Name: Festival of Democracy – House of Bavarian History 2026
Start: 2026-07-24T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-26T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte / Donaumarkt

Festival of Democracy Regensburg

About Festival of Democracy Regensburg

The Festival of Democracy at the House of Bavarian History in Regensburg is a growing format at the intersection of political education, culture, and family programming. The organizer is the House of Bavarian History at Donaumarkt 1. With free admission, live music, workshops, street theatre, children's tours, and hands-on activities transform the Danube bank into a stage for democracy for young and old. In 2026, the festival will be held over three days for the first time (July 24–26) and will form the opening program for the new Bavarian exhibition »Focus Bavaria. Hitler and the Fight for Democracy«.

Dates 24 Jul — 26 Jul 2026

Venue Regensburg (09362)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Festival of Democracy Regensburg — edition 2026

The 2026 Festival of Democracy at the House of Bavarian History will be held over three days for the first time: July 24 to 26. With live music, workshops, street theatre, children's tours, and free exhibition admission, it also serves as the opening program for the Bavarian State Exhibition »Focus Bavaria. Hitler and the Fight for Democracy« (July 8, 2026 – August 7, 2027).

The third edition of the Festival of Democracy in Regensburg will be celebrated from July 24 to 26, 2026. For the first time, the program will extend over three days – previously, the festival was held on a single day. The House of Bavarian History invites you to a diverse program at Donaumarkt: live music, workshops, street theatre, children's tours of the museum, and free admission to all exhibitions.

In terms of content, the festival marks the opening of the Bavarian State Exhibition 2026/27, »Focus Bavaria. Hitler and the Fight for Democracy«, which examines the political crisis of the Weimar Republic in Bavaria, the rise of the National Socialists, and the failed coup attempt of 1923. The festival combines political education with a festival character, making historically relevant democracy issues accessible to all ages.

Highlights Festival of Democracy Regensburg 2026

Third Festival of Democracy, first time over three days
Live music, workshops, street theatre
Free admission to all exhibitions
Opening program for the 2026/27 Bavarian exhibition
Family-friendly program for all ages

Programme Festival of Democracy Regensburg 2026

Friday, July 24, 2026

Opening ceremony at Donaumarkt
Live music on the open-air stage
First workshops and discussion panels

Saturday, July 25, 2026

All-day family program
Street theatre and children's tours of the museum
Workshops on democracy and history

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Closing day with live concerts
Accompanying program for the Bavarian exhibition »Focus Bavaria«
Free exhibition admission

Prices Festival of Democracy Regensburg 2026

Admission to the entire festival and all exhibitions is free. Food and drinks are paid for on-site. Sources: regensburg.de, charivari.com, ostbayern-tourismus.de.

Practical information

Practical information — Festival of Democracy Regensburg

Getting There

The House of Bavarian History is located at Donaumarkt in Regensburg's Old Town, a 15-minute walk from the main train station. Public transport: Several bus lines go to Donaumarkt or the Old Town. By car: Take the A 3 motorway (exit Regensburg-Universität); parking garages at Bismarckplatz, Altes Rathaus, or am Donaumarkt.

Admission

Admission to all areas of the festival and all exhibitions is free. Food and drinks are paid for on-site.

Opening Hours

Festival weekend July 24–26, 2026, program all day. Museum regular hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; closed Mondays.

A Festival with Political Substance

The Festival of Democracy at the House of Bavarian History in Regensburg is a comparatively young event that has grown significantly since its inception. It is organized by the House of Bavarian History, the state museum for Bavarian regional history located at Donaumarkt 1 in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Regensburg, Bavaria. The festival combines democracy education with a festival atmosphere – with free access to the permanent exhibition and all special exhibitions during the festival weekend.

Three Days of Programming in Summer 2026

The 2026 program is broad: live music on the stage at Donaumarkt, workshops on political topics, street theatre, children's tours of the museum, discussion panels, and hands-on activities for families. The festival also serves as the opening event for the Bavarian State Exhibition 2026/27 »Focus Bavaria. Hitler and the Fight for Democracy«, which deals with the fight for democracy in Bavaria in the early 1920s – a highly relevant historical and political topic.

What Visitors Can Expect

Three days of programming at Donaumarkt in Regensburg
Free admission to permanent and special exhibitions
Live music on the open-air stage
Workshops and discussion panels on democracy
Street theatre and hands-on activities
Children's tours of the museum
Accompanying program for the Bavarian exhibition »Focus Bavaria«

Regensburg, the Danube, and Democracy Education

The House of Bavarian History is located directly on the banks of the Danube in the historic Old Town of Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006. The Donaumarkt with its stage opens onto the Danube – an unusually open urban gesture for a state museum. The Festival of Democracy consciously utilizes this urban quality: it attracts a mixed audience of Regensburg residents, people from Eastern Bavaria, and Bavarian tourists, making historical and political education accessible to everyone.