Mainz – October 29, 2026 -- Visitors to the free SILBERSALZ Science & Media Festival in Halle (Saale) can attend talks, workshops, film screenings and a kids' science show from ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandfunk between October 28 and November 1, 2026. The ninth edition runs under the motto "Ich, verbesserlich?" (roughly, "Me, improvable?") and focuses on health. It is one of the largest free science and media festivals, with more than 45,000 visitors.
ZDF editor Prof. Peter Arens says the festival gives the broadcaster a chance to reach a young audience and talk about health, science and society.
ZDF opens with wildfires and ME/CFS
On Thursday, October 29, at 4:00 p.m., Özden Terli and Julia Kaulbars ask "Extrembrände – das neue Normal?" (Extreme Fires – the New Normal?) in the Leopoldina's Festsaal, moderated by Gregor Steinbrenner. At 4:30 p.m., Hannah Emde presents "Terra X: Faszination Erde – Rettung für die Tiere" at Urania70, followed by a discussion.
On Friday, October 30, Christina von Ungern-Sternberg runs a workshop from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Leopoldina. She explains how editors choose stories and shape them for the 7 p.m. news, Instagram and YouTube.
At 4:30 p.m. that day, Prof. Dr. med. Carmen Scheibenbogen, Prof. Dr. Norbert Suttorp and Johanna Müller discuss ME/CFS in the Festsaal, moderated by Eric Mayer. The session streams on ZDF and on the YouTube and Instagram channels of "37 Grad" and "TRU DOKU". At 7:30 p.m., media scholar Martin Andree talks about the power of tech giants and risks to democracy.
Families can join experiments and a tattoo debate on Saturday
On Saturday, October 31, at 1:00 p.m., Eric Mayer hosts "PUR+ Live Lab" on the Festival Stage in the Dom. Children and families get experiments, film clips, hands-on activities and a meet and greet. From 1:30 p.m., Dr. Yael Adler and Dr. Mark Benecke discuss tattoos, health risks, body art and identity in the Festsaal.
At 4:00 p.m. at Urania70, Jasmina Neudecker follows the documentary "Anti-Krebs-Hacks – dein Lebensstil zählt" with a discussion on vape risks and protecting young people. Guests come from politics and medicine. The kids' show returns on Sunday, November 1, at 11:00 a.m.
A pop-up cinema and nominated shows anchor the ZDF stand
The ZDF stand at Große Ulrichstraße 13-15 runs a pop-up cinema with current productions on health, science and society, plus clips and conversations with ZDF presenters and experts. Other public-service offerings contribute as well.
"Kunz und die Welt" is nominated for Best Factual Series. "#danistechtalk, Terra X TikTok" is nominated in the Short and Crisp category.
Quarks, Terra X and Deutschlandfunk Nova share one festival hub
The shared festival center sits in the former XENOS building. ARD appears with Quarks, ZDF with Terra X and Deutschlandfunk with Deutschlandfunk Nova. KiKA sends Bernd das Brot, and Die Maus arrives with Nina Heuser of Maus-Radio. The Mainzelmännchen will also be there.