German-French cultural festival Arabesques

At the beginning of the year, France in the North will once again be on show as part of the arabesques festival, bringing together German and French artists in over 30 events - from music, film and debates to exhibitions, theatre and literature. With the theme ‘Derrière le rire – Behind the Laughter’, the arabesques 2026 cultural festival enriches the programme with encounters that focus on the power of humour as a means of criticism, confidence and understanding.

About the French-German cultural festival arabesques

The Franco-German cultural festival arabesques was first launched in 2012 by Barbara Barberon-Zimmermann and Nicolas Thiébaud and has taken place every year since then. arabesques always begins on 22 January, the day on which Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Elysée Treaty on Franco-German friendship in 1963. The name of the festival comes from the Arabic art of ornamentation, in which calligraphic and natural forms create a multi-faceted overall picture.

With arabesques, the festival organisers want to enable adults, children and young people to discover at concerts, readings, exhibitions, theatre and film screenings, debates and dance performances how different cultures meet, overcome divisions and find a new common expression. The aim is also to promote interest in the French and German languages and co-operation between France and Germany as a driving force for the peace process in Europe. Based on Franco-German friendship, arabesques looks beyond borders to international issues. The theme, which changes every year, provides a common thread and explores the question of how the fundamental values of a democratic Europe and responsible behaviour towards one another can be lived and protected.

2026: Derrière le rire – Behind the Laughter

In the 2026 festival year, arabesques will focus on laughter as a cultural force. Under the motto ‘Derrière le rire – Behind the Laughter’, the programme will explore how humour not only entertains, but also educates, connects and reflects social developments. The focus is on the creative complexity of satire, comedy and parody, which invite us to look behind the façade and take on new perspectives.

The theme was inspired by the 100th birthday of French author René Goscinny, co-founder of classics such as Asterix, Le petit Nicolas and Lucky Luke. His works are exemplary for their combination of humour, cultural criticism and humanistic attitude. This year, arabesques spans the ninth art of comics, chanson, film and theatre to interactive formats such as writing workshops, city tours and exhibitions, which also include German-French-Polish cultural exchange.