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The 33rd Summer of Culture starts on June 20th in the Odenwald district
The South Hesse Cultural Summer Association (Kultursommer Südhessen e. V.) is starting the 2026 season with a new chairman. As the association announced, District Administrator Frank Matiaske (Odenwald district) was elected as the new chairman at the members' meeting. He will be supported by District Administrator Oliver Quilling (Offenbach district) as first deputy chairman and District Administrator Thomas Will (Groß-Gerau district) as second deputy chairman. The election was overseen by Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt.
Jochen Melchior (District of Groß-Gerau), Lina Ophoven (City of Darmstadt), Ute Naas (Deputy Managing Director, Odenwald District), Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt, District Administrator Frank Matiaske (Chairman, Odenwald District), Marina Stuckert (Managing Director), District Administrator Klaus Peter Schellhaas (Darmstadt-Dieburg District), Marcel Subtil (Offenbach District), Jana Treichler (Offenbach District), Ulrike Posselt (City of Dieburg), Tina Rosenfeld (Darmstadt-Dieburg District), Raza Bujupaj (Bergstraße District). Photo: Darmstadt Regional Council
Opening event at the Michelstadt Music Night
The change in leadership also brings with it a special prospect: The opening event of the 33rd South Hesse Cultural Summer will take place on June 20, 2026, in the Odenwald district. The opening event is embedded within the Michelstadt Music Night.
Outgoing chairman Klaus Peter Schellhaas congratulated his successor and emphasized the importance of the association. He stated that the chairmanship is primarily a role that facilitates encounters with dedicated individuals and makes the region's cultural diversity tangible.
The new chairman, Frank Matiaske, also emphasized the importance of the cultural summer for the region. He stated that the cultural summer stands for quality, diversity, and regional cooperation. He said he was looking forward to the task and had confidence in the expertise of the working group, the office, and the numerous event organizers.
Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt emphasized the role of the cultural summer as a unifying element in southern Hesse. Culture creates encounters, strengthens cohesion, and contributes significantly to the quality of life.
Program from June to September
The 33rd South Hesse Cultural Summer will take place from June 1st to September 27th, 2026. A wide range of events is planned once again – from music, theater and literature to visual arts and cabaret, as well as interdisciplinary and participatory formats in cities and rural areas.
The event concludes with the Open Studio Days on September 26 and 27, 2026, when artists throughout southern Hesse open their doors.
The full program will be published online from the end of April or beginning of May 2026. The printed program booklet will be available from mid- or late May at numerous public locations in southern Hesse.
The South Hesse Cultural Summer is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture, and the Savings Banks Cultural Foundation of Hesse and Thuringia. The project is supported by LOTTO Hessen, ENTEGA, and the Wilhelmine Thoß Foundation.
(RED/PM)
