FullDome Festival Jena

What is FullDome?

"FullDome" refers to a form of immersive cinema that uses the entire dome of a planetarium (or a mobile dome installation) as a screen—a 360° projection in all directions, complemented by spatial sound. The format evolved from classic planetarium shows and today combines science, art, gaming, astrophysics, and club culture.

Jena: The FullDome Capital

The Zeiss-Planetarium Jena was opened in 1926 as the world's first planetarium for the general public—it remains the oldest continuously operating planetarium in the world to this day. It is home to the Carl Zeiss Foundation, and the world's first projection planetarium was developed here in 1923. In 2007, the planetarium leveraged this position to host the first international FullDome Festival—it has been held annually ever since.

Three Days of Festival

The festival showcases the best fulldome films of the year, produced by professional studios, artists, and university students. Additionally:

• Frameless Forum—discussions on innovations in fulldome, media art, VR, 3D sound
• Live Performances—immersive theater pieces (e.g., "Das graue Tuch" in 2025)
• Club Night with electronic acts (most recently DJs Karakum, TKKG)
• JANUS Awards—the "Oscars" of the fulldome scene

JANUS Awards

The JANUS Awards are presented on the final day of the festival—named after the Roman god who looks in both directions with two faces, a fitting symbol for the format. The awards ceremony is streamed globally.

International Reach

Since 2007, the festival has attracted around 10,000 visitors and gathered 800 film submissions from over 30 nations—establishing itself as a benchmark event in the global fulldome scene. In 2026, the jury will include Kelley Francis (Arizona), Delhia de France (Berlin), and Warik Lawrance (Melbourne).