Thuringia cultural week sees school hymn controversy, theater awards and Gauforum dispute

Minister-President Mario Voigt ordered the traditional "Rennsteiglied" to be taught in Thuringian schools, a move that has drawn criticism from educators. Several regional theatres – in Altenburg, Gera and Meiningen – received awards for recent productions, and the Jena Philharmonic announced Alexander Richter as its new director.

At the Franz-Liszt University of Music, professor Jörn Arnecke demonstrated how the artificial‑intelligence system "Quill" can generate playable scores, sparking discussion about AI in composition. A museum exhibition highlighted objects recovered from the forced resettlements of DDR citizens. Erfurt writer Lena Schätte won three awards at the Ingeborg‑Bachmann Prize 2026.

Production of the ZDF series "Thüringenkrimi – Das große Herz" began in Jena, and the drama "Etwas ganz Besonderes" was filmed in the state. The SonneMondSterne techno festival started earlier this year, while the historic Weimar Gauforum remains closed amid a 90‑year‑old dispute over its use.