Quick Facts: Holidays in Jena
- Period: February 16 to 22, 2026
- Highlights: Shadow theater (Romantikerhaus), children’s tour (Kunstsammlung)
- Target Audience: Children, teenagers, and families
- Prices: Children from 1 Euro, adults from 3 Euro
Jena (13.02.2026) – A week off school is approaching: From February 16 to 22, 2026, Thuringia celebrates its winter holidays. While outside temperatures remain wintry, many parents are wondering how to channel their children’s energy. In Jena and the surrounding area, museums and cultural institutions have prepared programs that effectively combine education and entertainment.
Fairytale Scenes at the Romantikerhaus
Jena is known as the cradle of Romanticism, and this era is being made accessible for children during the holidays. At the Romantikerhaus (Unterm Markt 12a), the fairy tale “Hyazinth und Rosenblütchen” by the poet Novalis will be performed. Unlike classical theater, this production works with light and shadow.
The story follows two young lovers on a grand journey in search of a goddess – themes that still resonate today. The shadow theater offers a quiet, almost magical atmosphere that perfectly suits the dark season.
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 3:00 PM.
Cost: 3 Euro (Adults), 1 Euro (Children).
Stargazing at the Kunstsammlung
The City of Light, Jena, has a close connection to optics and the starry sky. Fittingly, holiday children can dive into cosmic depths at the Kunstsammlung Jena (Markt 7). As part of the special exhibition “Hiroyuki Masuyama. Making Friends with Aliens,” the sky is brought directly into the museum space.
The Japanese artist has recreated the Milky Way using numerous small images and displays a glowing sun. During a special children’s tour titled “Map of Cosmic Colors,” participants will not only view the artworks but use them as inspiration. Afterwards, participants can create their own glowing, intergalactic masterpieces. This playfully links Jena’s scientific tradition with modern art.
Date: Friday, February 20, 2026, 2:00 PM.
Cost: 3 Euro (Adults), 1 Euro (Children). Advance registration is recommended.
A Look Beyond: Excursions in Thuringia
Those willing to leave the city limits of Jena for a day trip will also find exciting offers in the surrounding region. In Gera, the association “Virtuosen und Schmierfinken” focuses on animation, where children can produce their own stop-motion films in workshops. In the state capital Erfurt, the Galerie Waidspeicher invites visitors to an exhibition about the youth author Mirjam Pressler, accompanied by writing workshops for teenagers.
Conclusion
Whether creative design, literary journeys, or a gaze at the stars: The 2026 winter holidays in Jena offer a varied program that works even in bad weather. In particular, the affordable admission prices for children make the city’s offerings an attractive option for families.