DOK.fest 2026

German Theater meets DOK.fest

Two Munich cultural brands that radiate far beyond the city limits. The Deutsches Theater and DOK.fest Munich have been working together for many successful years. We are delighted to be partnering and opening this very special festival once again. For a short time, our theater hall will once again be transformed into the city's largest cinema. Our inner courtyard and foyer provide the perfect setting for the film premieres that are shown and celebrated here. We literally roll out the red carpet for documentary films! The grand opening ceremony of the festival by its new director Adele Kohout and Thomas Linsmayer, managing director of the Deutsches Theater, will take place on May 6. This will be followed by a screening of the film Ingeborg Bachmann - Jemand der ich einmal war. Further film premieres will follow until May 10.

A look at the world

Over 100 current international documentary films at DOK.fest open up perspectives on our world. Beyond the daily news coverage, they tell of people, relationships and the realities of life in a wide variety of regions. "The films in this year's festival program take up many [...] topics, tell of loneliness and solidarity, of interpersonal relationships, of experiences that have an impact across generations, and ask about the influence of political developments on our coexistence," says Artistic Director Adele Kohout.

Opening film

The DOK.fest will open with the film Ingeborg Bachmann - Jemand, der einmal ich war, which is also celebrating its world premiere. The hybrid film by Regina Schilling combines play scenes and documentary elements. The multi-award-winning actress Sandra Hüller plays the writer Ingeborg Bachmann (1926 - 1973). "'The truth is reasonable for man', a well-known sentence by Bachmann, could be the theme of our festival this year. Because the artistically valuable and socially relevant documentary film allows us to take a closer look, both at our world and at each other," continues Kohout.

DOK.fest 2026 films

Wed 06.05. INGEBORG BACHMANN - JEMAND, DER EINMAL ICH WAR
Thu 07.05. THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
Thu 07.05. FINDING CONNECTION
Fri 08.05. HELENE WEIGEL - REVOLUTIONÄRIN IM RAMPENLICHT
Fri 08.05. WHISTLEBLOWER
Sat 09.05. I FOLLOW RIVERS
Sat 09.05. WACKEN
Sun 10.05. NUISANCE BEAR
Sun 10.05. HER RACE TO SPACE