Editing Hanover (section)

==Society and culture==
===Religious life===
Hanover is headquarters for several [[Protestant]] organizations, including the [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]], the [[Protestant Church in Germany]], the [[Reformed Alliance]], the [[United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany]], and the [[Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church]].

In 2015, 31.1% of the population were [[Protestant]] and 13.4% were [[Roman Catholic]]. The majority 55.5% were [[irreligious]] or other religion.<ref>[http://www.hannover.de/Leben-in-der-Region-Hannover/Politik/Wahlen-Statistik/Statistikstellen-von-Stadt-und-Region/Statistikstelle-der-Landeshauptstadt-Hannover/Hannover-in-Zahlen/Einwohner Hannover in Zahlen: Einwohner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124053/https://www.hannover.de/Leben-in-der-Region-Hannover/Politik/Wahlen-Statistik/Statistikstellen-von-Stadt-und-Region/Statistikstelle-der-Landeshauptstadt-Hannover/Hannover-in-Zahlen/Einwohner |date=2018-02-04 }}, ''hannover.de'', retrieved 6 February 2017.</ref>

===Museums and galleries===
[[File:Luftbild Hannover Rathaus.JPG|thumb|right|Hanover from the sky]]
The [[Historisches Museum Hannover|Historisches Museum Hanover]] (Historic museum) describes the history of Hanover, from the medieval settlement "Honovere" to the city of today. The museum focuses on the period from 1714 to 1834 when Hanover had a strong relationship with the British royal family of that period.

With more than 4,000 members, the [[Kestnergesellschaft]] is the largest art society in Germany. The museum hosts exhibitions from classical modernist art to contemporary art. Emphasis is placed on film, video, contemporary music and architecture, room installments and presentations of contemporary paintings, sculptures and video art.

The [[Kestner-Museum]] is located in the ''House of 5,000 windows''. The museum is named after [[August Kestner]] and exhibits 6,000 years of applied art in four areas: Ancient cultures, ancient Egypt, applied art and a valuable collection of historic coins.

The KUBUS is a forum for contemporary art. It features mostly exhibitions and projects of artists from Hanover.

The Kunstverein Hannover (Art Society Hanover) shows contemporary art and was established in 1832 as one of the first art societies in Germany. It is located in the ''Künstlerhaus'' (House of artists). There are around seven international exhibitions each year.

The [[Landesmuseum Hannover|Landesmuseum Hanover]] is the largest museum in Hanover. The art gallery shows European art from the 11th to the 20th century, the nature department shows the zoology, geology, botanic, geology and a ''vivarium'' with fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians. The primeval department shows the primeval history of Lower Saxony, and the folklore department shows cultures from all over the world.

The [[Sprengel Museum]] shows the art of the 20th century. It is one of the most notable art museums in Germany. The focus is put on the classical modernist art with the collection of ''Kurt Schwitters'', works of German expressionism, and French cubism, the cabinet of abstracts, the graphics and the department of photography and media. Furthermore, the museum shows the works of the French artist Niki de Saint-Phalle.

The Theatre Museum shows an exhibition of the history of the theatre in Hanover from the 17th century up to now: opera, concert, drama and ballet. The museum also hosts several touring exhibitions during the year.

The [[Wilhelm Busch Museum]] is the ''German Museum of Caricature and Critical Graphic Arts''. The collection of the works of Wilhelm Busch and the extensive collection of cartoons and critical graphics is unique in Germany. Furthermore, the museum hosts several exhibitions of national and international artists during the year.

