Generosity: A Utopia? Leuphana Invites You to the Fifth Utopia Conference
Utopia Conference, August 26–28
2026-08-20 Lüneburg, 20. August 2026. Übersehen wir die demokratische Möglichkeit der Großzügigkeit? Der Marshall-Plan und Nelson Mandelas Versöhnungspolitik zeigen, welche politische Kraft Großzügigkeit entfalten kann. In Zeiten autoritärer Versuchungen widmet die Leuphana Universität Lüneburg dem Entgegenkommen drei Tage: Zur fünften Utopie-Konferenz „Großzügigkeit, eine Utopie?" kommen vom 26. bis 28. August rund 1.000 Studierende und Bürger:innen aus der ganzen Republik nach Lüneburg. Erstmals führt ein Utopie-Quartett durch die Konferenz: die Transformationsforscherin Maja Göpel, die Philosophin Barbara Bleisch, der Filmkritiker Wolfgang M. Schmitt und der Soziologe Aladin El-Mafaalani.
To kick things off, writer Şeyda Kurt, together with Maja Göpel and Barbara Bleisch, explores the concept of generosity. AI pioneer Léa Steinacker examines the scope for an economy of abundance. The dance company Sasha Waltz & Guests gets the audience moving with “In C” and then invites attendees to a dance workshop on campus.
Conference chair Sven Prien-Ribcke: “Generosity is not a matter of good character, but of the leeway we allow one another. We ask how far this willingness to accommodate extends when the desire for hostility grows, both within and between societies.”
Just how far—that’s what the big debate on Thursday afternoon will explore. Writers Şeyda Kurt and Mithu Sanyal will speak with Maja Göpel and Aladin El-Mafaalani about how generous a society can be when hostilities arise. Sanyal, this year’s recipient of the Heinrich Mann Prize, will present her book “No: Against the Militarization of the Present” in September.
Guests include journalist Roger de Weck, sociologist Teresa Bücker, longtime digital policy advocate Anke Domscheit-Berg, writer Dietmar Dath, Afrofuturist David Zabel, and cabaret artist Max Uthoff. Hamburg’s Senator for Culture, Carsten Brosda, will discuss with Maja Göpel and Aladin El-Mafaalani what democracy needs next. University President Sascha Spoun will explore with Futurium Director Stefan Brandt what educational institutions can make possible.
In the workshops, conference participants will explore real-utopian ideas. Topics include financial policies that will stand the test of time for our grandchildren, digital commons, nature’s inherent rights, and a justice system that does not reduce perpetrators and victims to their worst acts. Mediator Daniela Hirt brings her own idea to the table: she already organizes discussion groups in prisons. A separate workshop explores the possibility of generous schools: “The Education of Education.”
On two evenings, the conference will open its doors specifically to Lüneburg and the Hamburg metropolitan region. On Wednesday, August 26, at 8 p.m. in the Libeskind Auditorium, economist Philippa Sigl-Glöckner, director of Dezernat Zukunft, and economist Patrick Kaczmarczyk will debate whether there really is a shortage of money. At the same time, journalist and filmmaker Reinhard Kahl will bring together three school principals who are already experimenting with a different kind of school: Stefan Ruppaner from the Alemannenschule in Wutöschingen, Bianca Freudenberg-Rehage from the Norddörfer Schule on Sylt, and Björn Lengwenus from the Stadtteilschule Alter Teichweg in Hamburg.
On Thursday, August 27, starting at 6 p.m., the “Long Night of Utopias” will take place. Amid tent canopies, mobile stages, and campfires, the focus will be on the practice of goodwill: Where does generosity thrive? Alexandra Dorndorf, the police chief from Münster, will be there, as will inclusion activist Raúl Krauthausen, author Alice Hasters, neurodiversity researcher André Frank Zimpel, Hub founder Manouchehr Shamsrizi, and content creator Fabian Grischkat. Marlene Engelhorn is traveling from Vienna; she had a large portion of her inherited fortune distributed by a randomly selected citizens’ council. She’ll meet Uwe Heuser, the global economy correspondent for *Die Zeit*. Cornelia Funke, the creator of the Inkworld series, will join the Long Night live. Maren Kling & Band and G’emma will provide the music, and DJ Alma Linda will take the stage starting at 10 p.m.
Everyone interested is welcome—regardless of whether they’ve ever set foot on a university campus. The main conference is nearly sold out; a few “Utopia” tickets for all three days are still available. Both evenings remain easily accessible: Tickets for the kickoff on Wednesday evening and the “Long Night of Utopias” on Thursday are available in advance and at the box office: www.leuphana.de/utopie