Goethe's 276th birthday | 28. August
Even during Goethe's lifetime, Weimar celebrated the poet prince's birthday as a big public festival. This beautiful tradition lives on to this day and of course the 276rd birthday is also duly celebrated. You, your families and friends are very welcome and celebrate with us in a unique atmosphere!
| 12 noon | Welcome and cutting of the traditional potato cake Dr Ulrike Lorenz, President of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar |
| 1 p.m | Electronic concert reading freely adapted from Goethe's "Urfaust" The Cultural Technicians | Faustus' Loops & Words |
| 3 p.m | Goethe quiz |
| 15.30 pm | Preview reading "Here is Goethe 275!" (in German language) |
| 5 pm | Live music with the transcultural Risha Ensemble |
| 6 pm | Opening of the Goethe Wine Festival & congratulations to the birthday boy with Peter Kleine, Lord Mayor of the City of Weimar, among others |
| 18.30 hrs | Experimental live performance by Li-Chin Li |
| 7 pm | Live music with Deslin Ami Kaba & Band |
3 - 6 pm
Of course, a proper birthday party also includes lots of fun, games and creativity:
The Goethe National Museum is open from 9.30 am to 9 pm.
| 3 - 8 p.m | Goethe-Live-3D |
| 5 pm | Reading "Here is Goethe 275!" in the ballroom (in German language) |
| 6 p.m | Weimar controversies: Tell us, how do you feel about "Faust"? (in German language) In keeping with the Faust theme year, we are focussing on the Gretchen questions of our time. Author Nora Gomringer and director Till Wiebel, who is currently staging Faust at the stellwerk junges theatre in Weimar, will be in conversation. |
All information subject to change. Please note that photos and videos will be taken during the event for further communication purposes of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar.
On the occasion of Goethe's birthday, the following museums are open to you free of charge:
On the occasion of Goethe's birthday, the ceremony for the awarding of this year's Goethe Medal will traditionally take place at 3 pm in the Weimarhalle.
This year, the Turkish cultural promoter Osman Kavala, the Chinese linguist Li Yuan and the Belgian author David Van Reybrouck will be honoured with the Goethe Medal.
The Goethe Medal will be awarded by the President of the Goethe-Institut Gesche Joost. For the first time, the award ceremony will be held in public.
Admission is free, registration is required.
The tradition of celebrating Goethe's birthday began around 1781. Goethe anniversaries in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially his 100th birthday and the 100th anniversary of his death, were celebrated throughout Germany with music and dancing. Today, Goethe's birthday is celebrated with a festival for young and old in an atmospheric setting throughout Weimar.
Projects of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar are funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Free State of Thuringia, represented by the State Chancellery of Thuringia, Department of Culture and the Arts.
