Kamenzer Lessing-Tage

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing — the Enlightenment Thinker from Kamenz

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781) is considered one of the most important German poets and thinkers of the Enlightenment — author of 'Nathan the Wise,' 'Emilia Galotti,' 'Minna von Barnhelm,' and the theoretical writings 'Laocoön' and 'Hamburg Dramaturgy.' He was born on January 22, 1729, in Kamenz in the Upper Lusatia region and thus left a literary legacy to his hometown that the city has cherished for generations. The Kamenzer Lessing-Tage is the central event through which this legacy is kept alive — annually since 1970, around Lessing's birthday.

56th Edition — from January 16, 2026, into Spring

The 56th edition starts on January 16, 2026, and, as is traditional, extends into spring. The thematic focus is around January 22 — Lessing's birthday — but the program is spread over several weeks to extend the tight winter calendar with multiple program items and allow a broader audience to attend.

Program Components

The Lessing-Tage typically include the following formats: Readings from Lessing's works by renowned actors and scholars; Lectures by prominent Germanists and Enlightenment researchers; Theater performances of his plays (e.g., 'Nathan the Wise,' 'Emilia Galotti,' 'Minna von Barnhelm') by guest ensembles; Concerts featuring music from Lessing's era (Bach, Telemann, early classical); School programs with readings and workshops for students from Saxony and beyond; Film screenings of Lessing adaptations or thematically related material; an annual special exhibition at the museum.

The Lessing Museum Under Renovation

Important note: The Lessing Museum Kamenz is currently undergoing renovation and expansion — the groundbreaking for the extension building took place on May 19, 2025. The Lessing-Tage 2026 will therefore take place at alternative venues in the city — St. Annen Monastery Church, Stadthalle, school auditoriums, possibly the auditorium of the Lessing Gymnasium. The exact venues will be announced with the detailed program in December 2025 / January 2026 by the Kamenz city administration and the museum.

Kamenz — Lessing's Birth Town in Western Upper Lusatia

The town of Kamenz, with around 16,000 inhabitants, is located in the Bautzen district in western Upper Lusatia. It is also called the Lessing Town Kamenz — the Enlightenment figure is omnipresent: the Lessing Museum, the Lessing Gymnasium, Lessingplatz, the Lessing monument from 1864 in front of the main church of St. Mary. In addition, Kamenz offers a noteworthy old town with Gothic churches, a beautiful market square, and good connections to Dresden, Bautzen, and Görlitz.