MINDPOP festival: Süddeutsche Zeitung to stage two-day ideas festival in Munich
MINDPOP festival brings journalism, science and arts to Bavaria Studios in Munich on May 8–9, 2026, with talks, panels and live performances across three stages.
MINDPOP, a new festival organized by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, will debut at the Bavaria Studios in Munich on May 8 and 9, 2026, offering a blend of journalism, scientific expertise and cultural programming. The event opens each evening from 17:00 and aims to create a live forum where reporters, researchers, artists and audiences can move beyond headline debate into deeper dialogue. Organizers describe the festival as an experiment in public conversation that pairs editorial quality with the energy of a festival format.
Süddeutsche Zeitung launches MINDPOP festival
MINDPOP is presented by the Süddeutsche Zeitung as an initiative to translate investigative reporting and specialized knowledge into public events. The newspaper will bring journalists from its newsroom together with external experts to discuss topics that shape public life.
The festival is intended as a public-facing extension of the paper’s editorial work, with panels and interviews that reflect current reporting beats. Programming is organized across multiple stages to allow simultaneous sessions and a varied visitor experience.
Program highlights and featured guests
The lineup includes a mix of media figures, scientists and performers scheduled to appear over the two evenings. Notable names announced for the program are Tobias Krell, known to younger audiences as “Checker Tobi,” podcaster Linn Schütze, ZDF meteorologist Özden Terli, and actress Saralisa Volm.
Sessions will span formats from interviews and moderated panels to live podcast recordings and short performances. Organizers say the program will emphasize questioning and exchange, giving attendees the chance to ask follow-up questions and engage directly with speakers.
Format and venue details
MINDPOP will occupy the Bavaria Studios complex in the southern part of Munich, a site commonly used for film and television production. Events run from 17:00 on both May 8 and May 9, giving working attendees evening access without disrupting daytime schedules.
The festival will use three separate stages to present concurrent sessions, enabling a mix of in-depth discussions and lighter cultural pieces. Production values will be geared toward live broadcast standards, reflecting the organizer’s journalistic roots and aiming for a polished audience experience.
Topics and audience engagement
Program themes are planned to bridge reporting and civic relevance, touching on science, culture, true crime, climate, and technology. Sessions are designed to pair reporting expertise with invited specialists so that topics are explored beyond surface headlines.
Audience participation is a stated priority: time will be set aside for questions and direct exchanges, and several sessions will be structured as conversations rather than lectures. Festival organizers have emphasized interactivity as a way to foster mutual learning between experts and the public.
Tickets, schedule and access information
Tickets for MINDPOP are available through the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s event channels, and the full program will be published in advance to allow visitors to plan across the three stages. Organizers advise prospective attendees to review the schedule and reserve places for high-demand sessions.
The two-day format begins on Friday, May 8, and continues on Saturday, May 9, with evening start times each day. The Bavaria Studios location is equipped to host a hybrid audience model, but interested visitors should check access options and ticket categories when booking.
MINDPOP represents a strategic move by a major German newsroom to experiment with live public formats that combine reporting with cultural programming. By situating reporters and guests on festival stages rather than exclusively in print, the Süddeutsche Zeitung is testing new ways to extend its journalism into civic spaces.
The debut of MINDPOP will be watched by media observers and cultural organizers alike as an example of how established news brands seek new revenue and engagement models. Attendees can expect a mix of serious reporting, expert analysis and creative moments across two evenings at Bavaria Studios.
