gute aussichten: Festival der Fotografie, Poesie & KI
Between Artistic and Artificial Intelligence
This September, Neustadt/W. and the surrounding region will become a meeting point for photography, poetry and new forms of image-making. good prospects: Photography, Poetry & AI brings together artists, authors, researchers and AI experts from September 9–13, 2026.
Under the theme “From Analog to Digital to Synthetic”, more than 30 participants will take part in over 20 exhibitions, talks, readings, screenings, performances and discussions. The festival explores how generative AI is changing photography, poetry and language, while opening up questions around authorship, originality, creativity, trust and the power of words and images.
The program brings together internationally renowned artist Elger Esser, author and journalist Elke Schmitter, poet Esther Kinsky, filmmaker and artist Alexander Kluge, media artist Navid Razavi, programmer and AI veteran David Link, philosopher and artist Doris Feil, publisher Klaas Jarchow and poet and DJ Franz Dobler. AI experts Dr. Jürgen Rink, Dr. Adriano Lucieri from the DFKI and Deutschlandfunk journalist Ralf Krauter add further perspectives.
The festival opens at Kunstmuseum Karlsruhe, featuring works by Maximilian Gessler, Mathilde Tijen Hansen, Nika, Vanessa Amoah Opoku and Robin C. Wolf. The official opening at Hambach Castle follows with an immersive performance by Navid Razavi, talks by Elger Esser, Ralf Krauter and Dr. Adriano Lucieri, and a public discussion.
Throughout the weekend, the festival moves through galleries, cinemas, cultural spaces and historic venues in Neustadt/W. and Edenkoben. Highlights include Alexander Kluge’s AI images, David Link’s “Poetry Machine”, readings by Elke Schmitter, Lena Frings and Esther Kinsky, talks on AI and photography, poetry and social relationships, as well as exhibitions, screenings and a festival party with live music.
Across five days, gute aussichten creates a space for encounters between photography, poetry, literature, science and technology, looking at the changing relationship between artistic and artificial intelligence.
gute aussichten: Festival der Fotografie, Poesie & KI
September 9th–13th
Neustadt/Weinstraße & anderswo
Festival der Fotografie, Poesie & KI
September 9th, 6:00 p.m.
Kunstmuseum Karlsruhe
Opening of the exhibition gute aussichten – analog*digital*synthetisch*
September 10th, 7:00 p.m.
Hambacher Schloss, Grand Hall, Neustadt/W.
Official festival opening
Visitors can look forward to exhibitions, readings, screenings, talks, performances, presentations, live music and discussions across the different festival venues. Admission is free, except for regular entrance fees at festival partner venues.
The festival’s current programme overview can be found in PDF format here.
Further information about the festival is available here.