Jewish Cultural Festivals Kick Off in Saxony and Wiesbaden

The Via Regia – Jewish – unterwegs festival opened on Sunday, 19 July 2026, offering 38 events along the historic trade route from Leipzig to Görlitz. The programme includes open‑air concerts, readings, exhibitions and musical walks that highlight Jewish history and culture in Saxony and commemorate persecution during the Nazi era. The opening concert in the church at Malschwitz featured mezzo‑soprano Shai Terry and guitarist Russel Poyner performing Sephardic and Yiddish songs.

In Wiesbaden, the annual Tarbut cultural series runs from 4 August to 6 December 2026. Organized with the city’s cultural office, the programme presents exhibitions, concerts, guided tours and film screenings. It begins with photographer Rafael Herlich’s exhibition “Mut zur Menschlichkeit” on anti‑racism and antisemitism, showcases poetry of 19th‑century Jewish women, offers visits to the historic Jewish cemetery “Schöne Aussicht”, and screens four films addressing topics such as the October 2023 terror attack and Moroccan Jewish history. Author Barbara Honigmann and performances of Klezmer and swing music are also part of the schedule.