Newsletter October 2026

In collaboration with the Dar Sousa Cultural House, the Goethe-Institut is hosting a panel discussion on 2 October 2026 on the topic of water resources and water security in Iraq.

Under the title ‘Ask the River: Why is it falling ill?’, renowned experts will discuss the current challenges of water scarcity, environmental developments and possible solutions for the future of water resources in Iraq.

The event begins at 6.00 pm at the Dar Sousa Cultural Centre and offers an opportunity to exchange views on one of the key issues facing Iraq’s future: water and the sustainable safeguarding of the foundations of life.

With Open Decks, the Goethe-Institut, in collaboration with Exodus Community and the Framing Photojournalism School, invites music lovers to discover the world of DJing. In a relaxed atmosphere, participants can try out professional DJ equipment, explore different musical styles and chat with other music enthusiasts.

The next event will take place on 7 October 2026 from 8.00 pm to 11.00 pm at the Framing Photojournalism School in Erbil.

Admission is free; no registration is required.

NET – Build Culture Together is a joint initiative by the Goethe-Institut Irak, the Festival Academy, the Culture Factory, and the Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture (KCAC). The programme brings together emerging cultural practitioners from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq who want to develop their festival ideas and cultural projects while building connections with others working in the cultural sector.

Following an intensive training and development phase, the Excellence Project “NET – build culture together” is now entering its next phase: four festival projects have been selected and will receive support to bring their own festival ideas to life.

The first to kick off is the Baredan Festival, taking place in Koya on 10 and 11 October 2026. Under the theme “Reviving Koya’s Heritage Through Cultural Pockets,” five historic houses in Bayz Agha Alley will be transformed into vibrant cultural spaces for two days.

Each house will focus on a different aspect of Kurdish culture: visual arts, traditional music, weaving and handicrafts, literature, and culinary heritage. Workshops, exhibitions, discussions, and live performances will invite visitors to experience Koya’s cultural heritage in a variety of ways.

NET is a cultural program supported by the Excellence Fund of the Executive Board Initiative of the Goethe-Institut.

The Goethe-Institut is expanding its German language courses: new courses will start in Baghdad and Erbil on October 4, 2026.

Duration: 10 weeks | 5 days per week
550 USD for new customers | 500 USD for existing customers

The courses are aimed at anyone who wants to live, work or study in Germany. Participants benefit from qualified teachers, communicative and practical lessons, structured exam preparation and advice on living and working in Germany. Participants also receive a 50% discount on the examination fee.

Registration is now open.

The examinations in Baghdad will also continue. The following dates are scheduled for December 2026:

Goethe-Zertifikat B2: 14.12.2026
Goethe-Zertifikat B1: 15.12.2026
Goethe-Zertifikat A1: 16.12.2026

Registration will be open from the end of October. The offer is aimed at anyone who wants to prove their German language skills – whether for study, work or personal development.

Further information on courses, exams and registration can be found on our website.

From 21 to 31 October, the Goethe-Institut Irak will be taking part in the International Book Fair in Erbil, organised by the al-Mada publishing house. The book fair, which usually takes place every year in spring, has been postponed to autumn this year. As the book fair’s official cultural partner, the Goethe-Institut Irak is supporting the event with a varied programme.

As well as having a stand at the fair offering activities centred on the German language, the Goethe-Institut will be taking part with events on the main stage.

Details of the programme will be posted daily on its social media channels.

In August, twelve PASCH students from six PASCH schools in Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimaniyah took part in the Goethe-Institut’s youth courses in Germany. Seven young people attended the course in Benediktbeuern, whilst five others took part in Bamberg.

Despite last-minute challenges with travel arrangements due to the tense situation in the region, all participants were able to make the journey. For three weeks, the focus was on learning German, international encounters and cultural exchange. Through excursions, workshops and leisure activities, the young people had the opportunity to practise their language skills and get to know Germany.

A particular highlight was the ‘Evening of Nations’, during which the pupils presented Kurdistan through traditional dances, music and cultural performances. The young people also successfully passed their final German exams.

The participants returned to Kurdistan with many new friendships, valuable intercultural experiences and unforgettable memories.

At the same time, a teacher from the PASCH network took part in a professional development course in Schwäbisch Hall and gained new teaching ideas for the classroom.