DOK.fest München
Germany's largest documentary film festival — 13 days, 106 films, 49 countries
About DOK.fest München
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Germany's Largest Documentary Festival
DOK.fest München was founded in 1985 and has since become the most important documentary film festival in the German-speaking world. Every spring, the festival presents around 100 documentary films from 40 to 50 countries — organized into 15 thematic sections, with its own competitions, forums, and special series. The 2026 edition is the 41st installment.
Program Structure and Sections
The program is divided into 15 sections, each with its own thematic focus: DOK.international (international main competition), DOK.deutsch (German competition), HerStory (films by and about women), EcoCinema (ecology and environment), African Encounters, Politics. In Times Like These, DOK.panorama, DOK.horizonte, DOK.guest, DOK.music, and others. Additionally, there is the DOK.education program for schools and the DOK.forum for the film industry with pitches, panels, and networking.
Hybrid Format with @home
Since 2020, the festival has been running in a hybrid format: during the two festival weeks, screenings take place in Munich cinemas, and in parallel, the program is available for a slightly longer period via streaming as DOK.fest @home, accessible nationwide. This makes the festival experienceable outside of Munich and has significantly expanded its audience.
Important Awards
Awards include the VFF Promotional Award for Documentary Film (for university graduates), the DOK.deutsch Award, the International Competition, the Audience Award, and the FFF Talent Award. These awards are significant in the industry — they lead to distribution offers and TV sales.
Munich as a Location
Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria with nearly 1.5 million inhabitants, is one of Germany's most important film and cinema cities — home to Bayerischer Rundfunk, the University of Television and Film (HFF), and numerous production companies. The festival's main venue, since the Gasteig's relocation, is the Gasteig HP8 in Sendling, supplemented by cinemas throughout the city (Deutsches Theater, Filmmuseum, Maxim, Theatiner Filmkunst, among others).
DOK.fest München — edition 2026
The 41st edition of DOK.fest München runs in cinemas from May 6th to 18th, 2026 and on the streaming platform DOK.fest @home from May 11th to 25th, 2026. The festival presents 106 documentary films from 49 countries, including 20 world premieres as well as numerous European and German premieres. This year's record: 1,440 submissions — the highest number in the festival's history.
The opening takes place on May 6th at the Deutsches Theater — with the world premiere of Regina Schilling's *Ingeborg Bachmann — Someone Who Was Once Me*, a portrait of the Austrian writer starring Sandra Hüller. It is the first edition under the new festival direction of Adele Kohout, who took over the artistic direction after the long-standing director Daniel Sponsel.
Programme DOK.fest München 2026
Opening — Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
- World premiere *Ingeborg Bachmann — Someone Who Was Once Me* (Regina Schilling, with Sandra Hüller)
- Deutsches Theater, Munich
Sections (Selection of 15)
- DOK.international — Main Competition
- DOK.deutsch — German Competition
- HerStory — Films by and about Women
- EcoCinema — Ecology and Environment
- African Encounters — African Cinema
- Politics. In Times Like These
- DOK.panorama, DOK.horizonte, DOK.guest, DOK.music and more.
Accompanying Platforms
- DOK.forum — Industry platform with pitches, panels, networking
- DOK.education — Program for schools and young adults
- DOK.fest @home — Nationwide streaming program May 11th-25th
Awards
- VFF Promotional Award for Documentary Film (University Graduates)
- DOK.deutsch Award
- International Competition
- Audience Award
- FFF Talent Award
Highlights DOK.fest München 2026
- 41st edition, Germany's largest documentary festival
- 106 films from 49 countries, 20 world premieres
- 1,440 submissions (record)
- Opening with Sandra Hüller in Schilling's Bachmann portrait
- First edition under Director Adele Kohout
- 23 venues plus nationwide streaming program
Prices DOK.fest München 2026
Single tickets from €11 (regular), discounted prices for students and seniors. DOK.fest @home from €7 per film. Festival passes for avid viewers.
Practical information — DOK.fest München
Getting There
By train to Munich Hauptbahnhof. By car via the A8, A9, or A99. Main venue Gasteig HP8 in Sendling with S-Bahn station Heimeranplatz, other cinemas distributed throughout the city, all accessible via MVV.
Tickets
Single tickets from €11, discounted tickets for students and seniors. Festival Pass for avid viewers. @home tickets from €7.
Tip
Buy tickets for award ceremonies and premieres early — they regularly sell out. Film discussions with directors and protagonists are a regular part of the program and are sometimes documented online.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a DOK.fest München al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place DOK.fest München
Gasteig HP8 und weitere Spielstätten in München
Hans-Preißinger-Straße 8, 81379 München