Name: GrIStuF — Greifswald International Students Festival 2026
Start: 2026-06-17T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-21T00:00:00+00:00
Location: STRAZE und Stadt Greifswald

GrIStuF

About GrIStuF

The Greifswald International Students Festival (GrIStuF) is one of only two international student festivals in Germany. Every two years, around 150 students from all over Europe and beyond gather for five days of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, cultural evenings, and intercultural exchange. Accommodation, meals, and admission are free for participants.

Dates 17 Jun — 21 Jun 2026

Venue Greifswald (13075)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

GrIStuF — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 11th edition of the Greifswald International Students Festival runs from June 17 to 21, 2026. Motto: »Shaping Spaces — Creating Communities«. Five days of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and cultural evenings centered around the concept of »Third Spaces« — places between private life and work where community emerges.

After an eight-year break, GrIStuF returns to Greifswald with its 11th edition from June 17 to 21, 2026. Around 150 international students will be guests in the city.

The motto »Shaping Spaces — Creating Communities« revolves around the idea of »Third Spaces«: places beyond the private and work spheres where society meets, exchanges, and grows — from cafés to socio-cultural centers. Over five days, these spaces in Greifswald itself become a laboratory for experimentation: workshops, discussions, cultural evenings, and group work reflect on how healthy societies emerge and can be shaped.

The main venue is the socio-cultural center STRAZE at Stralsunder Straße 10. The application deadline for international participants was early 2026; local Greifswald residents can still apply via apply.gristuf.org. Confirmations will be sent by March 31, 2026.

Highlights GrIStuF 2026

11th edition after an 8-year break
Motto »Shaping Spaces — Creating Communities«
~150 international students from Europe and beyond
Workshops, lectures, panel discussions, Long Nights
Accommodation with Greifswald host families
Free admission

Programme GrIStuF 2026

Program Structure (5 Days)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — Arrival day, welcome of participants at Greifswald host families, evening Opening Ceremony at STRAZE
Thursday, June 18, 2026 — First workshop slots on the festival theme »Shaping Spaces — Creating Communities«, introductory lectures, cultural evening
Friday, June 19, 2026 — Further workshops, panel discussions with patrons, Long Night of Community
Saturday, June 20, 2026 — Workshops, group work, participatory formats in Greifswald's public spaces, joint evening finale
Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Final presentations of workshop results, reflection, official closing at STRAZE

The festival is organized entirely by volunteers from gristuf e.V. The detailed program and final list of patrons will be published in spring 2026 on students-festival.de.

Prices GrIStuF 2026

Participation is free (including accommodation, meals, admission to all events). Minimum age 18. Application required via apply.gristuf.org.

Practical information

Practical information — GrIStuF

Participation

International participants must be at least 18 years old. Apply via apply.gristuf.org. Participation is free, including accommodation, meals, and admission to all events. Local students and Greifswald residents can also apply.

Getting Here

By train to Greifswald Hauptbahnhof (Hamburg — Stralsund — Sassnitz line). By car via the A20.

Get Involved

Volunteers (setup, bar, event coordination), hosts (for participants), and sponsors are sought via the festival website. Bar staff require a health certificate.

About the Festival

The Greifswald International Students Festival — GrIStuF for short — has been organized by the non-profit association gristuf e.V. since 2002. It is aimed at young adults aged 18 and over, primarily students, and brings together around 150 participants from numerous countries in the Hanseatic city of Greifswald. This makes the festival one of only two international student festivals in Germany.

Concept

The festival takes place every two years and is dedicated to a different societal theme each time. Over five days, students, activists, artists, and scientists jointly shape a program of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, group work, and cultural evening events. The focus is on intercultural dialogue between participants and the local population.

History and Hiatus

Since 2002, nine editions have been held, with themes such as global responsibility, marine conservation, or borders. The tenth edition in 2018 bore the motto »Beyond Borders«. Following the pandemic and shortages of volunteer helpers, the festival went on hiatus from 2020 — its revival in 2026 with the 11th edition is an important signal for student festival culture in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Local Context

The main venue is the socio-cultural center STRAZE on Stralsunder Straße. Additionally, lecture halls and rooms of the University of Greifswald (founded in 1456, one of the oldest universities in Europe) and other cultural venues in the city center are used. Participants are accommodated with Greifswald host families.