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Welcome

... to the Goethe-Institut Washington, the globally active cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany. We promote international cultural exchange, support the learning and teaching of the German language abroad, and create spaces for ideas, education, and social dialogue. Since opening our doors in 1990, our location in the District of Columbia has been a hub for transatlantic networking and open discourse.

Bird's eye perspective of the building that houses the Goethe-Institut in Washington, DC with a banner that says "35 years Goethe-Institut Washington" © Goethe-Institut

1990-2025: Goethe-Institut Washington

For 35 years now, the Goethe-Institut in Washington has been promoting intercultural exchange and offering a wide range of cultural events. These include conferences, lectures, discussions, film screenings, concerts of various genres, author readings, photo and art exhibitions as well as theater and dance productions. Over the years, numerous outstanding German and American artists, scientists and intellectuals have taken part in these events. As a key player in German-American cultural relations, the Goethe-Institut Washington plays a major role in promoting transatlantic dialog.

Bird's eye perspective of the building that houses the Goethe-Institut in Washington, DC with a banner that says "35 years Goethe-Institut Washington" @ Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Online Magazine "Gegenüber"

Gegenüber connects perspectives from across (German: gegenüber) the Atlantic, in Germany and North America. Our editorial team and contributors from Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Germany, and the United States offer balanced perspectives with multimedia pieces on societal issues, art, business, and science. Gegenüber tackles transatlantic topics, regional quirks, and common denominators, offering a political interpretation of culture and a cultural interpretation of politics.

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Goethe-Institut USA

your hub for learning German online

Learn German Online - Kick Off 2026

January group courses are live – perfect for anyone kicking off their German language journey or leveling up for their next chapter in 2026.

Get ready for

Next start:

January 12, 2026

Trial Classes © Goethe-Institut

The Goethe-Institut USA is Germany's offical cultural center with convenient and effective online German courses and internationally recognized language certificates.

As the international market leader for German courses, we bring you unparalleled expertise and a commitment to delivering top-notch language education.

  • online group, individual and business courses for all levels
  • professional and highly trained instructors
  • state-of-the-art, interactive, and fun teaching methods

All courses

All Exams

eLibrary

The eLibrary 'Onleihe' is the virtual library of the Goethe-Institut. This free service allows you to borrow digital media, such as ebooks, audio and video files, and electronic newspapers and magazines.
 

A woman listens to digital media from the Onleihe service and runs past people waiting at the bus stop in the rain. Illustration: Maria Tran Larsen © Goethe-Institut Illustration: Maria Tran Larsen © Goethe-Institut

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date about cultural events, language courses, and events for teachers.

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Visit Us Goethe-Institut Washington

Address

1377 R St. NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20009
USA

Contact

Phone

+1 202 847 4700

Email

info-washington@goethe.de

Opening Hours

Mon-Thur: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri: available online (closed to the public)
Registration: germancourses-usa@goethe.de

Our staff

Goethe-Institut Washington Event Space © Goethe-Institut Washington

Closed for the Holidays

The Goethe-Institut Washington is closed to the public through January 9, 2026. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Contact and opening hours

  • Career

    The world is your oyster! Our work culture is defined by diversity, curiosity, and open-mindedness. Want to join the team? Click here to view our current job openings.

  • Sponsors

    Want to support our work? Become a member of the Friends of the Goethe-Institut (FoGI) to promote our mission and make our projects more visible in the community. Let’s be friends!

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