A weekend full of culture, nature and special experiences.

On 8 and 9 August 2026, the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz once again invites you to a very special festival weekend. The Garden Kingdom Festival traditionally commemorates the birthday of Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau, the founder of the Garden Kingdom. Numerous partners, associations and organisations from the region are joining forces to organise a varied programme in Dessau, Wörlitz and other locations across the cultural landscape.

Visitors can look forward to exhibitions, guided tours, music, hands-on activities, open churches and summer events set amidst the historic parks and gardens.

Saturday: A colourful Garden Kingdom Festival at the Georgium

On Saturday, 8 August 2026, the Georgium in Dessau will take centre stage. The Anhalt Picture Gallery at Georgium Palace will open its doors from 10 am to 6 pm. Around the Orangery, the Flower Garden House and throughout the Georgengarten, a colourful festival will take place featuring market stalls, hands-on activities, information stands and cultural events.

To mark the Bauhaus anniversary, visitors can discover two special exhibitions: the Georgium Palace is hosting the special exhibition ‘Swen Bernitz: Bauhaus’. In the Orangery, the exhibition project ‘Fritz Winter. Bauhaus Painter’ is dedicated to the former Bauhaus student Fritz Winter.

Creative visitors will also find plenty to enjoy. There will be craft activities in the castle’s cloakroom, whilst the open space in front of the Orangery will host a craft market, a second-hand book fair and various information stands to browse through. Garden enthusiasts will find plants and perennials, whilst families can look forward to games and a variety of hands-on activities.

Nature, music and fairy tales in the Georgengarten

In the afternoon, the orchard in the Georgengarten will be all about the fascinating world of bees. Those interested can find out about honeybees and wild bees, as well as get tips on how to make their own gardens insect-friendly.

From 2 pm to 4 pm, the Klangreich ensemble will create a special atmosphere with classical music. Coffee, cake and other treats invite you to spend a relaxing afternoon surrounded by greenery. Storyteller Johanna Wolf will also whisk guests of all ages away into a world full of stories and imagination.

Theatre lovers can enjoy a public rehearsal of Peter Hacks’ comedy *Der Geldgott* at the castle’s kitchen building.

In the footsteps of Prince Franz

A special highlight of the programme is the guided tour ‘A Trip to Arcadia and Back’. The walk starts at 2 pm at the ‘Am Georgengarten’ restaurant. Participants will follow in the footsteps of Prince Franz’s Grand Tour, which once took him through Italy, France and England. The Prince later incorporated many of the impressions he gained there into the design and modernisation of his country.

The guided tour costs 10 euros, or 8 euros with a concession. Advance booking with Dessau Tourist Information is recommended.

Discover churches and other sites in the Garden Kingdom

The churches in the Garden Kingdom are also taking part in the festival weekend with guided tours, exhibitions and open-door events. Visitors can, amongst other things, visit the Martin Luther Church in Mosigkau as well as the Protestant churches in Mildensee and Großkühnau. The exhibition ‘Paradisiacal Plants in Judaism, Christianity and Islam’ is on display at St Peter’s Church in Wörlitz.

In Luisium Park, there will also be a free concert at the Blumengartenhaus. The historic inn ‘Zum Eichenkranz’ in Wörlitz can also be explored as part of a guided tour.