re:publica Hamburg x Reeperbahn Festival 2025

This year, re:publica is presenting a programme as part of the Reeperbahn Festival for the third time. On 18 and 19 September, from 10:00 to 17:00 each day, you can look forward to talks, discussions, live podcasts and meetups on topics ranging from technological development to digital policy and digital culture.

Speakers will discuss how digital innovations are changing the way we create and consume pop culture, entertainment and media. They will address the connection between politics and big tech and take a look at deepfakes. And, of course, the Reeperbahn Festival would not be complete without a look at the interplay between technology and music and the future of music production.

We are looking forward to author and moderator Anna Dushime, who will be publishing her book “1000 letzte Dates” (1000 last dates) in September. Her conversation with actor and comedian Xhem on the re:publica Hamburg x Reeperbahn Festival stage will also focus on love, dating and the question of what a happy ending looks like for everyone.

Journalist, author and doctor Gilda Sahebi talks to inequality expert Martyna Linartas about what we as a society can do to counteract divisive politics. The discussion will be moderated by author and activist Kübra Gümüşay.

Markus Beckedahl, the co-founder and curatorial director of re:publica, will focus on “Tech Bros” and their quest for power. With that, he simultaneously questions our dependence on their platforms. In his talk, he will show how Big Tech could be regulated and explain which alternatives we can use.

Tech journalist and futurist Janosch Delcker will show how research institutions and technology companies are combining artificial intelligence with neurotechnology and take a look at the future of mind-reading AI.

The programme also includes:

• Yasmine M’Barek and Markus Feldenkirchen with a live podcast of ‘Apokalypse & Filterkaffee’
• Performance artist Cesy Leonard will give a keynote speech entitled ‘Against Indifference’
• Journalist Khesrau Behroz reports exclusively on the research for his podcast ‘Legion’
• Artist Tony Njoku presents his new album and talks to FAYIM about what changes in the music industry mean for Black artists in particular
• Author and cultural scientist Annekathrin Kohout discusses how the power of interpretation is being fought over on social media
• Digital sexuality expert Madita Oeming, HateAid CEO Josephine Ballon and investigative journalist Patrizia Schlosser talk about deepfakes and who controls our digital bodies
• Chaos Computer Club spokesperson Elina ‘khaleesi’ Eickstädt discusses with political scientist Julia Reuschenbach how we can save digital dialogue
• This year's re:publica Hamburg x Reeperbahn Festival will conclude with the presentation of the International Music Journalism Award. Hosted by Aida Baghernejad and Christoph Lindemann, the award recognises outstanding individual work, bold new formats and journalists who set standards with their work.

All further information about re:publica Hamburg x Reeperbahn Festival can be found here.

For the stage programme of re:publica Hamburg on September 18 and 19, you need a ticket for the Reeperbahn Festival. Tickets can be found here. The sessions at Glanz & Gloria on Friday are freely accessible.

re:publica Hamburg x Reeperbahn Festival is sponsored by Ministry of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.