On 30 April 2026, the Ostfalia Campus Wolfenbüttel will be transformed into a festival site: at Campus Day 2026, the doors will open from 3 p.m. for everyone who is interested in science, music and community. The programme is packed full: Info mile, open labs, campus rally, hands-on activities, cocktails, food trucks, Ostfalia choir, DJ sets, live music, children's programme - everyone is guaranteed to find something to keep them entertained.
However, the history of Campus Day begins with a gap. "There used to be similar formats," says Alexa Knieriem, one of the organisers, "but unfortunately they disappeared from the scene due to coronavirus." What remained was the idea and the desire to rethink it. it became a new beginning in 2024. "The campus day in this format has been around since 2024," Alexa recalls, "but it was only a test pilot at first." She developed the concept together with her colleague at the time. Many things were open, many things were improvised - and yet they were quickly able to agree on a central question: What should a campus actually feel like?
From the Ostfalia car park to the heart of the university
The answer to this question can be seen today as visitors stroll between courtyards, meadows and seminar rooms. Because the location has changed. "The old formats used to be in the large car park," says Alexa, "with a stage and stands." Today, the car park is back to what it should be, a car park used by guests coming from neighbouring towns. Instead, the event was deliberately relocated - into the heart of the university. "We wanted visitors to be able to really experience the campus and go into the seminar rooms and laboratories." It is a change of perspective that is more than just logistical. It changes how the university presents itself: not as a stage, but as a walk-in space.
Many people come on a day like this. "Around 1,500 guests," estimates Denise Rosenthal, who is also responsible for event management at Ostfala. "It's hard to say, though, because everything is spread out over the day." At first, it tends to be families, school classes and prospective students. "It starts with the university programme," says Denise, "lots of schoolchildren and families come." Later, the mood shifts. "Towards the evening, the groups change and more students come when the supporting programme starts." The fact that there are no clearly separate worlds seems almost programmatic. "It's actually quite mixed," says Denise. "Those who stay by chance discover new things - or simply stay longer than planned."
The campus day: variety, excitement and community
The fact that this balancing act works is no coincidence, but the result of many discussions. "When the 2024 concept was newly developed, we were also in dialogue with the Executive Board," explains Alexa. The question: Who do we want to reach? The answer was deliberately broad. "It shouldn't just be a classic information day, but also something where employees can come together and students have a reason to celebrate." This resulted in a format with several levels: Advice and insights for interested parties, encounters for the region, community for the university. Or, in three words, as the organising team put it themselves: "varied, exciting, community".
There is a lot of work behind this lightness. "We started at the end of October," says Denise, meaning months before the actual date. Emails go out, programme items are collected, rooms are planned. "The supporting programme is more our baby, but the university programme, the whole university is involved. And without the AStA and the building services, the whole thing would not be possible."
On the day of the event itself, there is hardly any time to take a deep breath. "We are very busy." Food? "Only after 8 pm." A sense of calm sets in late. "Very late," say Alexa and Denise and laugh. Perhaps only when everything is going well - or is already over. And yet this very moment is the reason why they are doing it again. "That euphoric feeling," says Denise, "when you see: Everyone is having fun. It's just great!"