34. Jewish-Israeli Cultural Days Thuringia

34th Edition — March 5 to 26, 2026

The Jewish-Israeli Cultural Days Thuringia 2026 take place from March 5 to 26. 80 events at 16 locations throughout Thuringia — over 40 of them in Erfurt — form one of the densest festival programs of Jewish and Israeli culture in Germany. The organizer is the Jewish State Community of Thuringia together with the City of Erfurt and numerous partner institutions.

Opening at Stadtwerke Atrium

The opening on March 5, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Atrium of Stadtwerke Erfurt kicks off the three-week program. Concerts, readings, films, exhibitions, and encounters follow until March 26.

Highlights and Special Exhibition

On March 25, Dr. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, will speak at the New Synagogue Erfurt (7:00 PM). The closing event on March 26 is the album release concert of the Anna Margolina Quartet at Zughafen Erfurt (8:00 PM). The special exhibition "Hamsa — 555 Depictions" is dedicated to the traditional protective symbol in Jewish and Middle Eastern culture. In 2026, the cultural days also mark 20 years of the Erfurt–Haifa twin city partnership with special programs.

Program Highlights 2026 — 34th Jewish-Israeli Cultural Days Thuringia

• Thursday, March 5, 2026, 7:30 PM: Opening at the Atrium of Stadtwerke Erfurt
• March 5–26, 2026: 80 events at 16 locations — concerts (Klezmer, classical, and contemporary Israeli music), readings, films, discussions, city tours, services, encounters
• Erfurt Venues (Selection): New Synagogue, Old Synagogue, Stadtwerke Atrium, Zughafen, Kinoklub am Hirschlachufer, City Library
• Other Venues in Thuringia: Weimar, Jena, Gera, Eisenach, and 11 more
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 7:00 PM: Discussion with Dr. Josef Schuster (President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany) at the New Synagogue Erfurt
• Thursday, March 26, 2026, 8:00 PM: Closing concert Anna Margolina Quartet (Album Release) at Zughafen Erfurt
• Special Exhibition: "Hamsa — 555 Depictions" (protective symbol of Jewish and Middle Eastern tradition), running concurrently
• 20 Years of Erfurt–Haifa Twin City Partnership: Special events focusing on the German-Israeli city partnership
• Organizer: Jewish State Community of Thuringia in cooperation with the City of Erfurt and numerous partner institutions

Full program and tickets: juedische-kulturtage-thueringen.de and erfurt-tourismus.de.

• Opening on March 5 at Stadtwerke Atrium Erfurt
• Discussion with Dr. Josef Schuster (Central Council of Jews in Germany) on March 25
• Closing concert Anna Margolina Quartet on March 26, Zughafen Erfurt
• Special exhibition Hamsa motifs (555 depictions)
• 20 years Erfurt–Haifa twin city partnership
• 80 events at 16 locations in Thuringia

Date 2026

Thursday, March 5 to Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Opening

March 5, 2026, 7:30 PM, Atrium of Stadtwerke Erfurt.

Venues

16 locations in Thuringia, with over 40 individual events in Erfurt (New Synagogue, Old Synagogue, Zughafen, Stadtwerke Atrium, galleries, cinemas, libraries). Other venues include Weimar, Jena, Gera, and Eisenach.

Tickets

Depending on the event. Concerts and readings usually require a fee (advance booking via the venues and the JIKT website), exhibitions and discussions are often free.

Tip

Combine a visit with the UNESCO World Heritage site "Medieval Jewish Heritage Erfurt" (Old Synagogue, Mikveh, Stone House, open year-round).