World Heritage Event Hopping

In 2026, the Luther Museums in Eisleben and Wittenberg will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their designation as World Heritage Sites. As part of this celebration, starting on the 7th of each month from July through December, a different World Heritage Site will be featured each month. Numerous special tours, lectures, concerts, and hands-on activities invite visitors to rediscover the sites of the Reformation and learn about their histories from different perspectives. The celebrations kicked off on June 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. with a large community festival around Luther’s death house in Eisleben.
 

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On August 9, 2026, it’s that time of year again: For this special occasion, picnicking is permitted on the lawn in front of Wörlitz Palace! Starting at 2:00 p.m., you can take a seat in front of the palace dressed in your finest, with a well-stocked picnic basket and a white tablecloth. Enjoy a relaxed and cheerful summer day with a varied program of activities for all ages.
The highlight of the “Picnic at Franz’s” is the evening gondola ride through the illuminated park, starting at 8:30 p.m. Accompanied by the music of the Wörlitz Castle inauguration cantata, you can experience the first English landscape garden on the European mainland from the water.
The view is enchanting not only from the gondola but also for all guests strolling through the park.

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The approximately 9,000-year-old burial of the shaman of Bad Dürrenberg is one of the most spectacular finds in Central European archaeology. Recently, it has been the focus of a research project that has produced fascinating new results using state-of-the-art methods. In March 2026, the Landesmuseum will open its doors for the major special exhibition 'The Shaman'. This can be seen from March 27, 2026 to February 7, 2027 at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle (Saale). Never before has a comparably elaborate special exhibition on prehistoric shamanism and the Mesolithic period been shown in Central Europe.

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Opposite Naumburg Cathedral - one of the most important cultural monuments of the European High Middle Ages - the new World Heritage Center will open its doors from September 2026 - a place that combines history, culture and architecture. In the historic building of the former bishop's curia at Domplatz 1, an exciting visitor information center is being created that vividly conveys the extraordinary universal value of Naumburg Cathedral and the cultural landscape of the Saale and Unstrut rivers.

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100 years ago, the Bauhaus moved from Weimar to Dessau - and permanently changed the history of architecture and design. In 2026, this anniversary will be celebrated with an extensive program. Under the motto "To the Core", the focus will be on modern and contemporary materials. The highlights are the special exhibitions “Glass | Concrete | Metal” (March 28, 2026, to January 10, 2027) in the Bauhaus Building and “Algae | Debris | CO₂” (March 28 to September 27, 2026) in the former Zeeck department store. Further exhibitions, readings, workshops and guided tours will also take place at original locations throughout the year. The Bauhaus Festival from September 4 to 5, 2026 will transform the city into a stage for performances, installations and discussions. Those who get involved in the anniversary year will experience the Bauhaus not as a retrospective, but as an open space for thought - alive, challenging, present.

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Come and be inspired: From October 3rd, 2026, the World Heritage Site Stiftsberg Quedlinburg will shine anew after extensive renovation. The castle museum and collegiate church will showcase more than 1,100 years of art and cultural history in a new presentation covering over 2,400 m². Historic buildings, sacred treasures, multimedia presentations, barrier-free access and flowering gardens make the Stiftsberg an unforgettable World Heritage experience for all generations.

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On October 24 and 25, 2026, Merseburg’s historic old town will be transformed into a place full of magic, sorcery, and fairy-tale charm for the annual Magic Festival, when witches young and old, wizards, magicians, and mythical creatures take over the city center.

To complement the festivities, a visit to Merseburg Cathedral is well worth it: this is where the famous Merseburg spells are kept—Saxony-Anhalt’s nominee for the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

This popular, free festival for children and families stretches throughout Merseburg’s entire downtown—from the Klia-Platte along Gotthardstraße, Entenplan, and the Grüner Markt all the way to the Merseburg Market with its main stage. There’s something magical to discover around every corner:

Hokus Pokus Mini-Fair – Club Magic – Shopping on Gotthardstraße – Family Activities – Vendor Row – Magical Stage Program

A little tip: The Magic Festival is most fun when you dress up!

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