Völklinger Hütte: Summer full of art and events – discover now!

Völklinger Hütte: Summer full of art and events – discover now!

On May 22, 2025, the Völklinger Hütte once again presented an important innovation. The new central entrance area was inaugurated, significantly improving the accessibility of the impressive facility, especially in bad weather. These developments are part of a comprehensive plan to promote the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes numerous events and exhibitions throughout the summer of 2025.

A highlight of this year's summer of events is the ongoing large-scale exhibition "The True Size of Africa", which can be seen in various areas of the Völklinger Hütte until August 17, 2023. Curated by Ralf Beil, the exhibition includes museum objects as well as contemporary art and is described as a comprehensive examination of the African continent. It is presented at five different locations within the UNESCO World Heritage Site: the pump house, the blower hall, the compressor hall, the sinter plant and the ore hall. One of the most impressive works is a fifty-minute video installation by John Akomfrah from Ghana, which is being shown for the first time in Germany and deals with essential topics such as nature, migration and mourning for elephants.

Event summer 2025

The 2025 summer of events starts on June 19th and 20th with the dance performance “R·ONDE·S” by Pierre Rigal, which will be performed in cooperation with the Forbacher Theater Le Carreau. Other events include the Saarklang Festival on June 27th and 28th, which presents regional and national newcomers and offers free entry, as well as the techno event “Vibrancy Open Air” on July 5th with international and regional DJs.

The summer program concludes with the finissage of the exhibition “The True Size of Africa” on August 17th, which honors the impressive creativity of the participating artists. This exhibition aims to question traditions of thought, prejudices and stereotypes and create a new awareness about Africa, especially 140 years after the Berlin Conference that divided the continent among colonial powers.

Outlook on upcoming exhibitions

Visitors can already look forward to the next major exhibition “X-Ray”, which will open on November 8, 2023. This exhibition celebrates 130 years since Wilhelm Röntgen's discovery of X-rays and addresses X-ray vision in art, science, film, politics, fashion and architecture. The Völklinger Hütte therefore remains a central place for cultural and historical reflections and developments.

In summary, through these innovative programs and exhibitions, the Völklinger Hütte shows its commitment to not only examining historical framework conditions, but also shedding light on current social issues. Here, art becomes a tool for resilience and for redefining African narratives, as voelklinger-huette.org emphasizes.

For further information about the events and the exhibition, those interested can visit the Saarbrücker Zeitung.