Leipzig Festival of Lights 2026

“Our RESPONSIBILITY ...”

Sermon: Dr Joachim Jeska

This year, the parish of St Nicholas has secured Superintendent Dr Joachim Jeska from Osnabrück to deliver the sermon at the Prayer for Peace. As a city of peace, Osnabrück has a long tradition. On 25 October 1648, the Peace of Westphalia, which marked the end of the Thirty Years’ War, was proclaimed from the steps of the town hall. This event has been commemorated regularly since 1953. In his sermon, Joachim Jeska builds a bridge from Osnabrück to Leipzig and affirms the shared responsibility of both cities for peace. The Prayer for Peace is accompanied throughout by a cantata entitled “Blessed are ...” by André Engelbrecht. The Bach Choir at St Nicholas Church and the St Nicholas Ensemble perform under the direction of St Nicholas Cantor Markus Kaufmann.

German-American political scientist Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook will deliver the Democracy Speech at St Nicholas Church on 9 October 2026. Born in Wiesbaden in 1976, the expert on US politics and international relations is regarded as one of today’s most distinguished transatlantic voices: a sought-after commentator in leading media and an author. Drawing on developments in the USA, she examines internal vulnerabilities of liberal democracies and shows how the same patterns can also be observed in Europe.

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook is Senior Advisor in Bertelsmann Stiftung’s “Sustainable Social Market Economy” programme, and has served as Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations and as a CNN correspondent.

The Festival of Lights 2026 forms a trail of light through Leipzig city centre. Between St Nicholas Church and Matthäikirchhof, light installations, performances and images from 1989 connect history with the present. International artists, local project partners and school pupils from Leipzig will work together to create a European perspective. The candle platform in the shape of an 89 at St Thomas Church/corner of Klostergasse provides a quiet moment of remembrance, as well as an opportunity for exchange. This creates a shared space for remembrance and reflection.

The trail of light can be explored in either direction; there is no prescribed order. The starting point can be chosen freely. Orange streetlights help guide visitors on the evening of the Festival of Lights.

This year, the traditional candle display in the shape of an 89 will be located at St Thomas’ Church/on the corner of Klostergasse. Candles 89 creates a quiet moment of remembrance and connection, while also providing an opportunity for exchange.

On a small stage next to the candle display, presenter Nils Straatmann will engage in dialogue with contemporary witnesses. Topics will include the much-debated question in autumn 1989 of “stay or leave?”, hopes and fears, the significance of 9 October then and now, and aspects such as media freedom, the environment and the church. Visitors to the Festival of Lights can also contribute their own questions.