Under the motto "DER BALL. Wir feiern das KIT" (THE BALL. We celebrate KIT), a new social event will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the city of Karlsruhe and KIT, together with Messe Karlsruhe, the Badisches Staatstheater, the TechnologieRegion, the event agency u‑motions, and other supporters, have created DER BALL to provide the city and region with a new, appealing venue for encounters, movement, and new ideas . With a gala dinner, an opening performance by the Badisches Staatstheater, two large dance floors, professional dancers from "Let's Dance," variety acts, a silent disco, and much more, the evening at the Karlsruhe Congress Center will combine classical music and contemporary spirit. Advance ticket sales - with or without dinner - have begun. Trainees and students receive a discount.
"We are delighted to be establishing a new tradition in the heart of the city. Especially in challenging times, it is particularly important that we strengthen the sense of community in the city and in the Karlsruhe TechnologieRegion, that we stand together and look to the future with confidence," explains Frank Mentrup, Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe. "With DER BALL, the organizers and hosts are continuing Karlsruhe's glorious tradition of festive events and balls - in a modern guise, keeping up with the times and with the support of many partners. DER BALL is the social event of 2025 and, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary, its motto is 'We celebrate KIT.'"
KIT President Professor Jan S. Hesthaven says: "For 200 years, KIT and its predecessor institutions have shaped the city of Karlsruhe and the region as a place of study, training, and work for tens of thousands of people. This historic anniversary year is the perfect opportunity to bring companies, students, and researchers together again in a stylish atmosphere and celebrate the research strength of Karlsruhe and the TechnologyRegion."
"We are rolling out the red carpet and transforming the Schwarzwaldhalle and Gartenhalle into a dance palace," says Dr. Nikolaus Körner, organizer of DER BALL and managing director of the event agency u-motions GmbH. "We are turning Karlsruhe into the social hotspot of the region for one night."
The two halls will feature large dance floors with live bands. The Gartenhalle will feature a Latin American music program, while the Schwarzwaldhalle will entice them with classic ballroom dancing.
Advance ticket sales have started
Tickets are now available at https://derball.de/.
Prices range from 30 euros for day tickets for students and trainees to 245 euros for tables in premium locations with catering.
Program:
6:30 p.m. Doors open
7:30 p.m. Opening
12:00 a.m. Midnight show
In between, there will be dance rounds and a mix of interviews, variety acts, and professional dancing (choreography by S. & R. Luca).
from 12:30 a.m. DJ in the garden hall
3:00 a.m. End of the event
Welcoming Address DER BALL (in German)
Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
