Feb 11, 2026
Take a stand – now and every day: TUD and the City of Dresden call for participation in the human chain on February 13
Supporting the call for a human chain on February 13: Günter Starke, Iduna Böhning, TUD Rector Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Mayor Annekatrin Klepsch, Frauke Roth from the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, and Albrecht Nollau, Superintendent of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dresden (from left to right).
United for democracy: On February 9, 2026, Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TUD Dresden University of Technology and organizer of the “Menschenkette” (human chain), together with Mayor Annekatrin Klepsch, representing Dresden's Mayor Dirk Hilbert, announced the motto, program, and route of the 2026 human chain. Traditionally, the Rector of TUD calls for the human chain. This year, in accordance with the call by the TUD Rector, the human chain's motto is “Taking a stand together. Every day.”
The opening for the human chain will begin on February 13, 2026, at 5:00 pm in front of the Kulturpalast (Schloßstraße 2) in Dresden. It will start with a community sing-along, followed by speeches by the Rector, the mayor of the city of Dresden and Rachel Lancaster, Lord Mayor of the twin city of Coventry. The human chain will begin to form around 6:00 pm. Thousands will join hands, symbolically encircling the city in a spirit of unity and solidarity, accompanied by the ringing of bells from Dresden's churches.
Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TUD: “The human chain is a powerful symbol of our shared responsibility in the face of the crimes committed by the Nazi regime. It represents our commitment to an open society, solidarity and respectful coexistence in diversity. By joining hands, we are taking a stand and demonstrating that democracy depends on upholding its values and encouraging participation.”
Dirk Hilbert, Mayor: “Join the human chain on 13 February! Together, we can send a powerful message from Dresden in support of human rights, democracy, and remembrance. This day represents warning, remembrance and hope. We must never forget the victims of war and Nazi tyranny. At the same time, 13 February stands for reconciliation, as we stand hand in hand with guests from our twin city, Coventry, in the human chain.”
Frauke Roth, General Manager of the Dresden Philharmonic: “In our memorial concert, which is being conducted by our former principal conductor, Michael Sanderling, we are combining the contemporary historical work of the South African artist, William Kentridge, with Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10. Kentridge's film, 'Oh, to Believe in Another World', created to accompany this music, illustrates and reinforces Shostakovich's artistic struggle with the fatal consequences of intolerance, exclusion and repression. It is therefore related to the events of 13 February in Dresden. Before that, we once again invite you to join our Philharmonic Choirs in raising your voice against violence and intolerance, and in support of peace and reconciliation.”
Remembrance culture and accompanying events
The human chain is a strong symbol of the solidarity of the people of Dresden. On the one hand, it commemorates the destruction of the city and, on the other, it sends a strong signal of unity in defense of democracy. The human chain is part of an extensive annual program by the city of Dresden to promote a culture of remembrance.
Further informationen: www.dresden.de/1945