Nahaufnahme eines Mikrofons auf Bühne mit unscharfem Hintergrund in Konzertatmosphäre.
© Pixabay / Skitterphoto
Poetry Slam

Word art on Hamburg's stages.

Experience culture. Poetry Slam in Hamburg

Hamburg stands for art and culture through and through. And over the years, poetry slams have gained a firm place in Hamburg's cultural programme. Those who want to see young lyrical talents have the opportunity to do so in Hamburg almost every week. The young poet scene meets here regularly on stage to compete and inspire the audience. And with the "artistic duels", the city even has its own unofficial championship. Here, you'll find an overview of current events and the most frequent venues.

    The home of the Poetry Slam in Hamburg.

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    © Andrea Ziegler, MAV, 2023, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026

    System Error: Human? Annual Exhibition of the Professional Association of Visual Artists Hamburg

    Every human being is a complex set of routines, beliefs and attempts at establishing order. Defects, disruptions and irritations are often viewed as threats – but perhaps this is actually where our true potential lies. It is precisely when something tilts or contradicts itself that spaces emerge for new perceptions.

    For this year’s members exhibition of the Professional Association of Visual Artists Hamburg, a jury of five experts selected thirty artistic positions from 145 submissions. System Error: Human? compiles works that explore the fragile, the unfinished and the contradictory. Between analogue material and the digital code, between earth, fabric, metal and pixels, they negotiate questions of control, loss and new beginnings. They display breaks as transitions, cracks as openings, irritations as starting points for new forms of coexistence. The exhibition thus becomes a polyphonic plea for the productive power of the error – and for art as a field where orientation is continually being re-created.

    Jury: Anja Giese, Barbara Maahs, Sibylle Mayr, Maryam Naderi, Avid Saeed

    Participating artists: Sevil Amini, Christian M. Beier, Sarah Bender-Kronberg, Matthias Berthold, Wolfgang Block, Roland Doil, Christa Donatius, Frieder Falk, Satenik Ghulijanyan, Şakir Gökçebağ, Frauke Hänke & Claus Kienle, Friederike Höppner, Katharina Holstein-Sturm, Ute Klapschuweit, Thomas Klockmann, Agatha Kosobucki, Kristina Küster-Witt, Max Messemer, Per Pegelow, Jens Rausch, Florian Reckert, Lena Schmidt, Janine Seelen, Shahram Shahmiri, Kuo Tian, Jenni Tietze, Annika Unterburg, Sebastian Unterrainer, Frederick Vidal, Andrea Ziegler

    System Error: Human? Annual Exhibition of the Professional Association of Visual Artists Hamburg
    Finnische Seemannskirche Winter
    © Copyright 2026 Tiina Ylitalo. All rights reserved

    Tag der offenen finnischen Tür

    Open Day – Welcome to the Finnish Seamen's Church

    The Finnish Seamen's Church in Hamburg is opening its doors and cordially invites everyone to its open house on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The event will take place during regular opening hours from 2 pm to 8 pm – drop-ins are welcome anytime.

    Everyone who is interested in the work of the Seamen's Church is cordially invited – even (or especially) if they are not yet very familiar with it.

    During the day, you will have the opportunity to get to know the Finnish Seamen's Church in Hamburg – its work, its premises, and the people behind it. There will also be a chance to sample and purchase Finnish specialties in a relaxed atmosphere, chat with others, and take a look at the guest rooms, the sauna, and other facilities.

    Welcome – we look forward to your visit!

    Tag der offenen finnischen Tür
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    © The Backdoors

    The Backdoors // Tribute to The Doors & Jim Morrison

    Admission: Advance sale online from 18,85€, door 20€
    Entrance 8 pm, start 9 pm

    Maria's Ballroom is fully air-conditioned!

    Tickets at well-known ticket outlets or online
    Tix For Gigs Ticket Shop:
    Eventim.Light ticket shop: https://www.eventim-light.com/de/a/577e3aece4b08209f2d5b12b
    ---------------------------------------------
    The Backdoors

    The Doors were undoubtedly one of the most innovative and radical bands of the 20th century. Their music is timeless, and their singer, Jim Morrison, remains unforgettable despite his untimely death.

