University:Future Festival 2026 The future of academic education in Braunschweig
On 23 June 2026, Technische Universität Braunschweig invites you to the Future-Tech:Stage at the University:Future Festival (U:FF) 2026. This partner stage is organised by the TU Braunschweig Project House in cooperation with the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung, the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education Teaching and the Stifterverband. The focus will be on the technologies of the future, their significance, potential impacts, and the opportunities and risks they present for universities. Keynote speakers will include astronaut Rabea Rogge, the first woman from Germany to complete a space flight.
The University:Future Festival is all about innovative concepts for the higher education of tomorrow. Particular emphasis is placed on the digital education trends of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, which will have a lasting impact on the academic landscape. On 23 June, the Future-Tech:Stage at Technische Universität Braunschweig will shed light on precisely these future technologies, highlight their significance for teaching and discuss practical applications within degree programmes.
The stage programme will be accompanied by further interactive formats, such as a VR relaxation station, workshops exploring the intersection of science and art in the Science and Art Lab, a ‘telephone box for the future’ and a biotechnology projection. The Changemaker Café at the Ecoversity Hub offers a relaxed atmosphere for conversations with the speakers, discussions on specialist topics and networking. Professor Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig, will also be available for discussion from 1 pm. Rabea Rogge (11 am to 12 pm) and Theresa Hannig (2.30 pm to 3 pm) will be holding book-signing sessions at the Changemaker Café. In the evening, TU Braunschweig invites you to the ‘Feierabendbeats’ on Forumsplatz.
Programme highlights
The programme brings together thought leaders from science, technology, education and culture, and, with the Future-Tech:Stage, sets the stage for a variety of scenarios.
Keynotes:
Rabea Rogge, astronaut and electrical engineer, NTNU/SpaceX
“Astronaut Version 2.0 – Visions of the Future for Humanity”
Udbhav Tiwari, Vice President for Strategy and Global Affairs, Signal
“Encryption, Agency, and Control – Defending Critical Infrastructures Against Surveillance”
Prof. Dr. Frank Steinicke, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction
“Artificial Intelligence and Realities for Immersive Learning”
Prof. Dr. Eckart Voigts, Professor of English Literature and Cultural Studies, Theresa Hannig, author of socially critical science fiction and columnist, and Aylin Dilek Walder, literary and cultural scholar, in a Future Talk on the topic:
“Under Pressure? – Stories for a Future of Knowledge”
The full programme for Braunschweig can be found here.
Venue
The University:Future Festival will take place on 23 June 2026 in the old building of Technische Universität Braunschweig (Pockelsstraße 4, 38106 Braunschweig). Registration and the exhibition area open at 9 am; the programme starts at 9.30 am and ends at around 6.30 pm.
About the Festival
The University:Future Festival 2026 will take place from 22 to 24 June at six venues across Germany and Austria under the theme ‘Under Pressure’. The aim is to discuss innovative concepts for the higher education of tomorrow, taking into account current and future challenges. Participation is free of charge – both online and at the local festival venues in Berlin, Braunschweig, Essen, Graz, Hamburg and Nuremberg.
The festival programme covers a wide range of topics – from artificial intelligence, future skills and higher education strategy to sustainability, knowledge transfer and change management. It is organised collaboratively by members of the higher education community: the majority of the sessions are based on submissions from practitioners in higher education.
Registration and tickets
You can register via the free ticket booking system here. Your ticket also grants you access to the digital programme of the University:Future Festival.
Further information and the full programme can be found here.