Long Night of Museums Jena

Jena — University City and Science Metropolis

Jena is Thuringia's second-largest city and one of Germany's defining university cities. Schiller, Hegel, Schelling, and the Schlegel brothers taught here; modern optics industry was founded here by Carl Zeiss and Otto Schott; Ernst Haeckel coined the term 'ecology' here. The city in the Saale Valley is now one of Central Germany's most important high-tech centers — and its museum landscape is denser than in many cities three times its size.

Long Night of Museums — Motto 2026

The Long Night of Museums Jena is the city-wide cultural night that JenaKultur organizes annually on the first Friday in June. In 2026, it takes place on Friday, June 5th, from 5 PM to midnight under the motto „On the Trail of Wonder“. Over 30 venues open their doors, offering a special night program with special exhibitions, guided tours, performances, and concerts. Many venues showcase rooms or collections not normally accessible.

Highlights 2026

Schiller's Garden House presents a Poetry Slam in the Lyriklaube. At the Phyletic Museum (Ernst Haeckel's life's work), portraits of the 'Animals of the Year 2026' are displayed until 11 PM. The Ernst Haeckel House invites you to a joint microscopy session. The Zeiss Planetarium — the world's oldest large planetarium — offers 20-minute guided tours every half hour between 6 PM and 10 PM. There's a city-wide treasure hunt for children.

Ticket incl. Public Transport

The ticket for the Long Night also serves as a travel pass: it's valid until 3 AM on all buses, trams, and local trains within the city of Jena. Advance sales start on May 5th, 2026. This makes it easy to reach even more distant venues like Schloss Tautenburg or the Bergerwerk at the Felsenbühne.