How to Festival: How to Get the Most Out of 11 Days at Nürnberg Digital Festival

Published on June 18, 2026

Nürnberg Digital Festival is not your classic event with one stage and one fixed program. It is a festival: decentralized, lively, always buzzing, and incredibly diverse. Eleven days, dozens of venues, hundreds of events, and a community you will not find gathered in this form anywhere else.

And that is exactly why it pays to come prepared. Anyone who thinks things through a little beforehand will get more out of the experience — in the sessions, during the breaks in between, and in the spontaneous conversations after the final talk of the day. This guide gives you an idea of what smart festival planning can look like.

Decentralized Means: You Plan Your Own Experience

At Nürnberg Digital Festival, there is not just one location you can casually stroll through. Events take place all across the city — at companies, coworking spaces, universities, cultural institutions, and sometimes in places you may not have had on your radar before.

The festival thrives on turning the city itself into the stage. But that also means one thing: you cannot attend everything, and you need to actively choose which events will make up your personal program.

Take your time browsing the program at nuernberg.digital. Filter by topic track, format, date, or target audience. Then put together your own personal timetable.

Your Timetable: Better to Filter More Than to Overbook

Eleven days of festival sounds like a lot — and it is. Anyone who attends five events a day definitely belongs to the hardcore festival crowd. We love that, of course, but not everyone has that kind of energy. And that is totally fine. The festival is not a sprint; it is a marathon.

Our tip: Decide exactly which topics and formats will be most valuable for you.

Are you mainly coming to grow your network? Then prioritize evening events and open formats with plenty of networking opportunities.

Are you mainly looking for knowledge and fresh ideas? Then choose workshops and sessions that offer practical know-how. In the program, you can filter by prior knowledge level, for example by selecting Advanced or Experts.

There are two dates you should definitely add to your timetable — no ifs, ands, or buts:

NUEDIGITAL Opening: The kickoff. This is where the community comes together before the festival really gets going. Perfect for arriving, reconnecting, and making your first new contacts.
NUEDIGITAL Closing: The finale. Anyone who attends the Closing can wind down together after several packed days, look back on the experience, and let the encounters from the past eleven days come to a relaxed close.

How to Start Conversations — Networking the Right Way

Especially if you are experiencing the festival for the first time, it can be easy to find yourself in a room full of conversations without actually becoming part of one. When it comes to networking, the main rule is obvious: be yourself. But if you want a few practical tips, here they are.

Think about the goal you are bringing with you to the festival. Do you want to meet potential collaboration partners? Become more connected within a specific community? Meet someone whose work you have found interesting for a long time? When you know what you are looking for, you will find it faster.

Prepare a few opening lines. Not like a script, of course — just something for that moment when you realize you want to talk to someone but do not quite know how to start. A specific hook almost always works:
“I saw your talk earlier — one thing I’d still love to know is...”
Or simply:
“This is my first time here. How many times have you been to NUEDIGITAL?”

Approach people. That may sound obvious, but it is the key step. At NUEDIGITAL, networking is actively encouraged. Be brave — the community is open, everyone is happy to make new connections, and many people also arrive without a fixed group.

Practical Tips: QR Code, Punctuality, and Staying Up to Date

Your QR Code for Check-In

You will need your personal QR code to check in on site. You can find it in your profile on the website. It serves as your ticket and will be scanned at the entrance. It is best to check where it is before your first event so everything goes smoothly when you arrive.

Arrive on Time
Events generally start on time. Especially with smaller formats — workshops, discussion rounds, hands-on sessions — arriving late can be disruptive and, in some cases, may mean you can no longer join. Build in extra time for travel and finding your way around the venue, especially if it is your first time at a location.

Stay Up to Date
Of course, changes can always happen: events may be moved, added, or adjusted at short notice. If anything changes for an event you have registered for, you will be notified by email at the address saved in your profile. So check your inbox regularly.

It is also worth following our social media channels. That is where we share current updates, last-minute additions, and impressions from ongoing events. If you follow along, you will also get a sense of what is happening at other locations and can spontaneously decide whether to adjust your evening plans.

Now You’re Part of It

Nürnberg Digital Festival works best when you go in with this mindset: have a clear plan, but also bring plenty of excitement, curiosity, and festival spirit.

Put together your timetable, make sure to add the Opening and Closing, think about who you want to talk to and why — and then enjoy the festival.

Your QR code is in your profile, your notifications will come by email, and for everything else, you can find us on social media: Instagram / LinkedIn.

See you at NUEDIGITAL 2026!

Program overview: nuernberg.digital/programm

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my personal festival program?

On the festival website, nuernberg.digital, you can filter the program by topics, formats, and days. If you have an account and register for events, they will appear in your personal profile as your timetable.

Where can I find my QR code for check-in?
You can find your QR code in your user profile on nuernberg.digital. It will be scanned at the entrance on site.

What happens if an event changes at short notice?

You will automatically receive an email at the address saved in your profile. Current updates will also be shared on the Nürnberg Digital Festival social media channels.

Which events should I definitely not miss at Nürnberg Digital Festival?

The NUEDIGITAL Opening and NUEDIGITAL Closing are the two events where the community comes together in the most concentrated way — ideal for networking, getting started, and wrapping up the festival.

Do I need to register for every festival event?

Yes. As a general rule, you should register in advance for all events you want to attend. However, there are often still spontaneous spots available, either for on-site registration or online registration. So make sure to check the program regularly.