Goethefestwoche 28.08. - 06.09.2026
In 2026, Ilmenau will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Goethe's arrival!
Goethe once raved about Ilmenau: “I have always loved being here and still do...” May 3, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of his first visit to the city. To mark this special occasion, Ilmenau will be celebrating Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Numerous events, exhibitions, readings, and guided tours invite locals and guests alike to explore Goethe's footsteps and experience his work in a variety of ways. The Goethe Year 2026 begins on May 3 with the kick-off event in Weimar. From August 28 to September 6, 2026, it will reach its climax with the Goethe Festival Week! You can look forward to a varied cultural program with exciting evening events and many other highlights. A true celebration for all culture lovers. On August 28, Goethe's 277th birthday, visitors to the Goethe museums (GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Museum Jagdhaus Gabelbach, Museum Goethehaus Stützerbach) will receive free admission. In addition, all three museums will also be open on Mondays during Goethefestwoche.
Program overview
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Program items for the Goethefestwoche 2026
2026-09-06, 6:30 p.m. / at the BERG- und SPA-Hotel Gabelbach, Am Gabelbach 1, 98693 Ilmenau
Musical and literary evening program with the duo Con Emozione
2026-08-28, 6:30 p.m. / at the GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Am Markt 1 (Amtshaus), 98693 Ilmenau
Lecture Goethe as Mandarin by Dr. Manfred Osten
2026-08-29, starting at 10:00 a.m. / Kulturscheune at the Goethehaus Stützerbach Museum, Sebastian-Kneipp-Straße 18, 98694 Ilmenau OT Stützerbach
Lectures, music, museum tour. Admission free, donations welcome. Program of the Goethe Society Ilmenau-Stützerbach e. V. The association invites you to coffee and homemade cake.
2026-09-06, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. / on Wetzlarer Platz
“Wandrers Nachtlied” in the languages of the world. The poem will be recited by Ilmenau residents in their respective native languages. In cooperation with the Technical University, project “Wir sind Ilmenau” (We are Ilmenau).
Daily during Goethefest week, 3:30 p.m. / Meeting point: Hotel Tanne Ilmenau, Lindenstraße 38, 98693 Ilmenau
Guided tours of the Flsenkeller
2026-08-29, from 10:00 a.m. / Kulturscheune at the Museum Goethehaus Stützerbach, Sebastian-Kneipp-Straße 18, 98694 Ilmenau OT Stützerbach
Lectures, music, museum tour. Admission free, donations welcome. Program of the Goethe Society Ilmenau-Stützerbach e. V. The association invites you to coffee and homemade cake.
2026-08-30, 2:00 p.m. / GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Am Markt 1 (Amtshaus), 98693 Ilmenau
Guided tour of the special exhibition at the GoetheStadtMuseum with Kathrin Kunze
2026-08-30, 3:00 p.m. / Meeting point: at the BERG & SPA HOTEL GABELBACH, Am Gabelbach 1, 98693 Ilmenau
Carriage ride to Kickelhahn and Goethehäuschen
2026-08-31, 10:00 a.m. / Meeting point Day 1: Ilmenau-Information, Am Markt 1, 98693 Ilmenau
Guided hike on the Goethewanderweg – Part 1 Multi-day tour with overnight stay at the BERG & SPA HOTEL GABELBACH
2026-09-01, 10:00 a.m. / Meeting point Day 2: at the Museum Jagdhaus Gabelbach, Waldstraße 24, 98693 Ilmenau
Guided hike on the Goethe hiking trail – Part 2
2026-01-04, 2026, 4:00 p.m. / Meeting point: Ilmenau Information Center, Am Markt 1, 98693 Ilmenau
City and museum tour
2026-01-05, 11:00 a.m. / Meeting point: Ilmenau-Information, Am Markt 1, 98693 Ilmenau
Guided tour with “Corona Schröter” through the historic old town
2026-09-02, 6:30 p.m. / at the Ilmenau Library, Bahnhofstraße 7, 98693 Ilmenau
Recitations from Goethe's travels to Italy, back home, and within himself. With Martin Strauch, accompanied by Franziska Steinecke and Marco Onofri
2026-09-03, 6:30 p.m. / at the Ilmenau Library, Bahnhofstraße 7, 98693 Ilmenau
Poetry slam Poets present their own texts and revisit Goethe's poem “Ilmenau.”
Program items for the Goethe-Jahr 2026
May 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m. / in Weimar
On behalf of the Duke, Goethe sets off from Weimar on his way to Ilmenau
May 3, 2026, 5:30 p.m. / Martplatz vor dem Amtshaus, Am Markt 1
Ceremonial reception for Goethe in front of the Amtshaus
May 3, 2026, 6:00 p.m. / GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Am Markt 1, 98693 Ilmenau
Commemorative speech “Graceful valley! You evergreen grove!” Goethe's arrival in Weimar (and soon after in Ilmenau) by Prof. Dr. Jochen Golz International Museum Day
May 17, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Reduced admission to the three Goethe museums (GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Museum Jagdhaus Gabelbach, Museum Goethehaus Stützerbach)
May 17, 2026, 11:00 a.m. / at the GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Am Markt 1 (Amtshaus), 98693 Ilmenau
Exhibition opening Goethe's arrival in Ilmenau – An adventure journey 250 years ago
May 28, 2026, 6:30 p.m. / at the GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Am Markt 1 (Amtshaus), 98693 Ilmenau
Book reading “When Germany was not yet Germany: Journey to the Goethe era” with Bruno Preisendörfer
Open Monument Day September 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Free admission to the three Goethe museums (GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Museum Jagdhaus Gabelbach, Museum Goethehaus Stützerbach)
September 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m. / at the GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau, Am Markt 1 (Amtshaus), 98693 Ilmenau
Closing event for the special exhibition Goethe's Arrival in Ilmenau – An Adventure Journey 250 Years Ago
Event tickets
Tickets for paid events are available on site, at the Ilmenau-Information, and at the ThüringerTicketshop. Further information is available directly from the Ilmenau-Information, Am Markt 1.
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Abtl. Wirtschaftsförderung/Stadt- und Tourismusmarketing Frau Unger Am Markt 7 Tel.: (+49) 3677 600 813 |
