- Event
- Festival
SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE 2026
Lightyard Stories: Visions of Urban Living Spaces
Thu, August 13 – Sun, September 13, 2026
For the 12th time, the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Karlsruhe will transform the baroque palace façade into a breathtaking digital work of art that captivates visitors from all over the world.
In the Weinbrenner Year 2026 – marking the 200th anniversary of the death of Karlsruhe architect and city planner Friedrich Weinbrenner – the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Karlsruhe will explore the topics of architecture and urban space. Based on the theme “Lightyard Stories: Visions of Urban Living Spaces,” the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Karlsruhe celebrate the outstanding architecture of the UNESCO City of Media Art Karlsruhe and the life and culture it fosters.
New Shows
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BBBank Award 2026
Three works from the Czech Republic, Singapore, and India
The first three shows to be presented on Karlsruhe Palace in summer 2026 have already been selected. They are the works of the winners of the BBBank Award for Projection Mapping, which was presented for the sixth time this year. From a total of 118 concepts submitted by artists from around the world, the BBBank Award jury selected three works from the Czech Republic, Singapore, and India. The winning concepts will now be brought to life with the help of the prize money and completed in time for summer.
The winners are Henry Hu (Singapore) with “MIRΔGE,” Studio Moebius X Three Oscillators (India) with “RE:STRUCT,” and Metanoia (Czech Republic) with “Metabolism.”
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On Fire – 100 Years of the Professional Fire Department
A show celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Karlsruhe Professional Fire Department
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Karlsruhe Professional Fire Department in 2026, Karlsruhe-based media artist Jonas Denzel is creating the show “On Fire – 100 Years of the Professional Fire Department,” which will be presented as part of this year’s SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE.
The castle will become a resonant space: “On Fire” combines light, movement, and authentic sounds from everyday firefighting into a multi-layered artistic composition. The precise interplay of everyday firefighting operations is transformed into an artistic choreography: teamwork gives rise to rhythm, sounds become music, and operations become a performance. “On Fire” brings the fire department to life in a direct, powerful, playful, and authentic way. The castle becomes an instrument, and the fire department sets its rhythm.
Media artist Jonas Denzel is no stranger to the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE. In summer 2018, he contributed the show “Hands on,” which incorporates interactive elements and encourages audiences to clap along. His work has earned international recognition: in 2021, he won the international IMapp video mapping competition in Bucharest, and in 2025, he was a finalist at Shining Shanghai. His “BeamBike” can also be seen regularly in downtown Karlsruhe.
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TIME³ X !lli
ZKM Summer School
Starting September 5, another premiere will be presented on the facade of Karlsruhe Palace. For the second time, ZKM invited creatives from around the world to participate in the international “TIME³” Summer School. Under the guidance of the renowned multidisciplinary collective ruestungsschmie.de, 14 selected international creatives spent three weeks at ZKM creating a new show. Titled “TIME³ X !lli” (Korean: 일리 = meaning), the work will premiere on Saturday, September 5, at 9 pm. Participants were also supported by experts from the field as well as artists who already have experience working with the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Karlsruhe.
Premiere: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 9 pm.