Danish formulas for happiness that makes us look north with a touch of envy. But thankfully, Sylt has its Danish minority and the hygge experts of the cultural association "Sydslesvigsk Forening." Moreover, the island boasts some very special, largely unknown locations—like the "Five Cities Home" in Hörnum. 

The "Storm Week" brings all of this together in a sparkling format: The Danish spirit will be palpable on January 22nd at the long table in the wonderful dining hall of the "Five Cities Home" in Hörnum! With warm-hearted hosts, Danish smørrebrød (and other typical Fællesspisning delicacies), and lively table conversation. There will certainly be some singing together. A lively round of bingo and some live music are, of course, also on the agenda. Just as it's customary in our neighboring country when everyone gathers for dinner.

The menu:

• Danish "Smørrebrød" (slices of rye bread topped with toppings)
• Stegt flæsk med persillesovs (crispy roasted pork belly with parsley sauce)
• risalamande (Danish rice pudding with cream and almonds)

A vegetarian option is available upon request. Please specify when booking.

Here, things come together as they should: The incomparable Westerland "Galaxy" is once again, passionately awakened from its slumber for one night only. The gates to this purple-dancing paradise are open to those 18 and over. There's no upper age limit for this night. Sylt is in for an unforgettable disco experience. The evening's masters of ceremonies hail from Hanover, where, as the artist collective "Hits ins Herz" (Hits to the Heart), they've been shaking up the club scene for years. Greta Wein, an essential part of the team, is a native of Sylt: So, it's almost guaranteed that even the most stubborn Frisian will be able to hit the dance floor. The ice will be broken with "Song Bingo" and other tried-and-tested games. Later in the evening, Malte Scheibe will take over the turntables.
Spaces for the hottest disco night of all are limited. A silly mood, glittering attire, and punctuality are most welcome. 

Anyone who attended the premiere of the YO DAY Festival in Avenarius Park this summer still has a slightly dreamy look in their eyes. One thing is certain: it was truly wonderful! For those who couldn't make it at the end of August, or who have always wanted to know what yoga and related practices are really all about, or whether it's perhaps more than just the sum of its clichés, there's a chance to find out at the small winter edition of YO DAY during the week of the storm. It will definitely be a dynamic, inspiring, and truly cozy experience at Kaamp Hüs – in the beautiful thatched-roof rooms on Kampen's main street. This Sylt-based day dedicated to modern movement, yoga, meditation, massage, and connection offers ample opportunity to try out or deepen your practice of various forms of movement, gain entirely new inspiration, and leave you feeling completely enriched by the end of the festival day. The offerings are suitable for everyone and range from workshops on the topic of "regulating the nervous system in stormy times", to physically stimulating yoga classes on many aspects, from an introduction to the movement art of Feldenkrais, dance moves, a holistic "Shake the dust" class to electro beats, to a resounding conclusion with delicious cocoa.

Further information about the instructors and all program items can be found on Instagram. @yo_day_sylt and here

For the 34th time, the Henner Krogh Advancement Award offers Sylt's talented young musicians a grand stage to gain recognition in the world of music. This long-established Sylt competition has been the launching pad for numerous musical careers, such as those of Ina Müller and Edda Schnittgard. The award stands for excellent candidates, a superb jury, and substantial prize money. While the "Sylt Storm Week" event series doesn't claim ownership of the talent competition, it strongly encourages everyone not to miss this event.

And here's how the 24th Henner Krogh Advancement Award works: After a significant "post-Covid slump" in the Sylt music scene, there were now, for the first time, more applications than available places. "We are truly delighted about the growth in the Sylt music scene," assures award organizer Annika Feldmann.

On January 24th, seven acts will take to the stage at the Sylt Congress Center, showcasing powerful vocals, rocking sounds, witty lyrics, and above all, plenty of enthusiasm to win over the audience. Soloists Ocean Renner, Hugo Bremser, and Maciej Janecki will perform. The duos Aline & Jonathan and Dave Hell will also be featured. And the five-piece bands The Midgets and Schnirk & Friends will each take to the stage. It won't be an easy task for the jury, who will be awarding the Henner Trophy and the Reinhard Mey Special Prize. In addition to the competition acts, there will be an exciting supporting program of musical performances.