Lachmesse Leipzig

Since 1991 — Cabaret Festival of the East

The Lachmesse was founded after reunification — in 1991, when the East German cabaret scene had to redefine itself, while simultaneously benefiting from West German influences. Today, it is Germany's largest international cabaret and performance art festival, an eight-day event featuring over 90 ensembles, regularly attracting virtually all prominent German-speaking cabaret artists.

October 25 to November 1, 2026 — Eight Days of Laughter

Eight days of programming across 14 Leipzig venues. The Lachmesse doesn't rely on a single large stage but partners with the city's established cabaret venues — Pfeffermühle (Leipzig's most traditional cabaret), academixer (student cabaret with a long history), Funzel, SANFTWUT, Central — plus the major venues Schauspielhaus, Oper Leipzig, and Moritzbastei. Each venue presents its own program highlight, alongside guest performances from Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, and Switzerland.

Opening: “Die Wörter der Sachsen” — Tom Pauls and Peter Ufer

The Lachmesse 2026 traditionally opens on Saturday, October 25, at 11 a.m. with the matinee “Die Wörter der Sachsen” featuring Tom Pauls and Peter Ufer in the academixer-Keller. It's a humorous exploration of the Saxon dialect and Saxon peculiarities, always setting the festival's tone. The Leipziger Löwenzahn award will also be presented on the opening day — in 2025, it went to Michael Krebs, who will musically accompany the 2026 festival opening.

Highlights and Artists 2026

Program highlights include: Hannah Blank with the premiere of her new show “Casablanka” on October 26 at academixer, Lars Reichow with “Boomerland” on October 29, Chin Meyer with “Die Erotik des Geldes” on October 30, guest performances by Wladimir Kaminer, Max Uthoff, and Andreas Rebers on various dates, and the Kupferpfennig competition for newcomers on October 28. The festival concludes on Sunday, November 1, with a matinee at the Oper Leipzig.

Saxony, Leipzig, and Cabaret

Leipzig boasts an exceptional density of cabaret venues: Die Pfeffermühle (since 1954), academixer (since 1966), Sanftwut, Funzel, Krystallpalast Variete — few cities of comparable size have so many active performance art stages. The Lachmesse is the annual gathering of this scene and, at the same time, its stage for German-speaking guests from Vienna, Berlin, and Munich. For many Leipzig residents, it's the highlight of the autumn season, falling between the Spring Book Fair and the Christmas Market.