Nine days, 125 venues, and around 500 artists: From October 3 to 11, 2026, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will become a stage for contemporary art.
Open the door to a manor house—and behind it awaits an installation you wouldn’t expect. Step into a village church where contemporary painting meets centuries-old walls. Or find yourself in the middle of an artist’s studio where the paint hasn’t quite dried yet.
KUNST HEUTE opens studios, galleries, museums, artists’ and literary houses, castles, churches, and sculpture parks— and invites you to experience art where it is created and comes to life. Exhibitions, performances, installations, workshops, guided tours, and discussions: The program offers plenty of opportunities to marvel, reflect, and engage in conversation.
Art Routes 2026
In 2026, the Art Routes were once again a highlight of the program. The guided Art Routes connect several stops and are artistic discovery tours through cities and regions.
In Rostock, Schwerin, and Greifswald, city walks take participants through galleries and art venues participating in KUNST HEUTE. Ask questions, listen, discuss—here, the people behind the works are within reach.
“AUFBRUCH—Art, Church, and Landscape in Mecklenburg Switzerland” combines contemporary art with cultural heritage and the region’s expansive landscape. The centerpiece is the exhibition “AUFBRUCH – Between Heaven and Earth” in the village church of Hohen Demzin—a place that is itself a work of art.
On the West Mecklenburg Art Tour, you’ll cycle through about 30 kilometers of art and landscape. Along the way, you’ll meet artists in their working environments—not in a gallery, but right where their ideas truly come from.
The City-Village Bus Tour takes art lovers from Rostock, Schwerin, and Wismar directly to studios and galleries in Kleinwarin and Kaarz. No car needed—just hop on and explore.
Partner Contributions
The Nordkirche is participating in KUNST HEUTE with 9 locations. Exhibitions are held in the churches of Reinshagen, Lassan, Lexow, Hohen Viecheln, Wittenförden, Hohen Demzin, Trebbow, and St. Peter’s Church in Rostock, as well as at Rehna Abbey.
The LiteraturRat of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania supports two venues—the E-Werk in Schwerin with artist Gerald Hross and the German-Ukrainian Center in Rostock—where authors and visual artists collaborate artistically.
In addition, 8 castles, estates, and manor houses in Friedrichshof, Gremmelin, Linstow, Bröllin, Rossin, Hessenburg, Lexow, and Gorow into temporary art galleries.
Since 2008, KUNST HEUTE has been a joint initiative of the Professional Association of Visual Artists (BBK-MV), the Association of Art Museums, Galleries, and Art Associations, the Literature Council, the Association of Castles, Estates, and Manor Houses in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the Nordkirche. Learn more at kunstheute-mv.de
![Sculpture garden with yellow KunstOffen umbrella and metal sculptures at Kunst-Werk Kummer. In front of it is a yellow umbrella with the inscription "KunstOffen"](https://www.visit-mv.com/images/plfqqxjvcla-/bij-kunst-werk-kummer-in-kummer-opent-thomas-lehnigk-zijn-beeldentuin-voor-kunstoffen.jpg "Sculpture garden with yellow KunstOffen umbrella and metal sculptures at Kunst-Werk Kummer. In front of it is a yellow umbrella with the inscription "KunstOffen" // At Kunst-Werk Kummer in Kummer, Thomas Lehnigk opens his sculpture garden for KunstOffen. Between metal sculptures and lush green spaces, wooden benches invite you to linger. Art meets nature - a place that provides space for new perspectives with the typical feature - the yellow umbrella. // © TVMSN/Borchert")
