Photography at the International Summer Festival at Kampnagel
Nan Goldin’s The Ballad of Sexual Dependency
From August 5 to 23, 2026, the International Summer Festival at Kampnagel presents three weeks of outstanding international productions spanning theatre, dance, music, theory and visual arts. With more than 50 works from around the world – including numerous world and German premieres – the festival takes over not only Kampnagel, but also various cultural venues across Hamburg.
A special highlight for photography enthusiasts is the presentation of Nan Goldin’s legendary slideshow The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. The work is considered one of the most significant milestones in the history of photography and will be presented in a specially designed cinema space at Kampnagel.
Featuring 694 35mm slides and a soundtrack ranging from Maria Callas to The Velvet Underground, Goldin offers an intimate insight into her personal circle since the late 1970s – from Boston to Berlin. Her images capture moments of love and friendship, loss and violence, excess and care, as well as the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. The approximately 45-minute projection remains one of the most powerful photographic experiences of our time and has shaped generations of artists.
Screening times
August 5–8
17:45 · 18:45 · 21:45 · 22:45
August 12–15
17:45 · 18:45 · 21:45 · 22:45
August 19–22
17:15 · 18:15 · 22:15 · 23:15
August 23
20:15 · 21:15 · 22:15 · 23:15