HISTOFEST 2026: The (un)making of heroes

of all types

With the 2025 edition of the HISTOFEST. History on Full Blast festival we demonstrated that history can be done in a mall, while this year we are joining forces with the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) Luxembourg that will co-host two of the three festival days at the Europa Experience visitors centre and display the exhibition “The (un)making of heroes” for a month, i.e. from 7 October to 7 November 2026. The title of the exhibition reveals this year’s focus: HEROES, while our guests and partners line-up provides for an even more pronounced European perspective. What makes a hero? How has the notion evolved over time: who was regarded as a hero in the past and who is a hero today? Is there such a thing as enduring historical greatness or is heroism, after all, something beyond illustriousness and pedestals? Do we need (new) heroes in Europe today? If so, which ones and what for? We will look for answers to these and other questions from 7 to 9 October 2026 with the help of two exhibitions, hands-on activities, three film screenings (all Luxembourg premieres!), and a roundtable. Wednesday 07 October 2026 at Europa Experience Kirchberg: From 18.00 : -Welcome and vernissage of “The (un)making of heroes” exhibition: tour and conversation with Dr Simina Bădică (House of European History, Brussels) and Dr Dora Komnenović (C²DH). -Reception -Hands-on activity in the exhibition From 19.30: -Be Somebody (OV with English subtitles) and Spiritus Sanctus (OV with English & French subtitles). Films and talk with Michał Toczek (filmmaker, Warsaw) “The Polish Solidarity movement in a few objects”, display of items from the collection of the KARTA Center Foundation Warsaw Participation is free of charge, but registration is required, online (up to 24 hours before the event) or on-site (on the day of the event). Thursday, 8 October 2026 at Ciné Utopia From 18.30: -Doors open -Introduction -Berlin Hero (OV with English subtitles). Film by Wolfgang Becker Q&A with Dr Jacqueline Boysen (Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl Stiftung, Berlin) No registration required. Free tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Friday, 9 October 2026 at Europa Experience From 11.00 : “Do we need (new) heroes in Europe today?”. Roundtable with Charles Goerens (MEP, Renew Europe Group), Dr Constanze Itzel (Director of the House of European History, Brussels) and Jean-Claude Juncker (formerly PM of Luxembourg and President of the European Commission), moderated by Dr Jacqueline Boysen (Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl Stiftung, Berlin) -Reception -(Optional): exhibition tour and hands-on activity German with English interpretation Participation is free of charge, but registration is required, online (up to 24 hours before the event) or on-site (on the day of the event). The exhibition “The (un)making of heroes”, featuring works by Niels Ackermann, Mine Dal, Piotr Małecki, and Ria Pacquée, will be on display at the Europa Experience until November 7, 2026.