34th Cottbus Environmental Week

34 Years of Environmental Education

The Cottbus Environmental Week is one of the oldest environmental education events in Eastern Germany. Since 1992, the city of Cottbus has dedicated one week in late spring each year to raising awareness for nature conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable living. In 2026, the 34th edition will run from May 31 to June 5.

Motto 2026: Garden Heroes and Spiky Friends

The motto "Garden Heroes and Spiky Friends" focuses on biodiversity in one's own garden. Lord Mayor Tobias Schick emphasizes in his greeting that gardens are valuable habitats for amphibians, small mammals, insects, and birds. "The protection of species and their diversity begins right outside our own front door" – this message is at the heart of the event week.

Kick-off at the Boathouse

The kick-off is the Environmental and Family Festival on May 31, 2026, at the Boathouse on the Spree. A colorful festival day with information booths, hands-on activities for children, nature conservation associations, beekeepers, and gardening advice. The stage will feature a program of music, theater, and lectures.

One Week, Many Locations

In the following days, events will be spread across the city: guided tours in Cottbus Zoo, nature experience tours in Branitz Park (the famous landscape park by Prince Pückler), environmental workshops in Blechen Carré, hikes in the urban forests around Cottbus.

Organizers and Participants

The organizer is the Department of Environment and Nature of the City of Cottbus. Participants include local nature conservation associations, educational institutions, beekeeping associations, schools, and kindergartens. The week is conceived as a joint project of the city and civil society.

Cottbus and Lusatia

Cottbus is the second-largest city in the state of Brandenburg and the undisputed center of Lusatia. The city is undergoing structural change: from a lignite mining location to a region reinventing itself. The Environmental Week is a symbol of this transformation – it shows that Cottbus defines its identity not only through industrial history.