Katharina Germo and Juliane Hahn are already deep into preparations for the 2026 Weimar Art Festival, tackling two and a half weeks of programming that will require importent coordination.The pair have spent recent months laying the groundwork, initiating projects and forging key connections.
Community Experience and “Live Moments”
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The new leadership aims to preserve the festival’s broad embrace of contemporary artistic expression, but with a sharper thematic focus. “We come from the performing arts, and therefore always think in terms of live moments and communal experiences,” explained Germo. “And with this perspective we also look at genres such as literature or painting.”
Program 2026: Fewer Events,More Focus
In the past,the art festival presented a colorful array of events throughout Weimar, with the program expanding each year. Hahn and Germo intend to streamline the number of offerings, creating a more concentrated and immersive experience.”our vision is that the very different formats are embedded in a festival atmosphere that creates connections that also work informally,” Germo stated.
New Festival Center as a Meeting Place
A central element of this shift is the establishment of a dedicated festival center-a first for the event. Currently, a temporary, non-weatherproof pavilion on Theaterplatz serves as a gathering point, but Germo and Hahn envision a more inviting and pleasant space for interaction.
“Last summer we observed that there was great interest in exchanging ideas about art in Weimar,” said Juliane Hahn. “We would like to accommodate this interest.” The precise location of the festival center remains undecided.
Sustainable Program for New target Groups
While the full program for 2026 will not be revealed until March,the new directors have indicated a move away from prioritizing premieres or European premieres,citing both financial and ecological considerations. They also plan to integrate some classics in the program alongside new works.
The leadership also intends to actively engage new target groups,including the autotuning scene. “We want our program to respond to the local people. We want to look less back and instead focus on the present and the future,” they emphasized.
