That was Summer Feeling 2026

After a few rainy days of setting up, the sun shone from the first to the last day of the event. The students had spent over ten months fine-tuning the concept, logistics and programme. The result was a smoothly run event, celebrated by guests, partners and on social media. The sand area was at the heart of the action. Whether it was beach volleyball, an open-air cinema or live music: here, you could dance barefoot, relax in deckchairs or simply unwind. The main attraction for visitors was the public screenings of the Football World Cup. Hours before kick-off, thousands of fans flocked to the venue to watch the German team’s matches. The matches created a peaceful and euphoric atmosphere that lasted well into the night. 

Unfortunately, not everything went to plan, as the evening programme on the second Sunday had to be cancelled at short notice due to an official severe weather warning. The team reacted immediately: the roundabout was cleared and secured. Although the storm passed, the safety measures proved their worth. The heatwave also presented the team with challenges. With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, sporting tournaments such as the university beach soccer tournament became a real test of endurance. The organising team therefore used a hose and a jet nozzle from the university’s technical services to create an artificial rain shower, providing some relief from the heat for both athletes and spectators. The main organisers had also made provisions for the team, ensuring a water supply, shade from parasols and sun cream. A look behind the scenes shows that an event of this scale is no walk in the park. After the public viewings, whilst the guests were making their way home, the team’s clean-up operation began. Every evening, the event site had to be tidied up and prepared for the following day. Although the odd night was a bit shorter than usual, this was offset by plenty of days off.

The work isn’t over just because Unistrand has come to an end. Last week, it was time to dismantle everything. All that remains of the screen, the stage and the large tents is sand. This is due to be cleared from the Rondell over the course of the week. At the same time, the various departments of the organising team are dealing with invoices, returning equipment and compiling comprehensive documentation. The latter serves not only for academic analysis but also as a guide for future organisers. Whether there will be another edition in 2028 remains to be seen. The effort involved is enormous, and a new, dedicated team needs to be found. Whether it’s sand between your toes, passionate football fans or cooling rain showers: this event has shown what is possible when students are passionate about what they do.