Leandros says no to Weidel: Protests at the Regensburg Castle Festival!

Leandros says no to Weidel: Protests at the Regensburg Castle Festival!

Today, July 22, 2025, a controversial topic is heating up tempers in Regensburg. The well-known singer Vicky Leandros has issued a playful warning that she does not want to give AfD leader Alice Weidel a place in her audience during the Regensburg Castle Festival. Leandros, for many a symbol of diversity and tolerance, has made it clear that the invitation to Weidel is no longer acceptable. Loud regensburg digital Weidel was originally scheduled to be a guest of honor at Leandros' concert, which led to massive protests.

On Monday, up to 900 people gathered in front of St. Emmeram Castle to demonstrate against Weidel's visit. The police had already prepared in advance for the possible reception of thrills and excitement, but such excitement was not expected. In her statements, Leandros reminded that values ​​such as diversity and human rights are non-negotiable for her and that her music should not be misused as a political platform.

Demonstrations and cancellations

In an unprecedented step, Countess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, who organized the event, reacted and withdrew the invitation to Weidel. Leandros only found out about the invitation shortly before the performance, which visibly upset her. Despite protests from AfD MPs, the Countess did not allow herself to be intimidated and initially defended Weidel's presence, calling her an "attractive, eloquent woman". But eventually reports took over that Leandros didn't want Weidel to sit in her audience and gave an ultimatum to the organizer.

However, the Castle Festival, one of the largest open-air events in Germany, is not only met with praise and applause. Criticism of CSU politicians who allowed themselves to be photographed at the festival became loud, and Dr. Gabriele Griese-Heindl described the festival as worrying. It now remains unclear whether Weidel can continue to stay in the castle until the Italian singer Gianna Nannini performs.

Art and politics in dialogue

These events shed an interesting light on the relationship between art and politics. Art has always served as a platform to express political views. From ancient times to modern protest art, artists use diverse media to discuss issues such as equality and human rights. A quick look at the projects shows how historical contexts can influence artistic expression - from Picasso's "Guernica" to contemporary works that address themes such as racial justice and climate change artbooksheidelberg.

So it remains to be seen how the situation surrounding the Castle Festival will develop. The demonstrations show that society is more willing than ever to oppose political positions that do not align with its values. Leandros' clear stance should serve as a reminder to many that art and music should not be pushed into the background when it comes to such central issues as human rights and social justice.