Darß-Festspiele Born
Open-air theatre on the Baltic Sea peninsula Darß
About Darß-Festspiele
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Theatre under the open sky on the Darß
The Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula has developed into one of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's most concentrated cultural hotspots over the past two decades: painters, writers, musicians, and theatre makers have discovered the region as a summer or permanent residence. With the Darß-Festspiele, Born a.Darß has established a format since 2003 that makes this cultural density visible: an open-air theatre with its own production that culturally shapes the island summer for several weeks each year.
What makes the Darß-Festspiele special
The festival differs from classic city theatres in three ways: It plays under the open sky on a specially constructed open-air stage, it produces a new play with a connection to Northern Germany every summer – often based on literary works from the region – and it builds the programme around the in-house production with Low German performances, guest performances from cabaret and comedy, and a children's programme. This makes a festival weekend more than just a theatre evening: it's a mini cultural season with its own programme logic.
The 2026 Production
For 2026, the festival team has staged »Die Heiden von Kummerow – Alles Müller, oder … wie?«. The basis is the classic by the Mecklenburg writer Ehm Welk from the 1930s – the story of a childhood in a Mecklenburg village, a mixture of picaresque novel and regional portrait. The premiere is scheduled for July 3rd, 2026, and performances run until August 28th, 2026. A performance lasts approximately 2.5 hours, including a 20-minute break.
The Supporting Programme
Parallel to the in-house production, there is a dense programme of guest performances featuring well-known names from cabaret and theatre. In 2026, the lineup includes: Uwe Steimle (»Nu! – Keen Getue, keen Gemache …«), the Leipziger Pfeffermühle (»Harakiri to go«), the performance quartet GlasBlasSing with »Happy Hour«, the songwriter Gerhard Schöne with a children's concert, and Der Tod with »Komm ins Urlaubsparadies – Best Of Sommer-Special 2026«. In addition, there are Low German performances of the in-house production and special family dates.
A Summer Resort with Added Value
Born a.Darß is an old seafaring village on the Saaler Bodden, with thatched and brick houses, an active art scene, and a quieter character than the more densely populated tourist areas of Wieck or Prerow. The festival turns an island holiday into a theatre holiday: on one festival evening, you see the play, and after the performance, you can go to the water or a restaurant by the harbour; the next day, you can explore the Darß forest or the Weststrand. Travel by train to Ribnitz-Damgarten, then by bus or car to the peninsula is easily possible; many guests also come directly by bicycle from neighbouring villages.
Darß-Festspiele — edition 2026
The 2026 Season
The premiere of summer 2026 falls on Friday, July 3rd. Until August 28th, the Darß-Festspiele will perform the in-house production »Die Heiden von Kummerow – Alles Müller, oder … wie?« based on Ehm Welk's novel – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and selected Sundays (July 19th, August 16th, August 23rd, each at 4 PM). A performance lasts approximately 2.5 hours with a 20-minute break.
In addition to the main play, the 2026 season offers a dense programme of guest performances and special Low German (Plattdeutsch) performances of the in-house production. With a total of seven guest performance evenings, the ongoing in-house production, and children's programme dates, the Darß-Festspiele are the most culturally intensive summer event on the peninsula.
Programme Darß-Festspiele 2026
In-house Production
- July 3rd – August 28th, 2026 — »Die Heiden von Kummerow – Alles Müller, oder … wie?« based on Ehm Welk
- Premiere: July 3rd, 2026
- Performance days: Mon, Wed, Fri, selected Sundays (July 19th, Aug 16th, Aug 23rd, each at 4 PM)
- Duration: approx. 2.5 hours including a 20-minute break
Guest Performances 2026
- July 7th, 7:30 PM — Uwe Steimle: »Nu! – Keen Getue, keen Gemache …«
- July 16th, 7:30 PM — Der Tod: »Komm ins Urlaubsparadies – Best Of Sommer-Special 2026«
- July 23rd, 7:30 PM — Leipziger Pfeffermühle: »Harakiri to go«
- July 30th, 7:30 PM — GlasBlasSing: »Happy Hour«
- August 9th, 5:00 PM — Gerhard Schöne: »Kalle, Heiner, Jule – Lasst uns eine Welt erträumen« (Family concert)
Special Dates
- Low German (Plattdeutsch) performances of the in-house production on selected dates
- Frünndache (Friends' Days) — special dates for club members and regular guests
- Deniere – Heiden fun with lots of merriment
Detailed programme and tickets at darss-festspiele.de.
Highlights Darß-Festspiele 2026
- In-house production »Die Heiden von Kummerow« based on Ehm Welk – one of the most important Northern German picaresque novels
- Seven guest performance evenings with prominent names (Uwe Steimle, Leipziger Pfeffermühle, GlasBlasSing, among others)
- Low German (Plattdeutsch) performances of the in-house production
- Family concert with Gerhard Schöne on August 9th
- Open-air theatre on the Darß peninsula, season spanning over 8 weeks
Prices Darß-Festspiele 2026
Admission to the in-house production starts at €23, depending on seating category and date. Guest performances have separate prices (typically €25–€35). The children's concert by Gerhard Schöne is family-friendly priced. Advance booking via darss-festspiele.de, Reservix, and the Born tourist office.
Practical information — Darß-Festspiele
Getting there
By car: Take the B105 to Ribnitz-Damgarten, then via Wieck to Born a.Darß. By train: To Ribnitz-Damgarten, then by bus or taxi. In summer, connections are available shortly before the performance begins.
Tickets
From €23 for the in-house production, depending on the date and seating category. Guest performances and the children's programme have separate prices. Advance booking via the festival website and Reservix.
Performance Days
The in-house production is typically performed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as selected Sundays, each lasting approximately 2.5 hours including a break. Performances start in the evening (usually 7:30 PM) or in the afternoon on Sundays.
Weather notice
The stage is open-air with covered seating. In case of severe weather, the performance will be postponed or relocated. In any case, bring warm clothing and rain protection – the evening wind on the Baltic Sea can be cool.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Darß-Festspiele al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Darß-Festspiele
Freilichtbühne Born a.Darß