    The Backdoors revive the spirit of this music. The band was founded around the turn of the millennium and has amassed a considerable, very loyal fan base over the past 20 years.

    Homepage: http://thebackdoors.de
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077123251112
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebackdoorshamburg
    Youtube: https://youtu.be/R-5ASSqNxX8

    Singer Peter Härtl pays tribute to Jim Morrison while remaining authentic. He captivates the audience with a passionate performance. The band interprets the Doors songs in their own irresistible way: magical, mystical, and with a hypnotic groove.

    The audience is sucked into the Doors universe and sent on an exhilarating trip by the backdoors.

    The Backdoors // Tribute to The Doors & Jim Morrison
    Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra / Jeremias Fliedl / Nikos Xanthoulis / Thomas Sanderling
    © Yannis Gutmann

    Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra / Jeremias Fliedl / Nikos Xanthoulis / Thomas Sanderling

    The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra is one of Europe’s leading orchestras and will celebrate its eagerly awaited debut in the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall in 2026 together with the world-renowned maestro Thomas Sanderling. With the first work of the evening, the Dodecanese Suite No. 1 by Yannis Constantinidis, they will take the audience on a dreamlike musical journey to the Greek islands.



    The program also includes Camille Saint-Saëns’ popular Cello Concerto No. 1, performed by the up-and-coming cellist Jeremias Fliedl. The second solo highlight of the evening is the virtuoso Nikos Xanthoulis. On his ancient Greek lyre, he presents the »Ballad of Ephesus«, the new concerto for ancient lyre by the renowned composer Fazıl Say.

    The finale features Dmitri Shostakovich’s impressive Ninth Symphony, one of the most important composers of the 20th century. Maestro Thomas Sanderling had a special artistic friendship with Shostakovich. As a result, he premiered many of his works or recorded them on CD for the first time.

    PERFORMERS

    Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra orchestra

    Jeremias Fliedl violoncello

    Nikos Xanthoulis ancient greek lyra

    Thomas Sanderling conductor

    PROGRAM

    Yannis Constantinidis
    Dodecanesian Suite Nr. 1

    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33

    - Interval -

    Fazıl Say
    Konzert für Antike Lyra op. 122 »Ballade von Ephesos« (Deutsche Erstaufführung)

    Dmitri Schostakowitsch
    Symphony No. 9 in E-flat major, Op. 70

    Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra / Jeremias Fliedl / Nikos Xanthoulis / Thomas Sanderling
    things_falling_41_c_simon_wachter
    © Simon Wachter

    Things Falling

    A dance theatre piece about memory, body and change by THE GARDEN // performing arts

    Things Falling is a work of contemporary dance theatre that works at the intersection of queer expression, theatre, and diversity. It tells of memories inscribed on the body: traces of vigilance, impact, and war – scars that are simultaneously manipulations, shaping identity and raising questions.

    What changes us?

    How does it resonate in our bodies?

    Things Falling explores the inextricable link between body, memory, and identity. Every conflict leaves its mark, every resonance is carried on. The struggle has transformed: no longer confined to the battlefield, it also exerts its power in the realm of technology. Yet its impact on body and identity remains.

    The sounds of war are the same throughout all eras – because terror speaks only one language.

    THE GARDEN – performing arts embodies contemporary dance theatre in all its diversity and reflects the different facets of human life. Its starting point is the conviction that artistic work can be a space where experiences, identities, and perspectives converge. The aim is to develop new aesthetic forms that question and dissolve boundaries – not only within dance, but also beyond. The Garden thus sees itself as a platform that connects movement, theatre, and social issues, constantly seeking ways to expand existing conceptions of art and physicality.

    The project is funded by the NRW State Office for Independent Performing Arts eV, the Essen Cultural Office, the GD Baedeker Foundation, SZENE 2WEI and beWEGEnd eV

    DANCE
    José Manuel Ortiz
    Fernando Balsera
    Manuela Aranguibel
    Mercè Mayor

    MUSIC
    Karl Degenhardt

    STAGE & LIGHTING & COSTUME
    Clément Debras

    ARTISTIC DIRECTION & CHOREOGRAPHY
    William Sánchez H.

    Things Falling

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