Annual Overview 2026

World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte
A place that constantly reinvents itself – even in 2026!

The World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte is the world’s only fully intact ironworks from the zenith of the industrial era. Today, with its many halls, open spaces and fascinating, intertwining pipe systems, it offers a unique setting for international exhibitions, festivals and concerts.

Until 16 August 2026, there is the opportunity to experience the current and already highly acclaimed major exhibition X-RAY: The immersive exhibition parkour brings the revolution of the X-rays and the numerous cultural aspects of the X-ray gaze to life.

Starting on 10 May, the internationally renowned URBAN ART BIENNALE 2026 showcases current positions of the anarchic art form that has evolved from street art and graffiti. Parallel to the opening, the UNLOCK BOOK FAIR will take place, making it the first GRACE event of the year.
This abbreviation stands for Greater Region Artistic and Cultural Education, where a total of 26 cultural actors from Saarland, Lorraine, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Rhineland-Palatinate have joined forces to initiate shared cultural experiences.

Equally in May, the FORGE Video Mapping Festival will shine an innovative light on the World Heritage Site. The following month, the OPENING NIGHT performance event by choreographer Olivia Grandville invites visitors to join in and dance. There will be workshops for and with artists for both GRACE projects.

In August, the three-day FERRA Festival will fuse unique industrial culture with the aesthetic power of techno culture, while in September, the FREISTIL_FESTIVAL will take over the ore hall. The three festivals of 2026 will creatively and accessibly span a wide arc from light art to techno, theatre, and all kinds of performances.

Starting on 1 November, the Völklingen Ironworks itself will take the main stage: the exhibition ORE ANGELS AND SINTER SUN will, for the first time ever, bring the entire history of the Ironworks, from 1873 to the present day, to life, while offering visitors completely new perspectives on this unique monument of the Anthropocene through art, music and literature.

Therefore in 2026, there are once again more than enough reasons to visit the World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte – we look forward to welcoming you!

More information: www.voelklinger-huette.org

EXHIBITIONS, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS 2026

Exhibition
X-RAY
The Power of Roentgen Vision
9 November 2025 to 16 August 2026
Blower hall and Compression hall

Exhibition
URBAN ART BIENNALE 2026
10 May to 15 November 2026
Burden shed, outdoor area and the City of Völklingen

The Urban Art Biennale at the World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte is one of the world's largest exhibitions of this anarchic art form, which goes beyond conventional white cube aesthetics. Since 2011, every two years the entire site of the Völklingen Ironworks becomes a congenial dialogue partner for this art that has developed from street art and graffiti.

Book fair
UNLOCK BOOK FAIR
8 to 10 May 2026
Ore shed and ore roof
Javier Abarca, Unlock Bureau, Madrid
As part of GRACE – Greater Region Artistic and Cultural Education

Festival
FORGE Video Mapping Festival
29 to 31 May 2026
Ore yard
In cooperation with Constellations Metz, Rotondes Luxembourg, Théâtre de Liège, and Apollon-Festival Saarbrücken.
As part of GRACE – Greater Region Artistic and Cultural Education

Performance-Event
OLIVIA GRANDVILLE
Opening Night
20 July 2026
Ore yard
Contemporary Dance, Video Poetry and Collective Dancefloor
In cooperation with Le Carreau, Forbach
As part of GRACE – Greater Region Artistic and Cultural Education

Festival
FERRA 2026
21 to 23 August 2026
Festivalparcours Open Air
Techno festival
Permanent Entertainment

Festival
FREISTIL_FESTIVAL
18 to 27 September 2026
Ore shed
Festival of Independent Performing Arts
Freie Szene Saar

Exhibition
ORE ANGELS AND SINTER SUN
A different history of the Völklingen Ironworks
1 November 2026 to 8 August 2027
Blower hall and Compression hall

The history of the Völklingen Ironworks is exemplary for the history of Germany and Europe. The 19th and 20th centuries tell their own story through major events that took place in and around the steel and ironworks. In the exhibition
ORE ANGELS AND SINTER SUN, the World Heritage Site’s collection enters into a creative dialogue with literary texts, musical pieces, works of art, and spatial installations by modern and contemporary artists.