Cottbuser Walzernacht 2026 — Like in a Fairy Tale

Waltz on the Altmarkt

The Cottbuser Walzernacht is one of the most beautiful and unusual open-air festivals in Brandenburg. A warm summer night, the Altmarkt with its historic burgher houses, the audience dressed in white, a full symphony orchestra on stage, plus soloists from the ensemble of the Staatstheater Cottbus — and above all, a program of waltzes that imports Viennese classicism to the Lausitz region. The event begins with a free waltz introduction by Tanzschule Fritsche at 6:30 PM, with the main program starting at 9:00 PM.

Motto 2026 — "Like in a Fairy Tale"

The motto for the 2026 Walzernacht is "LIKE IN A FAIRY TALE". The program is built around the Cinderella myth — a direct link to the ballet premiere "Aschenbrödel" by the Staatstheater Cottbus in autumn 2025. Waltzes from films, operettas, and musicals that incorporate the Cinderella theme will alternate with classical waltzes that also create a fairy-tale atmosphere with their magic. Composers from Johann Strauss to Stephen Sondheim, from Carl Michael Ziehrer to Rodgers & Hammerstein, form the broad musical spectrum.

Philharmonic Orchestra and Soloists

The entire Philharmonic Orchestra of the Staatstheater Cottbus will be on stage. The musical direction will be shared by GMD Alexander Merzyn, Johannes Zurl, and Christian Möbius. The soloists announced are Cornelia Zink (soprano), Luzia Tietze (mezzo-soprano), Hardy Brachmann (tenor), and Nils Stäfe (baritone) — all members of the Staatstheater Cottbus ensemble, who will enrich the program with opera and musical excerpts. The hosting will be by Christian Matthée (rbb Antenne Brandenburg) — a guarantee for relaxed, expert transitions.

Dance Instruction with Tanzschule Fritsche

For those who don't yet know how to waltz or haven't danced it in a long time: At 6:30 PM, Tanzschule Fritsche from Cottbus will offer a free waltz introduction directly on the Altmarkt. Four to five instructors will teach the basic steps of the Viennese waltz in half an hour — enough to then transition to the main program and dance under the stars.

White Dress Code and Atmosphere

The unofficial dress code is white — and almost all visitors adhere to it. The result is a magical scene: hundreds of people in summer white on the Altmarkt, the stage brightly lit, the orchestra in classic black and white attire, with the historic city silhouette of Cottbus in the background. It's an atmosphere that is unparalleled in Brandenburg. Those who want to dance should come as a couple; those who want to watch will find plenty of places on the Altmarkt. Free admission.

Cottbus — Lower Lusatia and Opera History

Cottbus, with around 100,000 inhabitants, is the second-largest city in Brandenburg and home to the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg university. It is the cultural center of Lower Lusatia. The Staatstheater Cottbus, one of Brandenburg's most important three-division theaters (opera, drama, ballet), has shaped the city's cultural life for over 100 years. With the Walzernacht, it brings this tradition into the public space once a year — a conscious gesture of openness towards a city that experiences the theater as part of its identity.