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Theatre and festivals
Drama, Music shows and concert series
Thuringia's theatre landscape is impressive and colourful - from modern multi-genre theatres to historic amateur theatres. It was the ‘theatre duke’ George II of Saxe-Meiningen who shaped the development of modern director's theatre. He is celerbating his 200th birthday in 2026. He sent his theatre company - called ‘Die Meininger’ - on tour throughout Europe. Here comes an overview of festivals and premieres in Thuringia.
Thuringian Bach Festival
At Thuringia's largest music festival specialising in Baroque music, the authentic places where Johann Sebastian Bach lived and worked provide the stage and setting for top-class concerts.
27 March - 19 April 2026
19 March - 04 April 2027
www.thueringer-bachwochen.de
Faust. The Tragedy, Parts One and Two
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, at the German National Theater in Weimar
Goethe's modern and contemporary production of Faust, “Faust. The Tragedy, Part One,” has been on the DNT's program since 2025. In the 2026/27 season, Faust. The Second Part of the Tragedy will also premiere in Weimar.
Dates for Faust. The First and Second Parts of the Tragedy on two consecutive evenings:
January 8 & 10, 2026, November 12 & 14, 2026, January 25 & 16, 2027, March 27 & 28, 2027, May 7 & 8, 2027
Dates for “Faust. Part One”: March 13, 2026, April 5, 2026, May 7, 2026, May 23, 2026, September 6, 2026, September 9, 2026, September 19, 2026, October 30, 2026, March 27, 2026
Dates for "Faust. The Tragedy, Part Two: October 3, 2027 (premiere), October 25, 2026, December 11, 2026, February 6, 2026, February 6, 2027, March 28, 2027, April 11, 2027
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Jekyll & Hide at the Meiningen State Theatre
Music by Frank Wildhorn, book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.
Conducted by: Christopher Važan, Noori Cho | Direction, choreography, lighting: Cusch Jung | Stage: Karin Fritz | Costumes: Sven Bindseil | Chorus: Roman David Rothenaicher | Dramaturgy: Matthias Heilmann | Meininger Hofkapelle
17 May 2026, Großes Haus
www.staatstheater-meiningen.de/produktionen/jekyll-hyde.html
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Brahms Festival in Meiningen and Altenstein
Johannes Brahms had a particularly close affinity with the Meiningen Court Orchestra, but also with Duke George II of Saxe-Meiningen and his wife, Helene Baroness of Heldburg. For this reason, a Brahms Festival is held every two years in Meiningen and Altenstein with concerts by the Meiningen Court Orchestra, the Thuringia Philharmonic Orchestra Gotha-Eisenach and other orchestras.
20 to 25 May 2026, Meiningen and Altenstein Park and Castle
https://meiningen.de
‘Courtly party’ stage ball at the Meiningen State Theatre
The Meiningen State Theatre opens its doors and invites you to an opulent stage ball! Celebrate with us in a splendidly decorated theatre full of music, dancing and surprises. In our anniversary year, we travel back to the time of theatre duke Georg II and celebrate a courtly festival between late Romanticism and the Belle Époque.
24 and 25 April 2026, Großes Haus
www.staatstheater-meiningen.de
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'Tannhäuser and the Singer´s War' at the Wartburg Castle
Romantic opera in three acts by Richard Wagner, semi-concert performance
Musical Director: GMD Killian Farrell | Director: Ansgar Haag | Meininger Hofkapelle
Wagner's ‘Tannhäuser’ at the legendary original location has attracted audiences from all over the world to Wartburg Castle for years. Where the legendary war of the singers was fought, you can immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of medieval myths.
1, 3, 7, and 16 May at the Wartburg Castle Eisenach
advance ticket sale: www.wartburg.de, phone +49 3691 250202
www.staatstheater-meiningen.de/produktionen/tannhaeuser-und-der-saengerkrieg-auf-wartburg.html
Thuringian CHORAL jewels
This choir festival will take place in the historic ambience of Thuringia's castles and residences. Over 40 choirs from all over Germany will let their voices ring out in grand halls and castle churches.
19 - 21 June 2026
Thüringer CHORSchätze
Classic Open Air with the Altenburg Gera Theatre on the Altenburg market square
The Classic Open Air Altenburg transforms Altenburg's historic market square into a breathtaking concert stage. Surrounded by magnificent town houses and the Altenburg Town Hall, visitors experience an unforgettable classical music event in the open air.
19 and 20 June 2026
theater-altenburg-gera.de
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Thuringian Sonderhausen Palace Festival in Sondershausen
The most popular open-air festival in the border triangle of Thuringia, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt continues Sondershausen's rich musical tradition. Against the backdrop of the castle, the area is transformed into a special theatre stage.
June - July 2026
www.schlossfestspiele-sondershausen.de
Weimar Summer
Highlights include the open-air concert night with the Staatskapelle, the Weimar Masterclasses organised by the Franz Liszt University of Music Weimar, the Genius Loci façade projection festival, the Weimar Art Festival and the events surrounding Goethe's birthday.
21 June - 15 September 2026
www.weimarer-sommer.de
Concert Night of Weimar Staatskapelle at the Weimarhallenpark
The open-air concerts of Weimar Staatskapelle on a stage in a lake and with atmospheric lighting as a background present thematic concerts in warm summer evenings.
