Darmstadt
Whether a Baroque automaton or a modern stopwatch – it is a journey through time full of surprises, memories, and extraordinary events.
Locked away and blacked out – the diaries of Baron von Massenbach, adjutant to the last Grand Duke of Hesse, which he kept between 1896 and 1948, have been through a lot. Now they are being brought to light for the first time as part of a major exhibition at the House of History in Darmstadt. The focus of the exhibition is Hesse’s becoming a democracy in 1918/19. Massenbach observed the upheaval from within the inner circle of the old elites and judged the behavior of this social stratum just as critically as the behavior of revolutionary groups. For him, however, Hesse’s transformation into a republic was beyond question in 1918/19. Based on these diary notes and enriched with archival and visual material, the exhibition will visualize this momentous experience, while tracing the development of democracy and its suppression up to Massenbach’s death in 1948. The result is a multifaceted picture of political upheavals in the first half of the 20th century that continue to shape the democratic order to this day. The exhibition is supported by the Hessian Cultural Foundation, the Merck Society for Art and Science, and Sparkasse Darmstadt and Dieburg. Dates: 22 October to 5 March 2026 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Free admission -
Art & Brunch invites you to a relaxed Sunday morning start with sparkling wine or orange juice, a guided tour of the exhibition, and then a shared breakfast. Dates: October 4, November 15 and December 6, 2026, as well as January 17, 2027, each at 10 a.m. At Art & Snacks, a welcome drink and culinary bites meet a shared tour of “A Step Ahead” – ideal for a special after-work evening on Mathildenhöhe. Dates: October 21, November 11 and December 9, 2026, as well as January 13, 2027, each at 5:30 p.m. Art & Dinner turns a visit to the exhibition into the opening of a special evening: after an aperitif, amuse-bouche and an exclusive guided tour, a 3-course menu follows at Café Restaurant Mathildenhöhe. Dates: October 16, November 20 and December 18, 2026, as well as January 22, 2027, each at 5:30 p.m. Three new ways to experience Mathildenhöhe with all your senses. All dates can be booked at [www.darmstadt-tourismus.de/fuehrungen-kulinarik](http://www.darmstadt-tourismus.de/fuehrungen-kulinarik). The culinary art formats can also be booked on request exclusively for companies, private groups or special occasions, for example for corporate events, family celebrations, birthdays or a special evening with good friends.
On the third weekend in August, artisans from all over Germany once again present all kinds of work made of wood, glass and ceramics, metal, precious stones, fabric and leather. There is plenty of space for the stalls and workshops on Friedensplatz, between the Hessisches Landesmuseum and the city center. Anyone looking for an unusual piece for their home, an original gift or a special piece of jewelry is in exactly the right place at the traditional Darmstadt Arts and Crafts Market. This year, the Darmstadt Arts and Crafts Market is supported by [the science and technology company Merck](https://www.merckgroup.com/de/company/merck-in-germany/nachbarschaft.html).
Culinary and artisanal specialties invite visitors to enjoy pre-Christmas festivities at the Darmstadt Christmas Market. The Advent-decorated city center and the Christmas trees on the Market Square, Luisenplatz, and Ludwigsplatz create a festive Christmas atmosphere. The special highlight every year is the stalls from Darmstadt’s twin towns. Whether culinary specialties such as Hungarian lángos or wine and cheese from Saanen (Switzerland) – the twin towns are eagerly awaited every year by Darmstadt residents and visitors alike. This year, the Darmstadt Christmas Market is supported by [the science and technology company Merck](https://www.merckgroup.com/de/company/merck-in-germany/nachbarschaft.html), ENTEGA, and Sparkasse Darmstadt. Info: On Totensonntag (22.11.), the Christmas Market will remain closed. Opening Monday, 16.11., 6:15 p.m. Opening of the Christmas Market with Lord Mayor Hanno Benz, the Darmstadt Fairground Operators Association e.V., and the Glühwein Princess. Musical entertainment by the children’s choir “Chornflakes” from Wixhausen and the saxophone quintet “Darmstädter Blecho.” Location: Christmas Market stage/Market Square Christmas Market Stage on the Market Square Fridays 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.: “Band Friday” with duos and small bands Friday, 20.11.: Vielbunter Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sundays, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: program for families Closing evening 23.12., 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the trio RELOUNGE: Marcel Zocher (vocals), Thomas Markowic (piano), and Thorsten Großkopf (guitar).
