Weimar Rendezvous with History
Germany's only history festival — October 30 to November 1, 2026, Theme «Fact or Fake?»
About Weimar Rendezvous
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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.
Weimar Rendezvous — edition 2026
«Fact or Fake?» — 2026 Festival Edition
The 2026 festival edition is a response to the current challenges facing democratic public spheres. How has history always been manipulated? What lessons does democracy draw from the experiences with propaganda — from the religious wars through the Nazi era to GDR history policy? And how do we react today to AI-generated images, deepfakes, and disinformation? The speakers come from the fields of history, journalism, media studies, political science, and cultural creation.
Programme Weimar Rendezvous 2026
Weimar Rendezvous 2026 — Program Overview
Friday, October 30, 2026 — Opening
- Festival opening at mon ami
- Opening discussion on the theme «Fact or Fake?»
- Reception with wine and music
- Evening event at mon ami
Saturday, October 31, 2026 — Main Program Day
- Morning: Lecture on the history of propaganda (German history, Nazi era, GDR, Cold War)
- Panel discussion with historians and journalists
- City tours «History and Myth of Weimar»
- Afternoon: further lectures and panels
- Film screenings of historical and contemporary documentaries
- Book presentations
- Evening: Pub Quiz in Weimar pubs — history questions in a social format
- Musical contributions
Sunday, November 1, 2026 — Festival Conclusion
- Morning: Special events and city tours
- Closing discussion and summary
- Special concert or film screening
- Festival closing in the afternoon
Pre-program
- March 24, 2026: Book presentation by Prof. Dr. Jeannette van Laak — Biography of Lea Grundig, expulsion from Germany, life in Palestine and the GDR
Accompanying Program
- Podcast series «Weimar Rendezvous with History» runs all year round
- Current episode 10: «Revolution and Exile — The 1848ers in Germany and America»
Sponsoring Partners
- Federal Agency for Civic Education
- Thuringian State Chancellery
- Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Hessen-Thüringen
- City of Weimar
- Other cultural and educational institutions
Detailed program with speakers, times, and registration options: weimarer-rendezvous.de.
Highlights Weimar Rendezvous 2026
- October 30 to November 1, 2026 in Weimar
- Theme: «Fact or Fake?» — Propaganda, Enlightenment, Myths
- Germany's only history festival
- Festival center: mon ami at Goetheplatz
- Panel discussions, lectures, city tours
- Film screenings and pub quiz
- Inspired by the model of Blois (France)
- Free admission
Prices Weimar Rendezvous 2026
Free admission for the majority of events. Individual special events (e.g., concerts, cinema screenings) may have an admission fee. Registration recommended for highly sought-after events.
Practical information — Weimar Rendezvous
Date 2026
Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Festival Center
Youth and Cultural Center mon ami, Goetheplatz 11, 99423 Weimar, independent city of Weimar, Thuringia. Other venues are spread throughout the city.
Admission
Free. Some special events (e.g., concerts, cinema screenings) may have an admission fee.
Getting There
By train: Weimar main station (ICE stop), approx. 10 minutes walk to mon ami. By car: A4 exit Weimar, parking in the city center parking garages.
Pre-program
On March 24, 2026, book presentation by Prof. Dr. Jeannette van Laak on the biography of graphic artist Lea Grundig — kick-off for the festival year.
Organizer
Association Weimarer Rendez-vous mit der Geschichte e. V. together with the City of Weimar. Funded by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, Thuringian State Chancellery, Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung, and other partners. Detailed program and registration: weimarer-rendezvous.de.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Weimar Rendezvous
Jugend- und Kulturzentrum mon ami und weitere Orte in Weimar
Goetheplatz 11, 99423 Weimar, 99423 Weimar