Werkleitz Festival

Werkleitz — Pioneer of German Media Art

The Werkleitz Society is one of the oldest and most renowned institutions for contemporary media art in Germany. Founded in 1994 in Werkleitz near Tangermünde — hence the name — and moved to Halle (Saale) in 2010, it has established itself as a pioneer for experimental film, video, and installation art. Artist scholarships (EMAP/EMARE, A38), an extensive media library, a masterclass, and the festival shape its work. The Werkleitz Festival has been held since the 1990s — initially biennially, now with annually changing focuses.

“Earlier or Later” — The Theme for 2026

Under the title “Earlier or Later,” the 2026 festival will focus on the relationship between generations and the question of time. How do younger and older generations view each other? What remains when everything is in flux? What aspects of our perception of time are socioculturally constructed? The Werkleitz Society has announced an Open Call — submissions by March 31, 2026 — and plans to show around 100 works. More than 170 works have already been submitted: photographs, textile works, films, drawings, paintings, and poetry.

Puschkinhaus and Puschkino — The Venues

The main venue for the 2026 festival is the Puschkinhaus in Halle, a former Soviet cultural center, now a venue for events. From July 2 to 12, the main program will run: exhibition of selected works, performances, lectures, discussion rounds. Starting in April 2026, an accompanying film series will be shown at Puschkino, thematically dedicated to the festival. Artists will receive an expense allowance of 100 euros for their exhibited works; if desired, the works can be offered for sale.

Halle as a Media Art Location

Halle, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, is the only major city with a prominent media art scene — Werkleitz, the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, and the Center for Media, Art, and Cultural Studies at the University of Halle form a dense network. Anyone who wants to see contemporary, experimental, often conceptual art in Germany cannot bypass Halle and Werkleitz. The 2026 festival is a rare opportunity to see the future of German media art in a region particularly challenged by change.