Events in Saxony on October 31 and November 1, 2026 lead to Leipzig. DOK Leipzig shows documentary and animated films in several cinemas for its 69th edition this weekend.
Passage Kinos, Schaubühne Lindenfels, Kinobar Prager Frühling. Those venues host the last days of DOK Leipzig on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and Sunday, November 1. Events in Saxony on October 31 and November 1, 2026 lead to Leipzig.
The three competitions of DOK Leipzig
DOK Leipzig dates back to 1955, when it was founded in East Germany as the Leipziger Dokumentar- und Kurzfilmwoche, and the 69th edition ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after a week of programming that began on Monday, October 26.
International Documentary, International Animated and German Competition are the three competitions, and a Junges DOK for children and young people runs over the same period, while the German Competition focuses on the German-speaking world.
The Doc Alliance Award for emerging European filmmakers carries a total of 8,000 € in 2026, of which 5,000 € for Best Feature and 3,000 € for Best Short. The festival also gives out the Golden and the Silver Dove, a prize of the Ecumenical Jury, the DEFA Promotion Prize for German documentaries and an audience award.
October 31, 2026 is Reformation Day in Saxony, a public holiday, and screenings are spread across the CineStar in the Petersbogen, the Schaubühne Lindenfels, the Passage Kinos, the Kinobar Prager Frühling and the GRASSI Museum für Angewandte Kunst.
A single ticket costs about 10 €. The reduced rate is 8 €.
The Lachmesse and its festival matinee
The Lachmesse Leipzig has existed since 1991. It is Germany's large international festival for cabaret, comedy and small-stage art.
In its 36th edition, around 90 ensembles and performers spread across 14 guest-performance venues, among them Pfeffermühle, academixer, Funzel, SANFTWUT, Central, Moritzbastei, Schauspielhaus and Oper Leipzig. The Lachmesse continues on October 31, and on Sunday, November 1, the festival matinee at the Oper Leipzig closes the programme.
Single tickets cost 18 to 45 euros depending on the performance.