What put Magdeburg on the list
A specialist jury selected 40 destinations worldwide for the German travel-guide publisher's 2027 edition, according to an October 20 report by web.de. Alongside the Festival der Moderne, Magdeburg's entry highlights the Grüne Zitadelle, the Hundertwasser building, and the Moritzhof cultural center.
The city is planning the Festival der Moderne 2027 as a months-long celebration of art and culture. It will mark a century since the 1927 Deutsche Theaterausstellung and the construction of three landmarks associated with that exhibition: the Stadthalle, Albinmüllerturm and Pferdetor.
A centennial rooted in theater and architecture
The Deutsche Theaterausstellung opened on May 28, 1927, and continued for four and a half months. It hosted more than 200 congresses and conferences devoted to theater, with Klaus and Erika Mann and Gustaf Gründgens among its guests. Buildings constructed for the exhibition included the Stadthalle, the 61-meter Albinmüllerturm and the Pferdetor.
The Stadthalle is scheduled to reopen in 2027 following a renovation that respects its historic character and upgrades its technical systems, according to Magdeburg's official tourism portal. Plans call for a multipurpose venue hosting cultural events and congresses. Once the work is finished, it will join the Kongress-Allianz Magdeburg portfolio.
Public input and funding for the festival
Magdeburg is developing the festival with public participation. In a March 11, 2025, press release, the city said nearly 100 people had contributed ideas at an opening workshop in the Gesellschaftshaus, where four program groups were formed.
In September 2026, the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung and Sparkasse Magdeburg awarded a six-figure total to four local culture, education and science projects connected to the festival, according to uni-heute.de. The funding decisions were presented at the Old Town Hall with Mayor Simone Borris in attendance. Amounts for the individual projects were not disclosed.
