Altona macht auf!
Balcony theatre and windows of longing in Hamburg's Altona district – performances from open windows and on balconies
About Altona macht auf!
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Theatre without a Stage
The concept of "Altona macht auf!" inverts the traditional relationship with theatre. Instead of the audience focusing on a stage, the stage is spread across an entire neighbourhood: residents open their windows, appear on balconies, hang posters, project images, sing, dance, read, or perform mini-scenes. The audience strolls through the streets, discovering the individual "windows of longing" and "balcony theatres" one by one.
15 Years of Carsten Brandau and Tania Lauenburg
The project was initiated in 2012 by Carsten Brandau and Tania Lauenburg. Lauenburg has directed theater altonale (Artistic Director) since 2006 – she studied stage design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and previously worked as a stage designer at German and Austrian theatres. Together with Brandau, she developed a format that embeds the theatrical exploration of public space into the Altonale festival, while remaining artistically independent. The 2026 edition is the 15th iteration – an indication of its institutional anchoring in Hamburg's cultural landscape.
Two Evenings, One Neighbourhood
The performances are spread over two evenings: Monday, June 15, and Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Location: Altona-Altstadt and Ottensen, in the Altona district. Those who wish to offer a balcony or window suitable for performance, or to present a performance themselves, can register with theater altonale in advance. The exact programme – which windows and balconies will be used on which evening – will be published by the organisers in May 2026.
In the Altona District, in the State of Hamburg
Altona was its own Prussian city until 1937 and is now one of Hamburg's most diverse districts. The mix of gentrification (Ottensen) and old working-class structures (Altona-Altstadt) makes the district a natural stage for a project that asks about longings, shared spaces, and neighbourly attention. "Altona macht auf!" has been one of the defining low-threshold cultural formats in the state of Hamburg for years – funded by the Ministry of Culture, supported by altonale.
Part of the Altonale Festival
The project is part of the larger Altonale festival (annually in June) and runs under its theatre section. Artistcally autonomous, organisationally embedded – this makes "Altona macht auf!" one of Hamburg's few festival events that takes place without admission fees, without a fixed venue, and without traditional actors.
Altona macht auf! — edition 2026
The 2026 edition is the 15th since the project began in 2012. In terms of content, the format has retained its openness: the individual performances are not centrally curated but are proposed and realised by the residents themselves. theater altonale supports them organisationally, dramatically, and technically, documents the performances, and ensures their distribution throughout the neighbourhoods.
The themes for 2026, as in previous years, revolve around longing, community, peaceful coexistence, and mindfulness in public spaces. The exact map of performance locations and the detailed programme will be published in May 2026 on the organiser's website.
Programme Altona macht auf! 2026
Monday, June 15, 2026 – Altona-Altstadt and Ottensen
- Evening programme approx. 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Distributed stages: Windows, balconies, courtyards in Altona-Altstadt and Ottensen
- Format: Windows of longing and balcony theatre – dance, song, spoken word, visual arts
- Resident performers: Residents who have registered with theater altonale
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – Altona-Altstadt and Ottensen
- Evening programme approx. 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Second evening with some new performance locations
Before and after the evenings
- May 2026 – Publication of the map and programme
- End of June 2026 – Photographic and film documentation on the website
Current map and registration via altona-macht-auf.de.
Highlights Altona macht auf! 2026
- 15th edition since 2012
- Performances from windows and balconies instead of a traditional stage
- Two evenings in Altona-Altstadt and Ottensen
- Curated by Carsten Brandau and Tania Lauenburg (theater altonale)
- Funded by Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Altona District Office
- Free admission – the audience strolls through the neighbourhoods
Prices Altona macht auf! 2026
Practical information — Altona macht auf!
Getting There
S-Bahn lines S1, S11, or S31 to Altona station or Königstraße. Bus lines M1, 113, 150, 283 stop in Altona-Altstadt and Ottensen. Ideal by bicycle – the route between the performance locations is part of the experience.
Admission
Free admission. Donations for the organisers are welcome.
Dates
Monday, June 15, 2026, and Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – evening programme on both days. Exact times and map of performance locations available from May 2026 at altona-macht-auf.de.
Participate
Registration for balcony performers or window hosts via the contact form on altona-macht-auf.de.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Altona macht auf!
Balkone, Fenster und öffentliche Plätze in Altona-Altstadt und Ottensen
Altona (Ottensen, Altona-Altstadt), 22765 Hamburg