Pforzheim Museum Night 2026

Pforzheim — Gold City with a World Jewellery Museum

For over 250 years, Pforzheim has been the center of the German jewellery and watch industry. Over 70% of the jewellery manufactured in Germany comes from Pforzheim and its surroundings. The Jewellery Museum in the Reuchlinhaus documents the world history of jewellery with over 2,000 exhibits spanning five millennia — from antiquity through the Renaissance to contemporary design. It is considered the most important jewellery museum in the world.

Reuchlinhaus — Architecture and Atmosphere

The Reuchlinhaus, which houses the Jewellery Museum, is itself a masterpiece of post-war modernism. Completed in 1961, it features clean lines, expansive glass walls, and a perfect presentation of jewellery in display cases. During Museum Night, you'll experience the building in a special atmosphere — with night lighting, live music in the rooms, and performances in the staircases.

Silver Lining — the 2026 Special Exhibition

As part of the 2026 Museum Night, the exhibition “Silver Lining” is on display — a showcase of works by students from the College of Design, Jewellery, and Metalwork at the Pforzheim Goldsmith School. The Pforzheim Goldsmith School is one of Europe's most renowned training centers for jewellery design — its graduates work for Cartier, Boucheron, Tiffany, Bulgari, and in major German design studios. “Silver Lining” features the work of the next generation: experimental jewellery design, conceptual works in silver, gold, and unusual materials.

Multiple Locations, One Ticket

Museum Night opens up numerous cultural sites in Pforzheim: Jewellery Museum, City Museum, Art Association, Kupferdächle (Cultural Centre), galleries, City Library, City Archive. A single ticket grants access to all institutions. Shuttle buses run between the locations — you can plan a route and visit multiple venues.

Music, Performances, and Encounters

In addition to the exhibitions, a supporting program shapes Museum Night: live music (jazz, classical, singer-songwriter), performances (dance, spoken word), artist talks, curated tours. The charm lies in the mix — you switch between high culture and pop, between serious engagement and relaxed viewing.

Pforzheim — Gateway to the Black Forest

Pforzheim, with a population of just over 126,000, is located on the northern edge of the Black Forest, where the Gold City's industry transitions into the nature of the low mountain range. The city suffered heavily in World War II — on February 23, 1945, it was 83% destroyed. Reconstruction was modern, and the Reuchlinhaus from 1961 is a symbol of this new beginning.