Key Information at a Glance:
- What: “After Run Beats x Techno Ping Pong”
- When: Thursday, 19.02.2026 and 26.02.2026
- Time: From 18:00 (Run), from 19:30 (Table Tennis)
- Where: StadtLab Jena, Markt
- Organizer: Paradise Factory (Run Club Paradise)
Jena (19.02.2026) – The Jena Marktplatz is becoming sporty and loud: With an innovative mix of physical activity, electronic music, and social gathering, a new event format starts today at StadtLab Jena. Under the title “After Run Beats x Techno Ping Pong,” the central area in the heart of the Saalestadt is transformed into an open meeting space for sports enthusiasts and music fans.
An Award-Winning Concept Enters the Testing Phase
Behind the event is the “Paradise Factory” initiative, which emerged from the local “Run Club Paradise.” Organizers Philipp Zacher, Tilmann Süß, and Robert Karnbach are implementing an idea that already caused a stir last year: The concept won the audience award of the StadtLab ideas competition in 2025. Now follows the practical implementation and testing in real urban life.
The approach is as simple as it is effective: The barriers to physical activity are to be lowered through the event character and the central location. Instead of closed clubhouses, the sport takes place directly where urban life pulses.
Schedule: First Sweat, Then Round-the-Table
The program on the two event days – today and next Thursday, February 26 – follows a clear structure. The evening begins at 18:00 with a joint run through the Jena city center. The group is accompanied by a live DJ who provides the appropriate rhythm and keeps motivation high. This combination of running and club atmosphere picks up on a trend that is already established in major cities and is now gaining a foothold in Jena.
Following the run, the action moves back to StadtLab. From 19:30, table tennis tables are ready for the classic “Rundlauf” (round-the-table) – also accompanied by electronic music. This combination of “Beats & Balls” is intended to create a relaxed atmosphere where participants can exchange ideas and network.
Revitalizing the City Center and Target Groups
StadtLab Jena, designed as an experimental space for the future of the city center, provides the ideal stage for such formats. At a time when city centers nationwide are looking for new usage concepts beyond pure retail, projects like “Paradise Factory” show how multifunctional spaces can be used. High visibility is achieved through the central location at the Markt.
The initiators have younger target groups particularly in mind. The format is intended to be further expanded in the future to specifically address pupils and students of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität and the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule. The goal is to create low-threshold meeting spaces that function without the pressure to consume and integrate movement into everyday life.
Conclusion and Outlook
With today’s kick-off and the follow-up event next week, the creators are testing how the offer is received by the people of Jena. If the response is positive, “After Run Beats x Techno Ping Pong” could establish itself as a permanent fixture in the Jena event calendar and serve as a blueprint for further creative uses of public space. Interested parties are invited to drop by spontaneously – whether in running shoes or with a table tennis bat in their luggage.
Source:
Table Tennis, Techno and Movement – New Format at StadtLab
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.