Culture

Estonian classical music composer Arvo Pärt, Italian literary translator Anita Raja and Greek theater director and actor Prodromos Tsinikoris are the three recipients of the 2026 Goethe Medal, an annual award that honors international public figures who contribute to creating cultural bridges between Germany and partner countries. The annual award, presented this year on August 28 in Weimar, is one of the most prestigious awards in Germany for international cultural work. So what connects these three personalities to Germany's culture? A prolific German exile: Estonian composer Arvo Pärt Considered one of the most influential figures in contemporary classical music since the 1960s, the Estonian composer is renowned for his minimalist, contemplative compositional technique called "tinti...

Gamescom, which runs from August 26-30 in Cologne, is promoted as the world's largest video game trade show. Last year, two-thirds of its non-industry visitors were male, with over 40% of them between the ages of 16 and 25. Those are precisely the young people the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, is trying to reach as it urgently seeks to expand its ranks. Germany's military aims to have 260,000 active-duty soldiers by 2035. The German government has supplied hundreds of billions of euros to modernize the country's armed forces. Defense has become a priority for Germany as it faces the current global security situation. Career advice in camouflage The Bundeswehr set up shop at Gamescom for the first time in 2016. It's been back every year since. A brand-new, olive-green Caracal off...

Yayoi Kusama gained fame in recent years for her Instagrammable "Infinity Rooms" — immersive installations using mirrors, lights and reflective surfaces to create the illusion of endless space — as well as her large-scale polka dot sculptures. While her works often appear playful, behind them lies the story of a woman who has faced major social and mental health challenges. Around the age of 10, Yayoi Kusama began experiencing hallucinations, seeing dots and net patterns enveloping everything in her mind's eye. She attributed these early visions to the psychological strain of growing up with an unloving mother, who forbade her from painting and tried to impose traditional expectations on her behavior. Although she continued to experience hallucinations until late in life, Kusama learned t...

Caroline Wahl, 31, has published three novels to date. All three shot to the top of Germany's fiction bestseller lists. Now, her fourth book is set to be released on August 28: "1999 Meter über dem Meer" (1999 Meters Above Sea) tells the story of a young woman who takes on a false identity to mingle among the high society in St. Moritz, Switzerland. It is one of the most anticipated new books of the summer in Germany. So what is the secret to Caroline Wahl's success? Debut with a bang Caroline Wahl's breakthrough came with her first novel, from 2023: "22 Bahnen" (22 Lengths) sold more than a million copies in German-language editions. The story of the young student Tilda, who has to navigate everyday life alongside her alcoholic mother and her little sister, was praised by critics f...

More than 100 million records sold, 25 No. 1 hits on the US country charts, 11 Grammys and three Emmys — country star Dolly Parton was one of the most successful singers in the world. On Tuesday, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced in a video shared on Parton's social media channgels that his aunt had passed away.  "Dolly... opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent," Seaver said in the video. "She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history." Here are eight facts from eight decades of Dolly Parton. 1. Cornmeal for the doctor Dolly Parton came from humble beginnings, growing up with 11 siblings in Sevier County, Tennessee. Born on January 19, 1946, her parents ...

The list of international composers who have written for star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter is a long one. It features names like Krzysztof Penderecki and Sofia Gubaidulina, along with Andre Previn and Jörg Widmann. In recent years, women like Iranian-Dutch composer Aftab Darvishi and South Korean composer Unsuk Chin have also written works for Mutter. On the occasion of the violinist's 50th stage anniversary, she's now recorded over 30 works either dedicated to her or commissioned by her — all part of her "ASM Forte Forward" project on the Alpha Classics label.Anne-Sophie Mutter is deeply committed to social causesImage: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa/picture alliance The first album in the series, "East Meets West," reflects not just the artist's musical passions but also her social engagement. The...

The "Bauhaus Manifesto 2026," published on August 20, was initiated by Germany's Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer. "Together, we're making it clear that we want to strengthen the Bauhaus and its principles while defending them against any form of anti-democratic attack," the independent politician told the German Press Agency, dpa. A statement accompanying the manifesto said it was intended as a cultural and sociopolitical commitment to the principles that have made the Bauhaus art school, which operated from 1919 to 1933, a global cultural icon. Those principles include freedom of artistic thought, openness to new ideas, the connection between different disciplines, and the belief that cultural innovation can make an important contribution to a democratic society. Revolutio...

Often dressing in pastel colors, with wide-legged pants falling over her high heels, Italy's first female Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni can't escape fashion scrutiny — and not only because she's the leader of the world's fashion capital. "Fashion is a language — it tells us what its wearer wants to say without any actual words," Michela Bonafoni, who teaches fashion at Unicollege in Florence, told DW in an interview."Perhaps what you wear is very close to your personality. But if you want to give a different impression of yourself, you can also do this through clothing — this is what Meloni does constantly," explained Bonafoni.Meloni began her tenure as prime minister wearing dark suits as seen in this photo from 2022Image: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS OFFICE /AFP Meloni's clothing style...

The 2026 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, a prestigious award that honors individuals who contribute to the realization of peace through their work, goes to French-British lawyer and author Philippe Sands, the prize's board of trustees announced on Thursday. "In his literary work, which is distinguished both by narrative brilliance and historical depth, Philippe Sands devotes as much attention to the motives of the perpetrators as to the suffering and lives of the victims," the jury noted in its statement. "At the heart of his legal work is a commitment to the universal rights of every human being, evidenced in his advocacy for victims of war crimes, racism, torture and colonial injustice." More than a chronicler of crimes and violations of international law, Sands is also a promine...

A young woman in business attire comes home, cuddles with her cat, cleans her high heels, takes a shower and settles down on the couch to watch TV in her pajamas with pizza and a soft drink. Afterward, she tidies up, takes out the trash ("no clutter in this apartment ever") and spends the rest of the evening on the sofa with her cat. The title of the video: "POV: You live alone in NYC and have no friends so this is how you spend your Friday night." It has already raked in over 11 million views on Instagram. This reel is the most successful clip to date by Paulina Cee, who boasts over 320,000 followers on Instagram. Her account features numerous videos of this kind, always emphasizing her friend-free life. And Paulina Cee is just one influencer amid a broader trend: Social media is fu...