2nd Arnstadt Festival of the Arts

Arnstadt — the oldest town in Thuringia

Arnstadt, located in the Ilm district south of Erfurt, boasts over 1,300 years of town history and is considered the oldest town in Thuringia (first mentioned in 704 in a deed of donation by Boniface). The historic city center, with the Liebfrauenkirche, the Bachkirche complex (where Johann Sebastian Bach was organist from 1703–1707), Neideck Castle, and the Castle Museum with the famous "Mon Plaisir Doll City" collections, provides an exceptional backdrop for a nighttime cultural program.

Premiere 2025 — The First Festival of the Arts

The Festival of the Arts was held for the first time in 2025 — an initiative by the town of Arnstadt and the City and District Library to re-stage the city center as a cultural venue. The premiere on July 12, 2025, from 4:00 PM to midnight, took place in the Prinzenhof and the adjacent church garden of the Liebfrauenkirche. The program included two poetry slam sessions of 45 minutes each, the Ton Kollektiv ensemble performing jazz and pop interpretations, Benni Cellini with electric cello and loop station, as well as a literature and interactive program by the library. Admission was free.

2nd Edition 2026

For 2026, the Festival of the Arts — presumably on July 4, 2026 — is announced as the 2nd edition. It aims to build on the successful format of the premiere and potentially expand the venues. Specific program details will be communicated in the weeks leading up to the event on the town's website and by the participating cultural institutions.

A Town with Bach Tradition

Arnstadt is the "first Bach town" in the composer's career — the young Johann Sebastian Bach took up his post here in 1703 as an 18-year-old organist at the Neue Kirche (today's Bachkirche). The famous Bach organ, which he played, is preserved and can be visited. Visitors attending the Festival of the Arts should also visit the Bach Museum on the market square — the connection to classical music makes Arnstadt an unusually culturally rich place.

Galleries, Museums, and Art Gallery

The Kunsthalle Arnstadt exhibits contemporary and modern art, the Schlossmuseum displays the unique 18th-century doll city miniatures, and the Stadtmuseum showcases the town's history. These institutions are potential venues for the Festival of the Arts — the 2026 program planning will reveal which spaces will be used.