Name: Kasseler Dokfest – Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival 2026
Start: 2026-11-17T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-22T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Gloria Kino, Filmladen, BALi Kino u. a.

Kasseler Dokfest

About Kasseler Dokfest

Six days of festival on-site plus one week online: Since 1983, the Kasseler Dokfest has presented international documentary cinema, media art, young filmmaking, and discussion formats. The 43rd edition runs from November 17 to 22, 2026, in Kassel's city center cinemas – extended online until November 29. The festival combines international competition films, the media art section Monitoring in galleries and off-spaces, the interfiction congress, and junges dokfest – a dense program that transforms Kassel into a documentary film city in November.

Dates 17 Nov — 22 Nov 2026

Venue Kassel (06611)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Kasseler Dokfest — edition 2026

The 43rd Kasseler Dokfest from November 17 to 22, 2026, in Kassel's city center cinemas. Online extension via the dok@home platform until November 29. International short and feature films, media installations (Monitoring), interfiction congress, junges dokfest, as well as industry events DokfestConnection and DokfestForum.

The 43rd edition follows the established six-day structure, transforming Kassel into a documentary film city in November. The submission deadline for 2026 was June 24, 2026. Accreditations for industry, students, and press are available via the festival website.

Highlights Kasseler Dokfest 2026

43rd edition since 1983
International short and feature-length documentary films in competition
Monitoring: Media installations throughout the city
interfiction congress – Theory and practice
Online streaming via dok@home until November 29

Programme Kasseler Dokfest 2026

Program Structure 2026

International Competition — Short and feature-length documentary films
Monitoring — Media installations in galleries and off-spaces
interfiction congress — Theory and practice of digital media
junges dokfest — Program for children, youth, and school classes
DokfestConnection — Networking for filmmakers and industry professionals
DokfestForum — Workshop discussions on current projects

Venues

Gloria Kino — Main venue (accessible)
Filmladen — Competition screening rooms (accessible)
BALi Kino at Kulturbahnhof — Special programs
Galleries and off-spaces for Monitoring installations

Online Extension

dok@home platform until November 29, 2026
Streaming of selected films for registered viewers

Detailed Program

The complete film program for 2026, including screening times, will be published in autumn 2026 on kasselerdokfest.de. The call for submissions was open until June 24, 2026.

Prices Kasseler Dokfest 2026

Single tickets, day passes, and festival passes available via the festival website. Concessions for students, pupils, and seniors. Online tickets for dok@home also available.

Practical information

Practical information — Kasseler Dokfest

Getting There

Train: ICE stop Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, then a 10-minute tram ride to the city center; or regional/long-distance trains to Kassel Hauptbahnhof (Kulturbahnhof, BALi Kino directly in the building). Most venues are within walking distance of each other.

Tickets

Single tickets, day passes, and festival passes. Concessions available for students, pupils, and seniors.

Accreditation

Industry, press, and student accreditations are available via the festival website.

Tip

For the full festival experience, plan 2–3 days in Kassel and combine competition films with media installations and an interfiction panel.

Documenta City for Documentary Film

Since 1983, the Kasseler Dokfest has been a firm fixture on the calendar of the international documentary film and media art scene. What began small has developed into one of the most renowned German festivals of its genre: six festival days in Kassel, plus an online extension until the end of November, featuring short and feature films, video installations, and a packed discussion and networking program. The festival is supported by Filmladen Kassel e.V. and is part of the documentary identity of the Documenta City.

Sections with Profile

The program is clearly structured: Short and feature-length documentary films compete for prizes in the international competition. Monitoring showcases video and media installations in galleries and off-spaces throughout the city – a format that makes Kassel a small media art city in November. The parallel interfiction congress has been exploring the theory and practice of digital media for decades. junges dokfest opens the festival to school classes and young filmmakers.

DokfestConnection and DokfestForum

Kassel in November is a must-attend event for industry professionals: DokfestConnection brings filmmakers, producers, funding bodies, and distributors together, while the DokfestForum presents current projects in workshop discussions. Anyone producing or curating documentary films in Germany should stop by.

Venues in the City Center

The festival is spread across several cinemas and venues in Kassel's city center: Gloria Kino and Filmladen form the heart of the event, with BALi Kino at the Kulturbahnhof regularly hosting special programs. All main venues are accessible. The media installations are spread across galleries, vacant spaces, and the Kulturbahnhof area.

dok@home – Festival in Your Living Room

With the dok@home platform – Germany's first streaming platform for festival documentary films, operated jointly with four other German festivals – audiences can also watch selected films online after the festival ends. In 2026, the online extension runs until November 29.