Overview
- The festival opened on the Danube with Ulm mayor Martin Ansbacher and Neu‑Ulm mayor Katrin Albsteiger aboard a boat for the ceremony that included a minute of silence for Ukraine.
- Organizers say the program runs across ten days with about 180 events and free access to most offerings, and they expect attendance to reach up to half a million visitors.
- For the first time the musical line‑up includes artists from all ten Danube countries, with stages ranging from traditional regional acts to contemporary styles like electro‑swing.
- Political programming is a core feature, highlighted by the Baden‑Württemberg state event titled “Grenzen überwinden – Zukunft gestalten,” where the vice‑prime minister of Moldova is expected to appear.
- The Donaujugendcamp anchors the festival’s youth work and the markets and debates give visitors chances to meet people from across the Danube, which organizers say aims to deepen cross‑border ties and civic exchange.