Logo Goethe-Institut

Sprache. Kultur. Deutschland.

Communicating with the world.  
For diversity, understanding and trust.  

A dancing woman in a black dress holds a wavy mirror over her body with both hands.

Rym Hayouni © Arthur Tainturier Rym Hayouni © Arthur Tainturier

151

branches of the Goethe-Institut are active in 98 countries around the world. 

12

of the institutes are in Germany.

1952

the first Goethe-Institut opened in Athens.

4,396

employees are at work worldwide.

Learn German

Learn German with success in more than 90 countries on-site at your Goethe-Institut or online.

or

Practise German for free

Our focal points 2025

Resilient democracy: protection programs and exile networks in Germany

In the 21st century, Germany has become a country of exile. Protection programs like the Martin Roth Initiative and platforms such as Goethe-Institut in Exile make an important contribution to this development, which is also about the resilience of democracy.
 

Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds Foto: © Victoria Tomaschko

Artists in exile: Between loss and hope

The exhibition “Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds” at the ifa Gallery in Berlin showcases works by around 50 artists who have found refuge in Germany with the help of the Martin Roth Initiative.
 

Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds Foto: © Victoria Tomaschko

Between Roots and Wings: An interview about the In-Between

What remains when home becomes just a memory? “Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds” is an exploration of exile, identity, and new beginnings. Co-curator Anna Karpenko talks about the making of the exhibition, her personal journey, and the accompanying performance festival. 

Once We Were Trees, Now We Are Birds Foto: © Mikas Tomaschko

Resilience and Culture

The Goethe-Institut positions itself in a new world order – an article by Secretary General Johannes Ebert in "Politik und Kultur", the newspaper of the German Cultural Council.

Read more

German Language

Quick access

in the background, a brick building and a bicycle, which leans against a railing, are blurred; in the foreground two men whose faces are shown with dark hair and beards, to the right in front of the men a woman with blonde dutt, whose face you can not see, she wears a blue sports jacket and black handle bag, where green water bottle looks out © Goethe-Institut/ Sonja Tobias

Coming to Germany for qualification

18-year-old Alberto Gámez from Venezuela is at the start of his working life but already knows that he wants his career to take him to Germany. He told us what he likes about the working world in Germany and how the programme “Dual education mobility South America” (DAMOS) supported him on his journey to Germany.

Photo of Alberto Gámez standing in front of a green landscape © Alberto Gámez

That's a class

More and more people in Sub-Saharan Africa want to learn German with African-European textbooks which are not full of cliches and are up to date from a methodology and didactic point of view. “Und jetzt WIR” makes that possible.

Cover and illustrations of the textbook "Und jetzt wir" © Hueber Verlag

Culture

Quick access

Exterior view of Villa Kamogawa in Kyoto. © Noriko Sawai/Goethe-Institut

Ecological Futures

Ecological Futures deals with the ecological and social challenges posed by climate change and social developments. It brings together actors from urban practice, art and culture and neighborhood residents to tackle concrete problems and concrete opportunities in their neighborhoods.

Canemorto, Combo with Ema Jons © Gian Andrea Montanino

Goethe-Institut in Exile

The Goethe-Institut in Exile, based in Berlin Mitte, creates a diverse cultural program together with displaced, exiled, and migrated artists. Intended as a space for exchange, critical discourse, and a stage for at-risk cultural practitioners, it addresses the needs of artists from countries where the Goethe-Institut was forced to close.
 

Network

The Goethe-Institut is represented by 151 institutes in 98 countries around the world. In 1952 the first Goethe-Institut opened in Athens.

Network

World Map with locations of Goethe-Institut

Career

We will show you what we stand for as an employer and as a globally active cultural institute and what we offer you. Get to know us! We are the Goethe-Institut.

Karriere © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Follow us