Universities of Halle, Jena and Leipzig at the Leipzig Book Fair

The Universities of Halle, Jena and Leipzig will once again be exhibiting together at the Leipzig Book Fair from 19 to 22 March 2026. At the Forum Unibund in Hall 2, Stand C301, the universities will offer a varied programme that focuses on the latest book publications by their researchers and lecturers. In a total of 21 panel discussions and lectures, academics will provide insights into the current state of their research and debate pressing social issues and challenges. In addition, the three universities will provide information about their study programmes and offer prospective students individual discussions.

Debate on current transformation processes

The Unibund Forum will open on Thursday, 19 March at 10.30 am with a discussion on the role of Central German universities in the debates surrounding current transformation processes. Rectors Claudia Becker from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Eva Inés Obergfell from Leipzig University as well as the Vice-President for University Community and Engagement at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Bärbel Kracke, will discuss this topic.

This year’s Unibund Forum programme will focus on joint research activities between the universities. At the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC), for example, researchers from all three institutions of higher education are working together on key issues relating to civil society engagement and will share insights into their research work at two book fair events.

On Friday, 19 March at 12 pm, Dr Holger Backhaus-Maul, Lina Hehl (both Martin Luther University and RISC), Oliver Decker and Hannah Hoffmann (both Leipzig University) will be discussing über organisiertes Engagement und zarte Ansätze einer Zivilgesellschaft in Sachsen« (Organized engagement and the delicate beginnings of a civil society in Saxony). Also on 19 March at 1 pm, Linda von Faber (University of Jena), Dr Jakob Hartl and Dr Nils Teichler (both RISC) will be talking to the audience about »Organized engagement and the delicate beginnings of a civil society in Saxony« (Crises, climate, cohesion-together towards a just future: insights into the connection between climate protection and social security)--an event in cooperation with the Climate Book Fair.

Theologian Dr Barbara Beyer will speak on gender, sexualities and forms of relationship in the New Testament in the lecture »In aller Vielfalt« (In all diversity) on Friday, 20 March at 1 pm.

On the following Saturday at 12 pm, visitors can learn exciting things about the power of touch in the lecture »Touch Me« by psychologist Prof. Ilona Croy.

Afterwards, at 1 pm, the historians Prof. Anja Laukötter and Prof. Kim Siebenhüner will discuss European practices of dominance in »Räumen und Zeiten des Kolonialen« (Spaces and Times of the Colonial).

Also on Saturday at 2 pm, biology education expert Dr Karl Porges will talk about the current state of research into Nazi eugenics crimes and their consequences. He will also present pedagogical ideas for teaching the topic.

At 4 pm, Prof. Ralf Koerrenz and Christoph Schröder will introduce the basic ideas of the two books »Semitismus - eine Theorie und Kultur« (Semitism-a theory and culture) and »Semitismus - eine Kultur der Praxis« (Semitism-a culture of practice) with a keynote speech on the topic of »Das Semitische als Grundlage der Europäischen Demokratie« (Semitism as the basis of European democracy).

Anyone interested in studying at one of the three universities will have the opportunity to ask individual questions and find out about study options at the book fair.

The entire programme of the Forum Unibund and the »Leipzig reads« events can be found here.