Weitsicht Festival Darmstadt

Travel, Nature, Adventure – Told Live

The Weitsicht Festival is Darmstadt's most important event for live reports from around the world. From October 30 to November 1, 2026, the Darmstadtium, the striking science and congress center by the castle moat, will transform into a stage for nine talks by leading travel and adventure storytellers.

Opening with Manuel Bauer

The festival opens on October 30 with Dalai Lama's court photographer Manuel Bauer and his talk "90 Years of the Dalai Lama – 35 Years of Photography". Manuel Bauer accompanied the Dalai Lama for three decades as his personal photographer and presents a balance of these encounters that is both personal and spiritual.

Nine Talks in Three Days

Over the three festival days, eight more speakers will follow with their personal accounts from travels, expeditions, and nature explorations. The mix ranges from high-alpine climbing to polar expeditions, wildlife photography, and travel narratives from exotic cultural circles.

Festival Pass or Single Ticket

The Festival Pass is cheaper than single tickets and grants access to all nine talks. Tickets are available via Kölnticket and the Darmstadtium box office.

At the Darmstadtium – Science Meets Wanderlust

The Darmstadtium, opened in 2007, with its state-of-the-art auditorium, is the ideal venue for a lecture festival: good acoustics, generous image projection, and a central location in the science city of Darmstadt.

Live Talk as a Format

Live talks have been experiencing a renaissance in Germany for years: Against the backdrop of changing travel habits and increased awareness of nature and the outdoors, people are seeking first-hand inspiration. The Weitsicht Festival occupies this niche at a high level – with professional storytellers, high-quality image projection in the Darmstadtium auditorium, and a clear thematic selection. Travelers from Antarctica to Anatolia offer an authentic insight into their experiences.

About Darmstadt

Darmstadt, officially known as the "Wissenschaftsstadt" (City of Science), is renowned for the TU Darmstadt, ESA's ESOC, and the Darmstadtium as a conference center. The festival fits this profile: education-oriented, curated, and ambitious.