Hello Leipzig: Here’s how Friday 4 September 2026 kicks off the weekend

Doors that would otherwise remain closed open when the opera house kicks off its new season. An election is captivating the people of Leipzig, one that differs considerably from the one in Saxony-Anhalt. Tonight, Armin Mueller-Stahl will receive a great and, above all, well-deserved honour – and at the Prager Frühling cinema bar, a film is premiering that one would have hoped never had to be made.

‘Golden Hen’ honours artists of the century

The ‘Golden Hen’ is being awarded in Leipzig today for the 32nd time. And even though the winners will not be announced until this evening, one of them has already been confirmed: actor Armin Mueller-Stahl is to receive the honorary award for his life’s work. Born in Tilsit in 1930, the artist rose to fame through, amongst other things, the five-part film *Wege übers Land*.

Awards will also be presented to the audience favourites in the four categories of Film & Television, Entertainment, Music and Sport. The awards ceremony also boasts a star-studded musical line-up. Helene Fischer, Peter Maffay, Johannes Oerding, Kerstin Ott, Michael Schulte, Unheilig, Till Brönner, Take That and Michael Patrick Kelly have been announced for the gala.

Helene Fischer is set to perform her new single “An meiner Seite” live in front of an audience and TV cameras for the first time, as well as singing “Heute Nacht”. Peter Maffay and Johannes Oerding will be performing a new duet. Take That will be performing alongside Michael Patrick Kelly and presenting their new song “Feel My Love”.

Anyone who was unable to secure one of the 4,500 seats in Exhibition Hall 1, or who would rather watch the awards ceremony at home in front of the telly with some savoury snacks and a beer, can do so from 8.15 pm (ARD).

The Golden Hen owes its name to the Berlin entertainer Helga Hahnemann, who died in 1991 and was known by the nickname ‘Henne’. The award was established in 1995 in memory of the popular comedienne and singer and was initially intended, following German reunification, to honour the achievements of East German artists in particular. Germany’s biggest audience award has been presented since 1995 by the magazine *SuperIllu* and Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR).

‘Prague Spring’ brings the floodplain forest to the screen

The Leipzig floodplain forest is a subject of interest not only to conservationists, walkers and discussion groups, but also to documentary filmmakers. Today, Dr Wolfgang Epple is presenting his recently completed film, “KAHLSCHLAG – Forest Scenes from the Leipzig Floodplain Forest”, at the Prager Frühling cinema bar (House of Democracy) as part of a premiere. The special event is organised by NuKLA – Naturschutz und Kunst and Lebendige Auen e. V., and will include an introduction as well as a discussion following the screening.

The documentary runs for 67 minutes and examines the forestry interventions carried out in the winter of 2025/26 in protected areas of the northern Leipzig floodplain forest in the Schkeuditz/Northern Saxony region. The focus is therefore on interventions in a natural area that has been the subject of controversial ecological and political debate for years. The organisers’ announcement strongly criticises the actions of Sachsenforst and its handling of protected Natura 2000, FFH and bird sanctuary areas.

The screening begins today at 5 pm. At 6.30 pm, another event organised by NuKLA will follow in the old dining hall of the House of Democracy: an information evening on the Capa-Wäldchen will begin there. The organisers strongly recommend attending the film screening first. The information evening from 6.30 pm is free of charge. Admission to the film premiere costs €9.00, or €8.00 with a concession.

Come in and have a stroll

Leipzig Opera kicks off the 2026/27 season on Saturday with an open day followed by the opening concert. At the opera house on Augustusplatz, visitors can first take a free look ‘behind the scenes’, observe work processes and attend rehearsals.

The Saturday event will be opened at 11.50 am on the building’s portico by the fanfare players of the Musikalische Komödie. The opera house has compiled a programme overview online HERE detailing what it will be revealing about its inner workings and when.

At 6 pm, the musical theatre’s actual season begins with the 2026/27 opening concert. Under the musical direction of General Music Director Ivan Repušić, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Leipzig Opera Chorus and Children’s Chorus, members of the ensemble, and guest singers will offer a preview of new productions and revivals for the coming season.

The announced soloists include Elbenita Kajtazi, Lucio Gallo, Martin Muehle, Solen Mainguené, Olena Tokar, Almerija Delic, Maya Gour and Gabrielė Kupšytė. Whilst admission to the Open Day is free, the opening concert costs 20 euros, or 10 euros with a concession.

Leipzig trundles towards the election

Whilst the people of Saxony-Anhalt head to the polling stations on Sunday, Leipzig has already held a remarkable vote of its own. On Saturday, the beer garden at the Bayerischer Bahnhof is entirely devoted to the pressing question: who is Leipzig’s favourite dachshund?

At 2 pm, the presentation of the floppy-eared candidates begins with a dachshund parade, which – following its successful premiere last year – is set to bring together numerous four-legged friends, their owners and spectators once again. The dogs will be presented alongside their owners, after which the audience will vote to decide which dachshund wins the competition.

Anyone wishing to take part with their pet can register in advance by email (info@bayerischer-bahnhof.de). According to the organiser, however, it is also possible to take part on the spot on Saturday. Visitors without a dog of their own can also watch and take part in the voting as impartial observers.

The event on 23 August 2025 already demonstrated that this unusual format strikes a chord: according to the Saxony regional association of the German Dachshund Club, more than 300 spectators watched the dachshund parade on that occasion. In the public vote, the two wire-haired dachshunds Max and Rosi made it onto the podium alongside a female dachshund from Berlin. The restaurant attached to the beer garden will remain open as usual from 11.00 to 22.00 during the election event.