Weimar Rendezvous with History

Weimar — Capital of German Classicism and the First Democracy

Weimar (approx. 65,000 inhabitants, independent city) is the cultural capital of Thuringia. With Goethe, Schiller, Herder, Wieland, and Liszt, it was the intellectual center of Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1919, the first German Republic (Weimar Republic) was proclaimed here, and in 1919, the Bauhaus, the most influential design school of the 20th century, was founded. The nearby Buchenwald concentration camp serves as a reminder of Germany's dark history. This concentration of highs and lows in German history makes Weimar the ideal location for a history festival.

A Festival Based on a French Model

The Weimar Rendezvous with History is modeled after the «Rendez-vous de l'Histoire» in Blois (France) — Weimar's partner city, which has hosted an annual history festival since 1998. The Weimar format has adopted its concept: an annually changing main theme, discussions with scientists, journalists, contemporary witnesses, supplemented by city tours, films, concerts, and the beloved pub quiz, which also opens the festival to a non-academic audience. It is the only festival of its kind in Germany.

«Fact or Fake?» — Theme 2026

The 2026 theme strikes a chord with the times: «Fact or Fake?» addresses propaganda, enlightenment, myths, and historical narratives at a time when fake news, AI-generated images, and disinformation challenge democracies. The festival asks: How has history always been reinterpreted for political purposes? What role do myths play in national identity? How do we protect freedom of science, freedom of the press, and freedom of art? What lessons do we learn from the way authoritarian regimes deal with truth and lies? The festival edition combines historical depth with references to the present — from 1848 to AI-generated propaganda in 2026.

Festival Center mon ami and the City of Weimar

The Youth and Cultural Center mon ami at Goetheplatz 11 is the festival center — event space, meeting point, book presentation venue. Further events take place throughout the city: in libraries, museums, cinemas, cafés, pubs. The festival is organized by the association Weimarer Rendez-vous mit der Geschichte e. V. together with the City of Weimar and funded by numerous cultural and educational institutions. A podcast series, which delves into historical topics year-round, runs between the festival days. In the state of Thuringia, the Weimar Rendezvous is one of the most important discourse events — an intellectual highlight between the autumn and winter programs.