Brüder Grimm Festival Hanau

Fairy Tale City Celebrates its 42nd Season

In Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brüder Grimm Festival has taken place every summer since 1985. In 2026, the 42nd season runs from May 8 to July 31 – with advance sales records and over 90,000 expected visitors. This makes the festival one of Germany's most popular theater festivals.

In the Covered Amphitheater

The venue is the covered amphitheater in the Schlossgarten – a modern open-air venue that has been able to play regardless of weather since its renovation in 2018. Blankets are available in the theater on cooler evenings. For the 2026 youth production, the romantic backdrop of the Wallonische Ruine in the Schlossgarten will also be used.

2026 Program – Premieres Every Week

The 2026 program offers five productions, each with its own premiere:

• "Tischlein, deck dich!" – Musical premiere with live band, premieres May 8
• "Schneewittchen" – Family play with music, premieres May 16
• "Des Kaisers neue Kleider" – Family play, premieres May 30
• "Amadeus" – Peter Shaffer's drama about Mozart and Salieri, premieres June 13
• "Das Herz eines Boxers" – Youth production in the Wallonische Ruine, premieres June 25

Accessible and Inclusive

The Hanau Festival sets standards in accessibility: there are performances with sign language (June 21) and audio description (July 26). Wheelchair spaces are permanently planned in the amphitheater.

Brüder Grimm City Hanau

Hanau in the Main-Kinzig district is the hometown of the Brothers Grimm – both were born here in 1785 and 1786. The large Brothers Grimm National Monument on the market square, the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Festival, and the German Goldsmiths' House make Hanau the capital of German fairy tale culture.