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From 12 to 20 August, the event will explore mobility, new beginnings, travel and cultural movements in the United States from Route 66 to road movies, colonization of the American West, music, wine and American culinary culture.
The following text has been machine translated from the German with no human editing.
America Week 2026 invites you to discover the USA as a land of movement, encounters and diverse stories. With its blend of academia, history, music, film, cuisine and enjoyment, it offers a wide range of insights into American culture. The programme was compiled by DAI Programme Director Dr Martin Kopf-Giammanco and Professor Astrid M. Fellner, Head of American Studies at Saarland University and Director of DAI Saarland.
The series kicks off on 12 August at 6 pm with an online lecture by Professor Astrid M. Fellner marking the centenary of the famous Route 66. Entitled ‘100 Years of Route 66 – History, Myth and Cultural Heritage of the “Mother Road”’, she traces the development of the legendary highway and highlights its significance as a symbol of freedom, mobility and the American Dream.
On 13 August at 6 pm, Bärbel Schlimbach (American Studies, Saarland University) will focus on the great road movies of American cinema. Her lecture shows how films such as ‘Easy Rider’, ‘Thelma & Louise’ and ‘Nomadland’ portray the road as a place of self-discovery and social reflection.
A highlight of the week is the chamber music evening ‘American Routes’ on 14 August at 6 pm in the music hall of Saarland University. Members of the Greater Region Chamber Orchestra will perform works by prominent American composers such as William Grant Still, Amy Beach, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber and George Gershwin. The concert evening combines musical diversity with the themes of movement and cultural encounter (admission free, registration requested).
Dr Heribert Leonardi will offer historical perspectives on 17 August at 6 pm with his lecture ‘Go West, Young Man!’, which traces the footsteps of settlers heading west in the 19th century whilst also addressing the consequences of this expansion for the indigenous population.
On 18 August at 7.30 pm, an exclusive wine seminar will be held with Frank Roeder, one of the few Masters of Wine in Germany. Participants will have the opportunity to sample twelve selected wines from various American wine-growing regions and discover the dynamism of modern US viticulture.
A first for Saarbrücken awaits visitors on 19 August from 6 pm at the DAI’s first AmeriCooking workshop, entitled ‘Little Dinner on the Prairie’, those interested can prepare typical dishes from American frontier cuisine and classic specialities of US diner culture themselves. The workshop combines cuisine, cultural history and shared enjoyment, thereby building a bridge between America’s past and present.
Amerika Week will conclude on 20 August at 6 pm with a lecture by Dr Lisa Johnson (lecturer in American Studies at Saarland University) on the historic Green Book and the experiences of Black travellers in the USA. Under the title ‘Navigating Exclusion: The Green Book and Black Mobility in the USA’, she sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of American mobility history and demonstrates how issues of freedom, safety and belonging were negotiated on the roads of the USA.
Practical information:
- 12–20 August 2026
- Most sessions will take place at the VHS Saarbrücken; the chamber concert will be held in the music hall of Saarland University (Building C5 1).
- Free events can be attended online or in person; registration is required for certain special events.
For exact event times and venues, as well as to register, please contact the Saarbrücken Regional Adult Education Centre at www.vhs-saarbruecken.de.
Further information:
Dr Martin Kopf-Giammanco
DAI Saarland and Department of English and American Studies
Email: m.kopf@dai-saarland.de
https://www.dai-saarland.de/