Der Demokratische Wald

The 13th International Forest Art Trail combines a walk in the woods with the discovery of art. Since 2002, during the Forest Art Biennials, a 2.6 km circular trail has been created, featuring around 40 remaining artworks. To date, 221 artists from 45 countries have created 374 artworks for the 17 International Forest Art Trails in Darmstadt, the USA, China and Austria, as well as on the Modaukunstpfad and in Messel.

From 3 August 2026, during the three-week symposium, 20 new installations will be created between Böllenfalltor, Goetheteich and Ludwigshöhe, alongside 20 performances, events, concerts and films. As part of ‘Kunst Wald Fossil’, two new projects will be developed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Messel.

As part of the ‘3rd Digital Forest’, we will be showcasing art projects and videos relating to ‘Democratic Forest Digital’, as well as activities on the Forest Art Trail, at the IWZ Gallery.

The 11th International Forest Art Conference at the Schader Forum offers an opportunity for dialogue with artists and experts.

The ‘Democratic Forest’ has been a focus of the Association for International Forest Art (Verein für Internationale Waldkunst e.V.) since 2025 as part of the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026. Fifty project ideas were submitted for the ‘Democratic Forest Reader’, of which around 30 artworks will be realised. The aim is to give the forest and nature a voice. The design concepts in the fields of social, urban and cultural development artistically explore the multifaceted aspects of our relationship with the forest, nature and the landscape, and their rights.

Over 40 artists from 16 countries are taking part, including Bulgaria, Finland, India, Italy, Norway, Turkey, Hungary, the USA and Germany. As well as performances, concerts, talks and guided tours, the supporting programme also features a children’s play area on Sundays. Everyone is warmly welcome to attend the three Wednesday forums at the International Forest Art Centre (IWZ), featuring talks by the artists.

There will also be public guided tours through the forest, to the Digital Forest and the Forest Art Classroom at the International Forest Art Centre, and to Messel.

Schedule:

• KÜNSTLER*INNENSYMPOSIUM, 03.08. bis 21.08.2026
• 11. WALDKUNSTKONFERENZ, 21.08.2026, 12–17 Uhr 
• ERÖFFNUNG WALDKUNSTPFAD, 22.08.2026, 15 Uhr 
• AUSSTELLUNG & INFOSTAND, 22.08. bis 04.10.2026 
• ERÖFFNUNG 3. DIGITALER WALD, 20.08.2026, 19 Uhr 
• AUSSTELLUNG 3. DIGITALER WALD, 20.08. bis 02.10.2026

Info:

As part of the Forest Art Trail, there will be talks, concerts, performances, workshops, guided tours and children’s activities. There are around 50 artworks from previous Forest Art Trails in the forest and 8 artworks in the ‘Garden of Time’ at the Messel Pit.

Information stand: Sat 2 pm – 6 pm, Sun 2 pm – 6 pm.

Guided tours of the Forest Art Trail: Sat and Sun at 3 pm.

Opening hours of the Forest Art Centre: Mon–Thu 9 am–3 pm, Fri 9 am–2 pm, Sat/Sun 2 pm–5 pm.

The Association for International Forest Art cooperates with, among others, the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Messel Pit, the Schader Foundation, Hessen Forst Darmstadt and Kultur einer Digitalstadt e.V. Other municipal, regional and international partners are also involved.