A cabinet of coins is the Münzkabinett der TUI-AG. The ''Polizeigeschichtliche Sammlung Niedersachsen'' is the largest police museum in Germany. Textiles from all over the world can be visited in the ''Museum for textile art''. The ''EXPOseeum'' is the museum of the world-exhibition "EXPO 2000 Hanover". Carpets and objects from the orient can be visited in the ''Oriental Carpet Museum''. The ''Museum for the visually impaired'' is a rarity in Germany, there is only one other of its kind in Berlin. The ''Museum of veterinary medicine'' is unique in Germany. The ''Museum for Energy History'' describes the 150 years old history of the application of energy. The ''Heimat-Museum Ahlem'' shows the history of the district of Ahlem. The ''Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Ahlem'' describes the history of the Jewish people in Hanover and the ''Stiftung Ahlers Pro Arte / Kestner Pro Arte'' shows modern art. Modern art is also the main topic of the ''Kunsthalle Faust'', the ''Nord/LB Art Gallery'' and of the ''Foro Artistico / Eisfabrik''.

Some leading art events in Hanover are the ''Long Night of the Museums'' and the ''Zinnober Kunstvolkslauf'' which features all the galleries in Hanover.

People who are interested in astronomy should visit the ''Observatory Geschwister Herschel'' on the Lindener Mountain or the small planetarium inside of the Bismarck School.

===Theatre, cabaret and musical===
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2011}}
[[File:Hannover Opernhaus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Staatsoper Hannover|Hanover State Opera]] is resident in the classical 19th-century Hanover Opera House.]]
Around 40 theatres are located in Hanover. The ''Opera House'', the ''Schauspielhaus'' (Play House), the ''Ballhof eins'', the ''Ballhof zwei'' and the ''Cumberlandsche Galerie'' belong to the ''Lower Saxony State Theatre''. The [[Theater am Aegi]] is Hanover's principal theatre for musicals, shows and guest performances. The ''Neues Theater'' (New Theatre) is the boulevard theatre of Hanover. The ''Theater für Niedersachsen'' is another large theatre in Hanover, which also has an own musical company. Some of the most important musical productions are the rock musicals of the German rock musician Heinz Rudolph Kunze, which take place at the ''Garden-Theatre'' in the Great Garden.

Some important theatre events are the ''Tanztheater International'', the ''Long Night of the Theatres'', the ''Festival Theaterformen'' and the ''International Competition for Choreographers''.

Hanover's leading cabaret stage is the ''GOP Variety theatre'' which is located in the ''Georgs Palace''. Some other cabaret-stages are the ''Variety Marlene'', the ''Uhu-Theatre''. the theatre ''Die Hinterbühne'', the ''Rampenlich Variety'' and the revue-stage ''TAK''. The most important cabaret event is the ''Kleines Fest im Großen Garten'' (Little Festival in the Great Garden) which is the most successful cabaret festival in Germany. It features artists from around the world. Some other important events are the ''Calenberger Cabaret Weeks'', the ''Hanover Cabaret Festival'' and the ''Wintervariety''.

===Music===

====Classical music====
Hanover has two symphony orchestras: The Lower Saxon State Orchestra Hanover and the [[NDR Radiophilharmonie]] (North German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra). Two notable choirs have their homes in Hanover: the [[Mädchenchor Hannover|Mädchenchor Hanover]] (girls' choir) and the [[Knabenchor Hannover|Knabenchor Hanover]] (boys' choir).

There are two major international competitions for classical music in Hanover:
* Hanover International Violin Competition (since 1991)
* Classica Nova International Music Competition<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brainin.org/ClassicaNova/Englisch.html |title=Classica Nova Competition Cycle |publisher=Brainin.org |access-date=7 April 2011 |archive-date=25 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725100526/http://brainin.org/ClassicaNova/Englisch.html |url-status=live }}</ref> (since 1997); the non-profit association Classica Nova exists in Hanover with the aim of continuing the Classica Nova competition

====Popular music====
[[File:Scorpions (10).JPG|thumb|right|Hanover band, [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]]]]
The rock bands [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] and [[Fury in the Slaughterhouse]] are originally from Hanover. Acclaimed DJ [[Mousse T.|Mousse T]] also has his main recording studio in the area. [[Rick J. Jordan]], member of the band [[Scooter (band)|Scooter]] was born here in 1968. [[Lena Meyer-Landrut|Lena]], winner of the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2010|2010 Eurovision Song Contest]], is also from Hanover.

