Brüder-Grimm-Festival Kassel

Kassel — City of the Brothers Grimm and Capital of Fairy Tales

Few German cities have a literary identity as direct as Kassel with the Brothers Grimm. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm collected the fairy tales in and around Kassel that became some of the most widely read texts in world literature. This cultural-historical connection is maintained in numerous institutions – including the UNESCO World Heritage site Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, the GRIMMWELT museum, and the annual Brüder-Grimm-Festival during the Hessian summer holidays.

Since 2008 — Family Culture Festival during the Summer Holidays

Since 2008, the festival has produced a new fairy tale musical based on a Grimm story every year. These productions are in-house creations: specially composed music, original staging, professional sets, and actors and singers from German-speaking countries. Over its 19-year history, the festival has carved out a firm place in Kassel's cultural calendar and in Hesse's family programming – a summer event for parents and children from North Hesse and beyond.

The Lake Stage by the Fairy Tale Pond

The venue is the Seebühne in Park Schönfeld – an open-air stage built specifically for the festival, located on the Schönfelder Märchenteich (Fairy Tale Pond). This location is more than just decorative: the pond's water becomes part of the staging, with effects and actions played out across its surface. For young audiences, the watery stage setting is among their most vivid memories of the festival.

2026 Production: "The Girl Who Set Out to Learn to Fear"

The 2026 fairy tale musical tells the story of Käthe Schüssler, a brave young woman who wants to learn to fear. Her father places her with a strict church verger couple who, along with a mysterious count, hatch a plan: Käthe is to spend three nights in a haunted castle. The basis is a classic Grimm fairy tale, modernized in a child-friendly way through the staging. The play is recommended for children aged 6 and up.

Performance Schedule: Daily for 6 Weeks

The main musical runs from July 2nd to August 9th, 2026, with the following performance times: Wednesday to Friday at 7:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. In parallel, a colourful children's theatre programme runs from July 1st to August 9th, featuring LAKU PAKA and Spielraum-Theater, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4:00 PM and Sundays at 11:00 AM.

Park Schönfeld — the Green Heart for Families

Park Schönfeld in northern Kassel (Niederzwehren district) is a 25-hectare green space with playgrounds, animal enclosures, and picnic areas. Those attending the festival with children can extend their day in the park – the combination of theatre and play space is intentional and makes the festival an all-day family event.