4 July 2026 (programme to be announced)
www.nationaltheater-weimar.de
Summer theatre at the e-werk Weimar
During the Weimar summer, the German National Theatre performs the open air on the site of the former Weimar power station. Against the unique backdrop of industrial architecture and natural landscape, you can experience thrilling summer theatre spectacles.
05 June - 03 July2026 ‘The Misanthrope’ - A baroque summer spectacle by Molière
www.nationaltheater-weimar.de
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MDR Music Summer
Concerts at the most beautiful locations in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia make the MDR Music Summer a unique music festival in Middle Germany.
www.mdr-musiksommer.de
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'The abduction of the princes' in Altenburg
The spectacle at the Altenburg Castle courtyard under the title "The abduction of the princes' takes visitors into the world of the late Middle Ages and brings the legendary story of the Altenburg prince kidnapping to life. The dramatic abduction of the two Saxon princes by Kunz von Kauffungen in 1455 is impressively re-enacted with elaborate staging, historical costumes and spectacular stunts. Accompanied by medieval music, market stalls, jugglers and jousting, the event offers a unique experience for the whole family. The impressive backdrop of Altenburg Castle adds to the atmosphere and makes the prince's robbery spectacle an unforgettable highlight in the town's calendar of events.
01 to 05 July 025
06, 09 and 11 July 2026
www.gesamtkunstwerk4.de/prinzenraub/
Ekhof Festival at Friedenstein Castle
Friedenstein Castle in Gotha is home to one of the oldest baroque theatres in the world with still existing and functioning stage machinery. Historical productions with 18th century backdrops and costumes can be seen here. In 2025, Molières comedy 'TARTUFFE or the fraudster' is at the centre of the festival. Produced by Naemi Friedmann.
17 May - 25 October 2025
June - September 2026
www.ekhof-festival.de
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Rudolstadt Festival
Germany's most important folk and world music festival attracts musicians from all over the world to Rudolstadt. There is music and dance on over 20 stages - in the park, in the castle courtyard, on the streets and squares of the old town centre.
2 to 5 July 2026
www.rudolstadt-festival.de
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KulturArena Jena
It's not gladiators who take to the arena on Jena's theatre forecourt, but a whole host of cultural events. The festival with concerts, theatre and cinema offers stars and newcomers alike an exciting platform - and the best entertainment for the audience. The festival traditionally opens with the theatre's summer spectacle.
08 July - 23 August 2026
07 July - 22 August 2027
www.kulturarena.de
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Festival on the Cathedral Steps in Erfurt
During the Festival on the Cathedral Steps (DomStufen Festival) in Erfurt, the 70 steps leading up Cathedral Hill are transformed into a spectacular open-air festival stage. For three weeks, Erfurt's old town becomes the setting for unforgettable performances for around 2,200 guests per night against the impressive backdrop of the cathedral and St. Severus Church - an experience not to be missed!
7 - 28 August 2026: Rock-Musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR by Andrew Lloyd Webber
09 July - 01 August 2027: Opera LA TRAVIATA by Guiseppe Verdi
www.domstufen-festspiele.de
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SonneMondSterne - Open-air festival
Every year on the second weekend in August, an exuberant audience celebrates one of the biggest open-air festivals of electronic dance music on the banks of the 'Thuringian Sea' near Saalburg.
6 to 9 August 2026
www.sonnemondsterne.de
Kunstfest Weimar
Thuringia's largest festival for contemporary arts in eastern Germany takes place in late summer around Goethe's birthday. In Weimar and throughout Thuringia, it offers a colourful, cross-genre programme of theatre, dance, music, film, performance and installation, visual arts, film, concerts, literature and discourse.
28 August - 12 September 2026 first festival edition of the new artistic director duo Katharina Germo and Juliane Hahn
www.kunstfest-weimar.de
15th International Puppet Theatre Festival Synergura in Erfurt
The Waidspeicher Theatre in Erfurt has been organising the renowned international festival of puppetry art as a biennial since 1992. The diverse and high-quality programme is curated by the festival director and artistic director of the Waidspeicher Theatre, Sibylle Tröster. Over five days, ensembles from Germany and abroad present outstanding productions for children, young people and adults. Synergura is a cultural highlight for Thuringian theatre audiences, foreign guests and an international specialist audience.
9 to 13 September 2026
www.waidspeicher.de
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Altenburg Music Festival
The Altenburg Music Festival offers high-calibre concerts and diverse sound experiences in the town of Skat. Whether classical, jazz or modern music - renowned artists and ensembles provide unforgettable musical moments. Visitors experience first-class music in a special atmosphere at unique venues throughout the district.
15- 30 August 2026
orgelgesellschaft.de/altenburger-musikfestival
ACHAVA Festival Thüringen
The Hebrew word ‘ACHAVA’ means brotherhood and is the key word for the themes of humanity, peace, tolerance and dialogue that characterise the festival. In addition to great concerts by international artists, there are exhibitions, panel discussions, discussion series and school programmes.
07 - 21 September 2025, Erfurt
24 September - 11 October 2026
www.achava-festspiele.de
Golden Autumn - Festival of Old Music
Early music’ is the focus of the Golden Autumn Festival (Der GÜLDENE Herbst). In 2025, the festival in Meiningen will be dedicated to the motto ‘Indulgence’. The most diverse facets of enjoyment will be played and sung about in this edition.
26 - 28 September 2025, Meiningen
27 - 27 September 2026, Gotha
gueldener-herbst.de
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