ARD Hörspieltage 2026: Karlsruhe Turns Audio Drama Into Comedy
Karlsruhe – November 02, 2026 -- The 23rd ARD Hörspieltage run from November 5 to 8, 2026, and most of the program is free to attend. This year's motto is "Nothing Serious," with humor as the focus of the German-speaking world's most important audio drama festival.
Venues expand to a museum for the first time
The festival takes place at the ZKM and the HfG, and for the first time at the Kunstmuseum. SWR leads the organization, and Mareike Maage directs it. Actor and DJ Lars Eidinger will play a set at the Kunstmuseum on opening night.
A panel opens the festival by asking what makes us laugh
The four-day event starts with the discussion "Worüber lachen wir?" ("What do we laugh about?"). Audio drama director Leonhard Koppelmann, comedian Aurel Mertz and film director Isabel Schneider take part. Podium talks, audio dramas and live acts explore what humor is and how it has changed over time.