===Sport===
[[Hannover 96|Hanover 96]] (nicknamed {{lang|de|Die Roten}}, literally 'the Reds') is the top local [[Association football|football]] team that currently plays in the [[2. Bundesliga]]. Home games are played at the [[Niedersachsenstadion]] (''Lower Saxony Stadium''), which hosted matches in the [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] and [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]] [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]] and the [[UEFA Euro 1988|Euro 1988]]. Their reserve team Hanover 96 II plays in the 3rd division of German Football. Their home games were played in the traditional [[Eilenriedestadion]] until they moved to the HDI Arena due to DFL directives. [[Arminia Hannover|Arminia Hanover]] is another traditional football team in Hanover that has played in the second division (then 2. Liga Nord) for years and plays now in the Niedersachsen-West Liga (Lower Saxony League West). Home matches are played in the Rudolf-Kalweit-Stadium.

The [[Hannover Indians|Hanover Indians]] are the local ice hockey team. They play in the third tier. Their home games are played at the traditional [[Eisstadion am Pferdeturm]]. The [[Hannover Scorpions|Hanover Scorpions]] played in Hanover in Germany's top league until 2013 when they sold their license and moved to [[Langenhagen]].

Hanover was one of the [[rugby union]] capitals in Germany. The first German rugby team was founded in Hanover in 1878. Hanover-based teams dominated the German rugby scene for a long time. [[DSV 78 Hannover|DSV 78 Hanover]], [[SC Germania List]], and [[SV Odin Hannover|SV Odin Hanover]]  plays in the [[Rugby-Bundesliga|first division]], and [[DRC Hannover|DRC Hanover]] as well as SG 78/08 Hanover play in the second division.

Hanover has traditionally been one of Germany's hubs in [[Water sports]] and especially in [[Water polo]]. The [[SG Waspo'98 Hannover|SG Waspo'98 Hanover]] won the [[Deutsche Wasserball-Liga]] in 2020 and 2021. In total, clubs from Hanover have won the German championship 11 times. Thanks to the [[Maschsee|Maschsee lake]], the rivers Ihme and Leine and to the Mittellandkanal canal, Hanover hosts sailing schools, yacht schools, waterski clubs, rowing clubs, canoe clubs and paddle clubs.

The first German [[fencing]] club was founded in Hanover in 1862. Today there are three additional fencing clubs in Hanover.

The [[Hannover Korbjäger|Hanover Korbjäger]] are the city's top basketball team. They play their home games at the IGS Linden.

The Hanover Regents play in the third [[Bundesliga (baseball)]] division. The Hanover Grizzlies, Armina Spartans and Hanover Stampeders are the local American football teams.

The Hanover [[Marathon]] is the biggest running event in Hanover with more than 11,000 participants and usually around 200,000 spectators. Some other important running events are the Gilde Stadtstaffel (a relay event), the Sport-Check Nachtlauf (a night running event), the "Herrenhäuser Team-Challenge", the "Hannoversche Firmenlauf" (a company running event) and the Silvesterlauf (New Year's running event).

Hanover also hosts an important international [[cycle race]], the "''Nacht von Hannover"'' ("Night of Hanover"). The race takes place around the market hall.

The lake Maschsee hosts international [[Dragon Boat|dragon boat]] races and [[Canoe Polo|canoe olo]] tournaments. Many [[regatta]]s take place during the year. "Head of the river Leine" on the river Leine is one of the biggest rowing regattas in Hanover. One of Germany's most successful dragon boat teams, the [[All Sports Team Hannover|All Sports Team Hanover]], which has won since its foundation in year 2000 more than 100 medals on national and international competitions, regularly trains on the local Maschsee lake.<ref>[http://www.balldessports.de/sportler-wahl.html ''Voting for Athletes on the Year 2013 in Lower Saxony''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121202940/http://www.balldessports.de/sportler-wahl.html |date=21 November 2009 }}</ref>

Some other important sport events include the Lower Saxony beach [[volleyball]] tournament, the international [[horse show]] "German Classics" and the international [[ice hockey]] tournament Nations Cup.

