Participation
Kirchentag 2025
We celebrate community across borders – no matter whether you choose to participate as part of a group, with your family, or individually. All are welcome!
The upcoming Kirchentag in Hanover, scheduled from April 30th to May 4th, 2025, promises to be an enriching experience for all participants. The Kirchentag, a biennial event, is a vibrant gathering of individuals from diverse backgrounds, engaging in profound discussions, critical debates, and fostering meaningful connections. With over 1500 events packed within five days, it offers a platform for dialogue on pressing contemporary issues. The Kirchentag traditionally begins on a Wednesday with an Opening Service, followed by the Evening of Encounters - a colorful festival in the city center where churches from the region present themselves with music, cabaret and culinary delights.
From Thursday to the closing service on Sunday, there will be workshops, exhibitions, concerts, church services, Bible studies, celebratory communion services, keynote speeches, panel discussions and much more.
Hanover, the host city, boasts a rich history and dynamic cultural landscape. Situated in northern Germany, Hanover is known for its blend of tradition and modernity. Visitors to the Kirchentag will have the opportunity to explore the city's landmarks, immerse themselves in its arts and music scene, and savor the hearty local cuisine.
Dominating Hanover's skyline, the New Town Hall is a striking example of Neo-Renaissance architecture. Completed in 1913, this majestic building features a towering dome that offers panoramic views of the city from its observation platform. The Marktkirche, situated in the heart of Hanover's historic Old Town, is characterized by its distinctive red-brick facade and towering spire. Surrounded by lush greenery and dotted with charming bridges and pavilions, Maschsee and Maschteich offer residents and visitors alike a serene escape from the urban hustle and bustle of Hanover.
From historic architecture to lush green spaces, Hanover provides a picturesque backdrop for this celebration of faith, community, and dialogue. Join us in Hanover for an unforgettable Kirchentag experience!
General information
Visa
General information on how to get a visa in Germany.
Please note that the Kirchentag is not able to offer regular visitors any assistance with acquiring visas for this Kirchentag, but we can provide an official confirmation of your registration for the event. Those who wish to attend the Kirchentag as regular visitors are kindly asked to secure their visas independently.
We will share more general information on the process of getting a visa to Germany on this page shortly.
App
The Kirchentag-App, together with the Mein Kirchentag-registration, offers a lot of handy features. You can store your ticket in the app and enter venues by showing a QR codes. Also, you can search the programme for topics, keywords and names that might interest you. Fave the events you want to attend to create your own schedule for the five Kirchentag days. Using GPS, you can see which events are taking place around you, and have the app navigate you to your destination. The app also allows to participate in digital surveys or ask questions in certain events, and sign up for events with limited capacity.
Travelling
Hanover serves as a major transportation hub, accessible via train, plane, and car. Detailed information regarding the most convenient travel routes will be provided by September 1st, 2024.
By train
Hanovers central station is a major transportation hub for the south of Germany and easily accessible by train. Check out possible train connections via www.bahn.com/en
By car
You can drive to Hanover by car via Autobahn A3, A6, A9 or A 73. The city also has a Park+Ride System set up. However, the Kirchentag strongly encourages its participants to use public transportation instead of cars.
Translation and interpretation
English booklet
The Kirchentag programme book provides details for more than 1500 events which are planned for the Kirchentag in Hanover. Details on all events can be found on the app and the Kirchentag website. For international visitors, we offer a compact English-language programme booklet that includes details of selected events, as well as practical tips to help you during your stay at the Kirchentag. This programme booklet will available for you to download in spring 2025.
Interpretation
Some speakers at the Kirchentag will speak in English and will be interpreted into German for all German-speaking participants. Other events will be interpreted into English. Events that are being interpreted are going to be marked with a special icon in the programme and on the app.
International welcome and information session
We want to offer our international guests a friendly welcome and provide them with all the information they need to make the most out of their stay in Hanover. The international welcome and information session will take place at a central location in Hanover, just after the opening service. During the session, you will learn all about the international accommodation and the international center, about the app and how to find events that might interest you, on interpretation and the English booklet, and much more. You will also have the chance to connect with other international guests, of find people from your country or who speak the same language. All participants from abroad will receive an invitation to this meeting in due time before the Kirchentag. We hope to see you there!
