Kleist-Festtage in Frankfurt (Oder), Provinziale in Eberswalde, Herbstdampf in Wittenberge: the events and festivals in Brandenburg on October 10-11, 2026 run from the stage to the steam locomotive.
At Platz der Einheit in Frankfurt (Oder). The Kleist-Festtage are on at the Kleist Forum until Sunday, October 11, 2026. Kleist-Festtage in Frankfurt (Oder), Provinziale in Eberswalde, Herbstdampf in Wittenberge: the events and festivals in Brandenburg on October 10-11, 2026 run from the stage to the steam locomotive.
Kleist in his home town
The Kleist-Festtage have honoured the work and legacy of Heinrich von Kleist since 1991. He was born in Frankfurt (Oder) in 1777. From October 6 to 11, 2026, the Kleist Forum and the Kleist-Museum join forces for world premieres, new theatre productions, readings and discussions.
The centre of the programme is the Kleist Prize for young dramatists, endowed with 10,000 euros. It guarantees a world premiere at the Kleist Forum. For 2026 the prize went to Kaleb Erdmann for his play “Debritz”. It has been awarded since 1996.
The Kleist-Museum is the only literature museum devoted to a German-language dramatist.
The Kleist Forum hosts productions from Germany and abroad, while the museum holds readings, lectures and conversations. The programme enters into dialogue with “Penthesilea”, “Prinz Friedrich von Homburg” or “Michael Kohlhaas”, and adds discussions about theatre in the 21st century and contributions from the independent scene. Frankfurt (Oder) sits right on the Polish border, and that shows in the German-Polish collaborations and the surtitles.
Tickets depend on the production, and pupils, students and groups pay special rates.
The 23rd Provinziale in Eberswalde
On October 10, the Provinziale opens in Eberswalde. The film festival, in its 23rd edition, runs until October 17 at Haus Schwärzetal and circles around home, landscape, town and country. Four competitions cover short documentaries, feature documentaries, animation and short fiction, joined by the special programme “Heimatfenster”, film talks and music evenings.
The concerts at Kloster Stift zum Heiligengrabe end on Saturday, October 10, at 5 pm with “The Sound of North”: the Adumá Saxophone Quartet plays a Scandinavian repertoire. Children up to 12 get in free.
In Wittenberge, the season closes on Saturday and Sunday with Herbstdampf at the Historic Locomotive Shed. Steam and diesel locomotives from the past run laps, and there is a locomotive parade, cab rides and handcar rides. The shed is open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and until 4 pm on Sunday; adults pay 8 euros, children 4 euros. On Sunday, October 11, the Helenesee leisure park near Frankfurt (Oder) marks the end of its season with Oldtimer Seasons End: classic cars and US cars line the lakeshore, and a big flea market runs alongside. The same day, the Optikpark in Rathenow holds the closing party of its concert season, a season finale with a programme for the whole family.
In the Lower Oder Valley National Park, the second weekend of the Crane Days runs from October 9 to 11. More than 2,000 birds rest there on their way south. Morning outings to the roosts, guided hikes, talks and concerts are spread between Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin, with free shuttle buses between the two. Canoe tours to the crane roosts cost 55 to 60 euros for adults and require registration.