Weimar celebrates the farewell of director Hasko Weber with a big theater festival!

Weimar celebrates the farewell of director Hasko Weber with a big theater festival!

Weimar, Deutschland - Last Sunday, the German National Theater (DNT) celebrated a glamorous farewell to Hasko Weber in Weimar, whose directorate is now coming to an end. Around 1,000 spectators provided a festive atmosphere, while highlights from Weber's twelve -year term were presented in an impressive stage show. Under his leadership, around 5,000 events took place, which attracted around 1.6 million visitors. After Weber's farewell also the banner "Diplomacy! Now! Peace!" was removed from the stage, the question remains what the future has for the DNT. On July 31, music director Dominik Beykirch, opera director Andrea Moses as well as the house directors Jan Neumann and Swaantje Lena Kleff also leave the house.

Not only the farewell from Weber shaped the weekend in Weimar. In the meantime, the city of Weimar takes important measures to maintain history. The Soviet Cemetery in Belvedere is comprehensively renovated. The construction work begins in July 2025 and should be completed by the end of April 2026, in time for the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The financing is carried out by the state of Thuringia, which, according to the law on the preservation of the graves of the victims of war and tyranny, is committed. Above all, the damaged and fallen tombstones should be put into a dignified state.

Human Rights Prize 2025

A ray of hope in the ups and downs is the award of the Weimar Human Rights Prize. Karen Farisai Mukwasi from Zimbabwe will be awarded for her tireless efforts for the rights of Zimbabwischer women in December. It has been particularly committed to 15 years in the area of digital security. The nomination comes from the Hamburg "Foundation for Politically Possed", and Mukwasi has been politically persecuted since 2020. The Human Rights Prize, endowed with 5,000 euros, has been awarded for 31 years and aims to support human rights defenders in their struggle for equality and freedom. To date, 36 award winners from 27 countries have been honored that fight despite state repression for justice. The award will take place annually in Weimar in December, under the patronage of Gundula Gause.

• award ceremony in December 2025
• 5,000 euros Document
• patron: Gundula Gause

Rudolstadt festival and other events

Another highlight of the past few days is the Rudolstadt festival, which in its 33rd edition had around 90,000 visitors. The main focus was on Mali, and the event ended with the appearance of "Dubioza Colective". A total of 130 groups and soloists from almost 30 countries on 30 stages provided varied entertainment. The German World Music Prize "Ruth" went to the Ezé group from Burkina Faso, while Sigrid Doberenz received the honor "Ruth". Austria is scheduled for the next festival as a focus of the country.