Filmnächte unter Sternen — Landesmuseum Mainz
Ten open-air film nights in the courtyard of the Landesmuseum Mainz under the Kultursommer motto The Golden Twenties
About Filmnächte Sternen 3
Filmnächte unter Sternen (Film Nights Under the Stars) is a relatively young Mainz summer tradition: an open-air cinema series in the courtyard of the Landesmuseum Mainz, one of Germany's most important cultural history museums with collections ranging from the Paleolithic to the present day. The museum's courtyard—framed by the historic architecture of the Golden Ross complex (built in 1763 as an academy for imperial knights)—provides an extraordinary backdrop for film evenings.
The 3rd edition takes place from August 28 to September 6, 2026—ten film nights spread over ten days. In 2026, the program is under the Kultursommer motto Die Goldenen Zwanziger (The Golden Twenties), set by Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz for the entire festival season, addressing the 1920s in all their ambivalence—upheaval and crisis, avant-garde and political polarization, liberation and foreshadowing of the coming catastrophe.
The 2026 film program combines various approaches to the motto: film classics from the Weimar Republic (Murnau, Lang, Pabst, Sternberg), later films set in the Golden Twenties (Cabaret, Babylon Berlin, recent international productions), documentaries about the era, and occasional modern films that translate the motto into different time periods.
The screenings begin after dark—around 9 p.m. at the end of August/beginning of September. Admission is from 7 p.m., allowing visitors to spend the hours before the film on the museum terrace with an aperitif and culinary delights. The atmosphere is relaxed and cultural, with a mixed audience—Mainz residents, students, and film fans from the Rhine-Main region.
The organizer is FILMZ Mainz, which hosts the major FILMZ festival of German cinema in Mainz city-center cinemas in November (see separate entry). Filmnächte unter Sternen is the summer sister event to FILMZ and a cooperation with Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz—the statewide cultural festival that takes place annually under a motto.
Tickets cost €9 for adults and €7 for concessions—a moderate pricing that keeps the event accessible. In case of bad weather, an alternative event will be held in the museum's lecture hall, occasionally with program adjustments.
Filmnächte Sternen 3 — edition 2026
The complete 2026 film program will be published by FILMZ Mainz in the summer. The structure follows the proven cornerstones of previous years: ten film screenings over ten consecutive days; daily admission from 7 p.m. into the courtyard, culinary offerings on the museum terrace before the film, film start after dark around 9 p.m.; a mix of Weimar classics, newer feature films on the theme, and documentaries; in case of bad weather, an alternative event in the lecture hall.
Programme Filmnächte Sternen 3 2026
2026 Program Structure
First Half August 28 to September 1
- Opening with a film classic from the Weimar Republic
- Films from the spectrum of Murnau, Lang, Pabst, Sternberg
- Accompanying introductions before the screenings
Second Half September 2 to 6
- More recent films on the era (e.g., Cabaret tradition)
- Documentaries on the Weimar Republic
- International films related to the motto
- Festival closing on September 6
Typical Evening Schedule
- 7 p.m.: Admission to the courtyard
- 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Aperitif and culinary offerings on the museum terrace
- 8:30 p.m.: Introduction to the film
- 9 p.m.: Film start after dark
- Approx. 11 p.m.: Film end and winding down
Organizers
- FILMZ Mainz — Festival of German Cinema e.V.
- Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz
- Landesmuseum Mainz
Highlights Filmnächte Sternen 3 2026
- 3rd edition of Filmnächte unter Sternen
- Courtyard of the Landesmuseum as a backdrop
- Ten open-air film nights
- Kultursommer motto The Golden Twenties
- Film classics from the Weimar Republic
- Aperitif and culinary delights before the film
- Tickets only €9 / €7 reduced
Prices Filmnächte Sternen 3 2026
Practical information — Filmnächte Sternen 3
Location
Courtyard of the Landesmuseum Mainz, Große Bleiche 49-51, 55116 Mainz. About a 10-minute walk from the main train station or by tram.
Date 2026
Friday, August 28 to Sunday, September 6, 2026, ten film nights. Exact film titles and dates available at filmz-mainz.de.
Admission and Film Start
Admission from 7 p.m. with culinary offerings on the museum terrace. Film start after dark, usually around 9 p.m.
Tickets
€9 regular, €7 reduced (students, schoolchildren, severely disabled persons). Advance sale via filmz-mainz.de and at the box office.
In Case of Bad Weather
In case of rain or persistent bad weather, an alternative event will be held in the museum's lecture hall or the program will be adjusted. Current information at filmz-mainz.de.
Cuisine
Museum terrace open before the film with aperitifs and a small menu.
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