From 11 to 13 September 2026, from 8 pm to midnight, Weimar will become a stage for audiovisual projections and shared encounters. Under this year’s theme, “Democracy and Society,” Genius Loci Weimar invites visitors to experience the urban space from new perspectives and engage with questions surrounding life and coexistence in society.

The three winning works of this year’s international video mapping competition will be presented at three historic locations in Weimar: “Temple of Voices: An Unfinished Common Script” by AOTOO (China) at the Niketempel, “STRATUM” by Amir Ahmadoghlu (Iran) at the Haus der Weimarer Republik, and “Fragĭlis” by Rita Reis (Portugal) at Schiller’s Residence. At a pop-up polling station on Theaterplatz, festival visitors can vote for their favourite work and decide this year’s Audience Award winner.

The festival also invites visitors to actively participate in the projections. For the first time in Weimar West, “Licht und Schatten” by John Tettenborn (Germany) will be presented on the eastern façade of the Humboldt-Gymnasium in Weimar West, exploring themes of diversity, democracy, disinformation, and digital participation.

At the mon ami, “WE ARE MAPPING” turns the audience into co-creators of an interactive light projection using green laser pointers. The participatory street installation “EntGEGENkommen” on Wielandstraße playfully brings visitors into contact with democratic questions and differing opinions. At the Zeughof, Genius Loci Cinema presents a short film programme exploring community, diversity, coexistence, and social structures. This year, the Genius Loci Lab is once again curated by the Erfurt collective KFPNYX, presenting live music and light art in the courtyard of the mon ami. The official afterparty will take place on Friday from 10 pm at Mascha Weimar.