Süddeutsche Zeitung launches "Mindpop" festival
Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) will host its new live format, "Mindpop" festival, for the first time on May 8–9, 2026, in Munich. The event will combine journalistic topics with stage formats.
Munich – The Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) newspaper is launching a new live format, the "Mindpop" festival, for the first time on May 8 and 9, 2026, at Bavaria Studios in Munich.
The two-day festival aims to merge journalistic themes with stage presentations, including panels, talks, live podcasts, and performances. Participants are expected from academic fields, the arts, content creation, and SZ's own editorial staff.
The festival will address current societal and cultural issues, such as technology in nutrition, artificial intelligence, and racism. According to the newspaper, the event is intended to make quality journalism an experiential reality.
"Mindpop" is described as an initiative to connect journalistic depth with cultural lightness. The event is a collaborative project involving SZ's event team and its culture, science, social media, and audio-video departments.
Confirmed guests include Verena Keßler, Saralisa Volm, and Professor Karim Fereidooni, alongside SZ authors, editors, and podcast hosts.