Name: DOK.fest München 2026
Start: 2026-05-06T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-25T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Gasteig HP8 und weitere Spielstätten in München

DOK.fest München

About DOK.fest München

Since 1985, DOK.fest München has been the largest and most influential documentary film festival in Germany. Over nearly two weeks, the festival presents around 100 documentary films from all over the world — many of them world, European, or German premieres. The program is spread across 23 venues in Munich, supplemented by a two-week online component (DOK.fest @home) that makes the festival accessible nationwide. With 15 sections — from HerStory to EcoCinema to Politics. In Times Like These — and renowned awards like the VFF Promotional Award for Documentary Film, DOK.fest is a must-attend event for the international documentary scene.

Dates 06 May — 25 May 2026

Venue München (09162)

Prices 7.00€ — 35.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

DOK.fest München — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 41st edition of DOK.fest München presents 106 documentary films from 49 countries, including 20 world premieres. Record number: 1,440 submissions. Opening on May 6th with the world premiere of Regina Schilling's *Ingeborg Bachmann — Someone Who Was Once Me* starring Sandra Hüller at the Deutsches Theater. New Festival Director: Adele Kohout.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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).