===Regular events===
[[File:CeBit 2008 01.jpg|thumb|right|[[CeBIT]] 2008 conference centre in Hanover]]
Hanover is one of the leading exhibition cities in the world. It hosts more than 60 international and national exhibitions every year. The most popular ones are the ''[[CeBIT]]'', the ''Hanover Fair'', the ''Domotex'', the ''Ligna'', the ''IAA Nutzfahrzeuge'' and the ''Agritechnica''. Hanover also hosts a huge number of congresses and symposiums like the ''International Symposium on Society and Resource Management.''<ref>{{cite web|title=ISSRM 2014 Hannover|url=http://eventegg.com/issrm-2014/|publisher=Eventegg|access-date=7 January 2014|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107143833/http://eventegg.com/issrm-2014/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hanover is also host to the ''Schützenfest Hannover,'' the largest marksmen's fun fair in the world which takes place once a year from late June to early July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hannover.de/|title=HANNOVER.DE − Portal der Landeshauptstadt und der Region Hannover|website=www.hannover.de|access-date=2001-05-17|archive-date=2006-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004030643/http://www.hannover.de/|url-status=live}}</ref> Founded in 1529, it consists of more than 260 rides and inns, five large beer tents and a large entertainment programme. The highlight of this fun fair is the {{convert|12|km|mi|0|adj=mid|-long}} ''Parade of the Marksmen'' with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world, including around 5,000 marksmen, 128 bands, and more than 70 wagons, carriages, and other festival vehicles. This makes it the longest procession in Europe. Around 2 million people visit this fun fair every year. The landmark of this event is one of the largest transportable [[Ferris wheel]]s in the world, with a height of about {{convert|60|m|ft|0}}.

Hanover also hosts one of the two largest spring festivals in Europe, with around 180 rides and inns, 2 large beer tents, and around 1.5 million visitors each year. The [[Oktoberfest Hannover|Oktoberfest Hanover]] is the second largest Oktoberfest in the world with around 160 rides and inns, two large beer tents and around 1 million visitors each year.

The ''Maschsee Festival'' takes place around the [[Maschsee]] Lake. Each year around 2 million visitors come to enjoy live music, comedy, cabaret, and much more. It is the largest Volksfest of its kind in Northern Germany. The Great Garden hosts every year the ''International Fireworks Competition'', and the ''International Festival Weeks Herrenhausen,'' with music and cabaret performances. The ''Carnival Procession'' is around {{convert|3|km|mi|0}} long and consists of 3,000 participants, around 30 festival vehicles and around 20 bands and takes place every year.

Other festivals include the Festival ''Feuer und Flamme'' (Fire and Flames), the ''Gartenfestival'' (Garden Festival), the ''Herbstfestival'' (Autumn Festival), the ''Harley Days'', the ''Steintor Festival'' (Steintor is a party area in the city centre) and the ''Lister-Meile-Festival'' (Lister Meile is a large pedestrian area).

Hanover also hosts food-oriented festivals including the ''Wine Festival'' and the ''Gourmet Festival''. It also hosts some special markets like the ''Old Town Flea Market'' and the ''Market for Art and Trade''. Some other major markets include the ''Christmas Markets of the City of Hanover'' in the Old Town and city centre, and the Lister Meile.

===Tourism===
[[File:Hannover - Hauptbahnhof Eingangsportal 1.jpg|thumb|[[Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover|Ernst August]] memorial, central railway station]]
Hanover is an attractive tourist place due to its many sights and famous events. Hanover had about 580,000 visitors in 2021, predominantly from the [[Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. Famous sights in Hanover are [[New Town Hall (Hanover)|New Town Hall]], [[Herrenhausen Gardens]] and [[Hanover Zoo]], which is one of the largest zoos in Germany. 

The annual trade fair "[[Hannover Messe]]" usually attracts between 100,000 and 200,000 visitors. First held in 1947, it is dedicated to the topic of industry development and is one of the world's largest [[trade fairs]].