At the center is Mr. Biedemann, who has lost courage, direction, and perspective. He seems to have stood still, as if life had turned the volume down. Then a person enters his life, mysterious and radiant, as if she had come from another reality. What begins between them is more than an encounter — it is a journey back to himself. A search for life, for love, for laughter. With every moment, the sense grows that even in darkness, wonders are still waiting. Eyes tells of an awakening, of renewed wonder, and of how, where everything seems to stand still, a new beginning is possible. From 2026, an evening becomes a true event. With “Eyes,” a completely new experience is created that breaks with classic show formats and creates something that has never existed before: more power, more intimacy, more surprise. You are not a spectator; you are right in the middle of it. No long waiting times, no downtime, no pauses without impact — every moment counts, every scene is part of a seamless concept. “Eyes” stands for a new kind of staging: a stage that opens up and takes over the space. Powerful images, strong visual stimuli, performers with real presence. Music, live music, and sound merge with spectacular costumes into maximum energy. Everything feels more direct, closer, more intense — you are always the first to see, smell, taste, and experience it. At the same time, a new food scene is emerging: culinary art is not served, it is celebrated. Front cooking is not a program item, but part of the dramaturgy. Chefs work in full view, with grand gestures and high-quality product
Thanks to the donation made in 1924 by the industrialist Maximilian von Heyl and his wife, the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt has an outstanding collection of Böcklin paintings as well as more than 60 drawings from the graphic collection. Supplemented by high-caliber loans from renowned museums such as the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig, the Alte Nationalgalerie – State Museums in Berlin, the Museum Folkwang in Essen, and the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal, this creates a presentation of exceptional quality and density — a constellation not seen in Darmstadt for more than five decades. The exhibition opens up new perspectives on Böcklin’s Symbolist art. It sheds light on his position between Historicism and the beginnings of Modernism and questions the still ambivalent reception of his work to this day. What social ideas are reflected in his paintings? And why are they once again gaining relevance in a present shaped by uncertainty and upheaval? The exhibition is under the patronage of Her Excellency Livia Leu, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Federal Republic of Germany.
A wide range of entertainment options for young and old will be on offer: visitors can look forward to bumper cars, children's carousels, dart throwing, and a Ferris wheel, among other attractions. The food on offer ranges from cotton candy, churros, and crêpes to potato pancakes and bratwurst with fries, as well as specialties from Eritrea. Running alongside the Spring Fair, "Darmstadt mobil" will also provide additional programming in the city center with a large mobility exhibition focused on cycling, car sharing, and public local transport, numerous activities for families, and a Sunday shopping event. This year's Darmstadt Spring Fair is supported by the science and technology company Merck.
The Princely Garden Festival at Hofgut Kranichstein invites visitors to stroll, marvel, and linger — accompanied by live music, lovingly designed exhibitor stands, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes the rural way of life tangible. Event Time & Venue Venue: Hofgut Kranichstein, Kranichsteiner Str. 252, 64289 Darmstadt Opening hours: Friday, April 16, to Sunday, April 18, 2027 Saturday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day; Friday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets and all information about the event are available at the Darmstadt Shop at Luisenplatz and at [www.gartenfest.de](https://www.gartenfest.de).
Darmstadt's city center becomes a unique festival backdrop for Hesse's largest music festival for four days. On four stages around the Residential Palace, 60 live acts from almost all musical genres perform, from rock & pop, alternative, hip-hop, cover, and singer-songwriter to slam poetry. Big and international bands perform there just as much as local artists and new discoveries.
“Come one, come all!” Every year, several hundred thousand visitors from near and far heed this call to join in the lively festivities in downtown Darmstadt around Darmstadt Residential Palace. At nearly 150 free cultural events, carousels, and culinary delights from around the world, we will celebrate together for 5 days. Why Heinerfest? In winter 1950—six years after the devastating bombing raid on Darmstadt—the bold idea was born to hold a local festival amid the field of ruins. *“Triumph of joie de vivre over the drabness of the postwar years”* was the motto at the time. What should the new festival be called? A call went out to the public, who voted overwhelmingly for “Heinerfest,” which from then on was to be celebrated around the Residential Palace.
