Volume down. Dialogue up.

The fourth edition of the b° future festival took place October 1-3, 2026, in downtown Bonn.

We welcomed more than 300 media professionals from 27 countries who contributed to a wide-ranging and engaging program. Thousands of local visitors attended more than 200 different events in German and English. They gained insight into journalism and took part in discussions with media professionals about the type of journalism that is needed today.

Mark your calendars: The next b° future festival will be taking place October 7-9, 2027!

Three women sitting in chairs smile and talk to each other

Thank you!

We are grateful to everyone who made the 2026 festival such a resounding success. To all our partners, speakers, festival staff and volunteers – we could not have done it without you.

Our partners

I'm so happy this was a gathering in the middle of the city and open to the public; the most important through-link for any and all of journalism's goals.
Mitali Mukherjee, Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

I think something like this is absolutely fantastic. Journalism is a profession driven by curiosity, and here (on the Münsterplatz), I can simply join the crowd and see what people are doing. It's so important and absolutely wonderful that something like this exists.
Jörg Thadeusz, Journalist, Author and Presenter

The impact these days have on so many, many people is almost impossible to put into words.
Julia Blust, Member of the Editorial Leadership Team, SÜDKURIER

Thank you for this opportunity to share Ukraine's voice with such a wonderful audience.
Hanna Charabarai, Head of Communication, Institute for Mass Information, Ukraine

Why the b° future festival?

The festival creates time and space for anyone and everyone who wants to rethink journalism.

It blends an industry conference with a civic festival for a unique three-day event in the heart of Bonn that revolves around one key question: What kind of journalism does our society need today and in the future?

The festival turns Bonn’s city center into a place to meet new people, engage in discussion and gain new perspectives. Thousands of local visitors talk with media professionals on equal footing, on the Münsterplatz in the heart of the city.

Most events are free of charge. Young or old, simply curious or passionate about media, everyone is welcome at the b° future festival.

View the 2026 program

Die Grafik zeigt die Zelte auf dem Münsterplatz

When everything changes ...

… how does the media need to change?

For the 2026 edition, we welcomed more than 300 media professionals from 27 countries. They included:

Mitali Mukherjee, Aphrodite Salas, Maik Meuser, Miriam Wells, Joseph Lichterman, Nela Riehl, and many more.