LabiRynT — Festival of New Art Frankfurt (Oder) / Słubice

A Festival Without Borders

Since 2010, LabiRynT — Festival of New Art has been the most important German-Polish festival for contemporary art on the Oder river. Every October, it utilizes ten venues on both sides of the river: in Frankfurt (Oder) on the German side and in the Polish city of Słubice on the other side of the Oder bridge. The concept is consistently cross-border — visitors wander between the two cities, crossing the Oder on foot and experiencing art in galleries, cultural centers, vacant buildings, and public spaces.

2026 Festival Theme: "Time"

The 2026 festival is dedicated to the theme "Time". Artists are invited to explore the concept from various perspectives: physical time (astronomy, physics), subjective perception (memory, anticipation, the present), philosophical and social dimensions (acceleration, deceleration, generational shifts), and technological transformations shaping life today. The works encompass painting, sculpture, music, performance, film, and new media — the scope is intentionally broad.

Over 80 Artists from Europe

As every year, the 2026 festival brings together over 80 artists from Germany, Poland, and other European countries. The festival is curated by Anna Panek-Kusz (Słubice) and Michael Kurzwelly (Frankfurt/Oder), two key figures in the cross-border art scene. The festival collaborates with all major art institutions in the region: Kleist Forum, SMOK Słubice, Galeria OKNO, and the German-Polish association Slubfurt e.V..

Slubfurt — The Imaginary Twin City

The festival is deeply rooted in the Slubfurt concept — an idea initiated by Michael Kurzwelly to conceive Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice not as two separate cities, but as one shared twin city called "Slubfurt". This artistic vision shapes the festival at all levels: bilingual signage, fluid program structure, and works that migrate thematically or physically across the bridge. Slubfurt is one of Europe's most remarkable artistic-political identity constructs.

An International Program

For three days, exhibitions are complemented by performances, film screenings, seminars, lectures, and artist talks. Guided tours transform the ten venues on both sides of the Oder into a cohesive experiential pathway. The festival is supported by the cities of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice, as well as the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture. Admission is free.