Grand Opening

January2026

16:00

WDC 2026

Centralstation Darmstadt

Im Carree

64283 Darmstadt

Party

free of charge

©Kristof Lemp

It all begins on 16 January:
With the festive Grand Opening at Centralstation Darmstadt, WDC 2026 officially kicks off. We’re excited to celebrate with everyone who joins us. Please register if you would like to attend the Opening.

Together, we shape what makes Frankfurt Rhine-Main special: openness, diversity and the power of design. Let us celebrate this special launch – with people, ideas and inspiration that show how design makes our future worth living.

We look forward to experiencing this special evening with you.

Please register if you would like to attend the opening.

Your WDC 2026 project team

The Programme for the Grand Opening

17:00 – Doors open & warm-up

17:30 – Opening remarks by:
Carolina Romahn (Managing Director, WDC 2026),
Boris Rhein (Minister President of the State of Hessen),
Hanno Benz (Mayor of the City of Science Darmstadt),
Andréa Springer (Interim CEO, World Design Organization)

18:00 – Artistic contributions:
Choreography by Paula Rosolen / Haptic Hide (excerpt from 16 Bits),
Jazz improvisation by Manuel Seng,
the official WDC song performed by the Children’s and Youth Choir of Staatstheater Darmstadt,
and the premiere of the WDC image film.

18:20 – Insights into selected WDC projects – from the WDC-Hub, the Open – Design Week Frankfurt RheinMain, the first superblock in Hessen from Wiesbaden, sustainable street lighting by Main-Light, to the cultural use of Saalbaustraße 37 by blumen e. V. Darmstadt.

18:50 – Keynote by Prof. Dr. Martina Löw, sociologist and current recipient of the Schader Award.

19:30 – Soup & project parcours with Amelie Persson, Demokratiedeckel e.V., making frankfurt and bb22 architekten + stadtplaner, Marvin Fuchs and Jona Heckmann, Ping Pong Park, studio gross klein, and studio pari–pari.

21:00 – Party with DJs Sherryaeri, Ezgi and Sonia Mystik from Crémant. Cava. Booty Bounce.

We expect the hall to be quite full during the first part of the programme, from 17:00–19:30. In addition to the main hall, other areas of the Centralstation will also be open. From 21:00 onwards, there should be more space available again, so you’re very welcome to join the party later in the evening as well.

Delicious soup, snacks and drinks will be provided – at fair prices, of course.

We would like to thank the City of Darmstadt, the Staatstheater Darmstadt, ENTEGA AG and Farbe des Weines for their support.

Information on accessibility and getting there

All levels of the Centralstation are accessible via an elevator. Please note that the Luisenplatz stop is not barrier-free when travelling by public transport. Instead, please use the Schloss stop, which is also located very close to the Centralstation.

A sanitary facility for people with severe and multiple disabilities is located on the lower ground floor of the Centralstation. It can be reached by elevator and can be opened with a Euro key whenever the building is open (during events).

More information about accessibility More information about getting there