Weizenbaum Report 2026: Political Participation in Germany
15.06.2026The English edition of this year's Weizenbaum Report has been published, making the findings of one of Germany’s longest-running studies on political participation in the digital age accessible to an international audience.
Published annually, the Weizenbaum Report presents selected findings from the Weizenbaum Panel, a longitudinal study that has tracked political participation in Germany since 2019.
Based on a representative survey conducted in autumn 2025, the latest edition finds that social media and video platforms are becoming increasingly important sources of political information, while civic engagement is on the rise after declining during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, more citizens report encountering misinformation online, and a majority view violence and threats against politicians as a threat to democracy.
By making the report available in English, the Weizenbaum Institute seeks to contribute to international debates on democratic participation, political culture, and the societal impacts of digitalization. The publication offers researchers, policymakers, journalists, and civil society actors a data-driven perspective on how citizens navigate an increasingly digital political environment.
The English edition of the Weizenbaum Report 2026 is available for download here.