Preview 2026: Focus Areas and Projects

• Strengthening the creative scene through a newly oriented cultural award ceremony focusing on visual arts, music, and performing arts.
• Expansion of the “Laboratory of Creative Minds” as a smart city real-world laboratory for open-ended testing of cultural and urban development prototypes in public spaces.
• Planning steps for new creative spaces, including opening a warehouse area for studios, rehearsal rooms, and studios.
• Real-world laboratories in the Obermünster district to mix living, culture, and public life.
• Examination and possible activation of a small church building as a cultural venue for concerts, exhibitions, and performances.
• Further development of a sustainable business district for digital and “green” industries with interfaces to the cultural and creative industries.
• Targeted visibility of local culture through municipal channels, platforms, and participatory formats.

Cultural Award 2026: Stage for Regensburg's Creative Scene

The city is preparing a cultural award ceremony for 2026 to honor artists, musicians, and actors in the performing arts. A main prize and several sponsorship prizes are planned to highlight innovative artistic practice, networking, and mediation.

Nomination and Participation

• A transparent call for entries with clear criteria (e.g., artistic quality, local impact, co-creative approaches) is planned.
• Interested parties will likely be able to submit proposals or apply as part of an open process.
• Accompanying formats such as public showcases or artist talks are planned to make the diversity of projects tangible.

“Laboratory of Creative Minds”: Next Steps in Urban Space

In 2026, the laboratory will be further developed as a real-world laboratory. The goal is to test prototypes for a livable, socially balanced, and culturally diverse city together with administration, the creative industries, and the urban community.

Planned Real-World Laboratory Modules

• Co-design in the neighborhood: Moderated participation workshops with cultural workers, residents, and administration.
• Temporary installations: Light, sound, furniture, and art actions to test usage variants.
• Evaluation in operation: Short feedback on site, digital surveys, and open discussion formats.

The results will flow into municipal strategies, for example in mobility, quality of stay, night culture, cultural mediation, and digitally supported participation.

New Spaces 2026: Creative Area, Obermünster District & Church as Stage

Creative Area in the Warehouse Context

Planning steps are planned for 2026 to open a warehouse area for the cultural and creative industries. Goal: affordable, flexible spaces for studios, rehearsal rooms, studios, and workshops as well as meeting and event spaces.

• Usage concepts with open studio days and workshop insights.
• Networking opportunities between music, design, film, games, literature, and performing arts.
• Gradual activation, accompanied by interim uses.

Obermünster District as Real-World Laboratory

In the Obermünster district, real-world laboratories for mixed use, local culture, and trial activations of public spaces are being prepared for 2026. Small stages, temporary meeting points, and neighborhood-related cultural formats are planned.

Church as Cultural Venue

The possible revitalization of a small church building in a central location will continue to be examined in 2026. In the future, concerts, readings, exhibitions, and performances can take place there – with a special atmosphere and low-threshold access.

Sustainable Business District: Culture Meets Digital and Green Industries

For 2026, the further development of a sustainable business district is planned, where digital and ecological innovations meet creative skills. Design, user experience, storytelling, and visual communication are intended to make complex technologies and sustainability topics understandable.

• Cooperations between start-ups, cultural actors, and research institutions.
• Formats for knowledge transfer: showcases, public test runs, science & culture talks.
• Synergies with smart city components (open data, low-barrier digital services).

Music, Theater, Citizen Stage 2026: Culture to Participate In

In 2026, Regensburg will focus on cross-genre music formats, experimental venues, and participation in theater. Citizen stage productions and co-creative projects are intended to bring together people of different generations and neighborhoods.

• Concerts in unusual places (industrial buildings, church spaces, open spaces) are being prepared as accentuating series.
• Citizen stage: planned productions with open casting and professional support.
• Mediation offers: introductions, workshop discussions, open rehearsals, and digital formats.

Visibility & Participation: How to Stay Informed in 2026

• Municipal cultural portal: Central information on calls for proposals, dates, awards, and real-world laboratory announcements.
• Smart city channels: Updates on real-world laboratories, prototypes, and participation formats.
• Social media: Curated information on cultural projects, application deadlines, and participation procedures.
• Newsletter: Regular previews of cultural awards, creative areas, and neighborhood formats.

Participate 2026: Concrete Steps for Creatives and Audiences

1. Check calls for proposals: criteria, deadlines, and funding lines for cultural awards, real-world laboratories, and interim uses.
2. Submit project ideas: short concepts for temporary installations, performances, or participatory formats.
3. Network: participate in open consultation hours, neighborhood meetings, and professional meetings.
4. Become visible: offer open rehearsals, studio visits, and pop-up presentations.
5. Give feedback: support evaluations in real-world laboratories and share experiences.

Sources & Further Information

1. City of Regensburg – Cultural Portal — Official information on culture, funding, and events (accessed 2026-01-23)
2. City of Regensburg – Smart City — Real-world laboratories, participation, and digital urban development (accessed 2026-01-23)
3. Federal Program “Model Projects Smart Cities” — Framework and examples for real-world laboratories in municipalities (accessed 2026-01-23)
4. UNESCO – Creative Cities (Overview) — International orientation for cultural and creative strategies (accessed 2026-01-23)
5. Free State of Bavaria – Culture — Information on cultural policy and funding frameworks (accessed 2026-01-23)