Sommer radio play in Leipzig: Hope for funding and new opportunities!

Sommer radio play in Leipzig: Hope for funding and new opportunities!

The radio play summer in Leipzig also pulled all the registers this year and brought together many creative minds. The popular festival, which is aimed at all people and families, took place on the Richard-Wagner-Hain on the banks of the Leipzig Elster. Gloe from MDR Culture summed up how important public funding is for such a cultural event. With an optimistic view of the future, the organization team is already planning a smaller program for 2026, despite the challenges in front of which they are facing.

With a focus on inclusion, numerous program items were presented in sign language. The live radio plays are particularly noteworthy, including a highlight with "Peterchen's moon trip", which the visitors captivated: inside. The Liquid Penguin Ensemble, known for the winning of the Günter Eich Prize, also occurred. In addition, musician Kai-Uwe Kohlschmidt presented his creative work about the band Sandow.

creative competitions attract young talents

• radio plays can be in German or English and have a length of 3 to 45 minutes.
• The selection of the best submissions will be presented at the Leipzig radio play summer in July 2025.
• create non-professional productions that cover an exciting variety of topics.

In addition, the competition includes a children's and youth category that is open to young artists: inside the age of 18 or mixed age groups. The winners: Inside, the chance to radiate their pieces with media and cultural partners. The competition not only offers a stage, but also a valuable network for creative exchange on the competition weekend.

A look outside the box

The interest in radio plays is not only shown in Leipzig. From September 18 to 21, 2025, the 16th Berlin radio play festival will take place, which, with the motto "Frictions", draws attention to exciting topics between fiction and reality. It is not only experimented here, but also a workshop for blind people is offered. Such initiatives make it clear how diverse the radio play genre is and how important it is to reduce barriers.

The Berlin Festival also attracts with diversity and innovation and shows that the passion for the radio play connects across urban boundaries. It is an encouraging time for creative minds in which numerous events and competitions create space for new ideas and perspectives.

The radio play summer in Leipzig not only sent a powerful cultural message, but also opened new doors for the future of radio play art. With solidarity backing and creative energy, it will be exciting to observe how this living scene develops.