Kunstfest Weimar was founded in 1990 as one of the first joint cultural initiatives in reunified Germany. In its early years, the festival was dedicated to figures such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Liszt. Proceeds from the early editions were used to support the restoration of Weimar’s cultural monuments.

The festival was initially directed by Kari Kahl-Wolfsjäger (1990–1992), followed by Johannes Gross (from 1992). From 1993 to 2001, it was organised by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar under the leadership of Bernd Kauffmann, including during Weimar’s year as European Capital of Culture in 1999. In 2002, the festival was directed by Ralf Schlüter, followed by Hellmut Seeman in 2003. From 2004 to 2013, Nike Wagner led the festival under the title pèlerinages. During this period, it was primarily conceived as a music festival, shaped by elements of music theatre, visual art and dance. Since 2014, Kunstfest Weimar has operated as an independent division of the Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle Weimar. Under the artistic direction of Christian Holtzhauer (2014–2018), the festival broadened its focus to include theatre, dance, performance and interdisciplinary works, including projects in public space. Rolf C. Hemke directed the festival from 2019 to 2025, guiding Kunstfest Weimar with resilience and determination through the challenges of the pandemic. Alongside a continued emphasis on world and German premieres, collaborations with local and regional cultural institutions across disciplines have since become a defining feature of the programme.

Since autumn 2025, Katharina Germo and Juliane Hahn have served as artistic directors of Kunstfest Weimar. Their first edition of the festival will take place from 21 August to 6 September 2026.