Open Day University of Hohenheim 2026

Science Festival in the Palace Park

The University of Hohenheim — founded in 1818 — is one of the oldest universities in Baden-Württemberg and the leading address for agricultural sciences in Germany. Once a year, it transforms its extensive campus around the baroque Hohenheim Palace in southern Stuttgart into an open science festival. The 2026 Open Day will take place on Saturday, July 4, 2026 — an opportunity to look behind the scenes of research and teaching, talk to professors, and experience science up close.

Hands-on Research

Dozens of stations with interactive demonstrations await visitors on campus: a surf simulator shows fluid dynamics in real-time, a 3D food printer prints edible structures from plant-based pastes, and bees, chickens, and dairy cows can be experienced live in the agricultural exhibition. Those who want to know how their own sense of taste works can participate in taste experiments. Chemistry labs open their doors for experiments on food chemistry, and biological institutes showcase microscopy and genetic analyses.

Sustainability, Bioeconomy, Climate

A special focus each year is on sustainability topics: climate research, bioeconomy, regenerative agriculture, urban gardening. Several institutes at the University of Hohenheim work on these issues, and their stands in the palace park present current research results tailored for a broad audience. Students present their own projects, and pupils from the region build bridges out of spaghetti or test plant-based burgers.

Live Music, Dance, Hands-on Program

Parallel to the science program, bands, choirs, and dance groups perform on several stages in the palace park. Student university groups, international groups, and sports clubs from the university present themselves with their own programs. Families will find a dedicated children's program with researcher corners, craft stations, and hands-on experiments. Restaurants and food trucks from the region provide visitors with Swabian specialties, international cuisine, and vegetarian/vegan options — many of them related to the university's research topics.

Hohenheim Palace as a Backdrop

The baroque Hohenheim Palace was built at the end of the 18th century by Württemberg Duke Carl Eugen for his mistress Franziska von Hohenheim. Today, it houses the university's rectorate and a large part of the central administration. The palace park with its old trees and water features is part of the grounds and is publicly accessible year-round. During the Open Day, the historic setting becomes a vibrant backdrop for modern science.