Karlsruhe Schlosslichtspiele 2026: Weinbrenner-Jubiläum und kostenlose Lichtkunst
The twelfth installment of the Karlsruhe Schlosslichtspiele is set to take place from August 13 to September 13, 2026, as Karlsruhe Palace’s exterior becomes a vibrant video mapping display. Launched in 2015 by Peter Weibel, this year’s theme, 'Lightyard Stories: Visionen urbaner Lebensräume', commemorates the 200th anniversary of architect Friedrich Weinbrenner’s passing. This edition will showcase six new works from international artists, including 'Mirage' by Henry Hu and 'On Fire' by Jonas Denzel, marking the 100th anniversary of the Karlsruhe fire department. A projection from the ZKM Summer School will debut on September 5. Drawing approximately 300,000 visitors each year, the event is organized by Karlsruhe Marketing und Event GmbH and ZKM, with support from a friends' association. Additionally, a concurrent exhibition titled 'Media art is here' will highlight local talents.
Key facts
- The Karlsruhe Schlosslichtspiele 2026 runs from August 13 to September 13.
- The event is the twelfth edition, initiated by Peter Weibel in 2015.
- The theme honors Friedrich Weinbrenner, who died 200 years ago.
- Six new shows by international artists are presented.
- Jonas Denzel's 'On Fire' celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Karlsruhe fire department.
- Admission is free.
- The event attracts around 300,000 visitors annually.
- The parallel exhibition 'Media art is here' takes place across the city.
Entities
Artists
- Peter Weibel
- Friedrich Weinbrenner
- Henry Hu
- Jonas Denzel
- Moritz Schneider
- Yulia Mashkova
- Grisha Mumrikov
- SangDoo Nam
- Karolina Sobel
- Nikolaus Völzow
- Maxin10sity
Institutions
- ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und Medien
- Karlsruhe Marketing und Event GmbH (KME)
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
- St. Stephan Kirche
- Evangelische Stadtkirche
- Unesco City of Media Arts
Locations
- Karlsruhe
- Germany
- Schlossplatz
- Seoul