Art Camp Fest 2026 – im Freien
August 15 and 16, 2026
Saturday: 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
For the fifth year in a row, the international Art Camp culminates in a two-day festival for culture enthusiasts, neighbors, and anyone who believes in the power of intercultural encounters.
The 50 theater makers and artists from Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, and Germany will present their works, performances, and artistic projects. This year, both the camp and the festival will revolve around one of the Wendland region’s most outstanding qualities: nature. It is seen as a source of inspiration, a stage, an exhibition space, and a catalyst for positive stories.
Since its founding in 2021, the Art Camp has seen itself as a celebration of freedom of art and expression, as well as a living vision of an open and unifying Europe. The 2026 motto is therefore: Art in the Open Air.
Art in the Open Air.
This year, we’re breaking new ground: out of the white cube and into the open space of nature. Amid forests and meadows, shrubs and ponds, accompanied by the sounds of summer and with their heads in the clouds, the young artists view their surroundings as a space for artistic and poetic inspiration.
The 50 artists and theater professionals from Eastern Europe and Germany are spending two weeks in the Elbe River floodplain. Working in collectives, they are developing art installations and performances that emerge from their experiences of nature and their hands-on engagement with materials found in the surrounding environment. On the enchanted grounds of the former sawmill, a walk-through art trail is taking shape, featuring installations built on site (the “small atmospheres”), an art exhibition, and performances that explore the five elements in diverse ways.
Festival Program
The Art Camp Fest opens on Saturday at 2 p.m. with a ceremonial speech, a large-scale performance, and a champagne reception.
On both following days, performances will take place hourly. Entertaining guided tours of the art trail offer insights into the works of the young female artists and provide opportunities to meet them. In addition, guests can look forward to an art market, a “Europe Café,” and workshops for children.
A special highlight is the concert by the Australian synth-pop band Charm of Finches on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Afterward, everyone will celebrate barefoot together.
Background
The two-week Art Camp was launched in 2021 against the backdrop of the protests in Belarus. The goal was to create an international art and exchange platform for young cultural creators whose artistic work is hampered by political repression, armed conflicts, or difficult economic conditions.
Since then, the ERASMUS+-funded project has developed into an established platform in the partner countries of Ukraine, Belarus, and Serbia, attracting numerous applications each year. Starting in 2024, the art camp will be supplemented by a theater class. The Wendland region—with its history, nature, and the people who live there—serves as a constant source of inspiration and a creative breeding ground for the artworks produced.
During their stay, the participants—aged 18 to 27—take part in excursions, workshops, and cultural evenings celebrating their respective countries. Above all, however, they are given a space where they can engage in artistic work, exchange ideas, and network—free from repression, censorship, and the immediate threats of war.
The highlight of each year is the public festival weekend. The project is organized by JANUN Hannover in cooperation with Herbsthausen.
Saturday: 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
For the fifth year in a row, the international Art Camp culminates in a two-day festival for culture enthusiasts, neighbors, and anyone who believes in the power of intercultural encounters.
The 50 theater makers and artists from Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, and Germany will present their works, performances, and artistic projects. This year, both the camp and the festival will revolve around one of the Wendland region’s most outstanding qualities: nature. It is seen as a source of inspiration, a stage, an exhibition space, and a catalyst for positive stories.
Since its founding in 2021, the Art Camp has seen itself as a celebration of freedom of art and expression, as well as a living vision of an open and unifying Europe. The 2026 motto is therefore: Art in the Open Air.
Art in the Open Air.
This year, we’re breaking new ground: out of the white cube and into the open space of nature. Amid forests and meadows, shrubs and ponds, accompanied by the sounds of summer and with their heads in the clouds, the young artists view their surroundings as a space for artistic and poetic inspiration.
The 50 artists and theater professionals from Eastern Europe and Germany are spending two weeks in the Elbe River floodplain. Working in collectives, they are developing art installations and performances that emerge from their experiences of nature and their hands-on engagement with materials found in the surrounding environment. On the enchanted grounds of the former sawmill, a walk-through art trail is taking shape, featuring installations built on site (the “small atmospheres”), an art exhibition, and performances that explore the five elements in diverse ways.
Festival Program
The Art Camp Fest opens on Saturday at 2 p.m. with a ceremonial speech, a large-scale performance, and a champagne reception.
On both following days, performances will take place hourly. Entertaining guided tours of the art trail offer insights into the works of the young female artists and provide opportunities to meet them. In addition, guests can look forward to an art market, a “Europe Café,” and workshops for children.
A special highlight is the concert by the Australian synth-pop band Charm of Finches on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Afterward, everyone will celebrate barefoot together.
Background
The two-week Art Camp was launched in 2021 against the backdrop of the protests in Belarus. The goal was to create an international art and exchange platform for young cultural creators whose artistic work is hampered by political repression, armed conflicts, or difficult economic conditions.
Since then, the ERASMUS+-funded project has developed into an established platform in the partner countries of Ukraine, Belarus, and Serbia, attracting numerous applications each year. Starting in 2024, the art camp will be supplemented by a theater class. The Wendland region—with its history, nature, and the people who live there—serves as a constant source of inspiration and a creative breeding ground for the artworks produced.
During their stay, the participants—aged 18 to 27—take part in excursions, workshops, and cultural evenings celebrating their respective countries. Above all, however, they are given a space where they can engage in artistic work, exchange ideas, and network—free from repression, censorship, and the immediate threats of war.
The highlight of each year is the public festival weekend. The project is organized by JANUN Hannover in cooperation with Herbsthausen.
Good to know
Price info
free of charge
License (master data)
Camillo Ritter
Nearby
