Elbhangfest Dresden
Three days of culture along 7 kilometers of Pillnitzer Landstraße — from Loschwitz to Pillnitz
About Elbhangfest
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Seven Kilometers of Festival Mile on the Elbe
The Elbhangfest is a geographical and curatorial peculiarity: Instead of concentrating on one venue, the festival stretches for about seven kilometers along Pillnitzer Landstraße — from Schillerplatz in Loschwitz, through Wachwitz, Niederpoyritz, and Hosterwitz, to Pillnitz Castle in the east. Those experiencing the festival move from venue to venue on foot, by bike, or with the historic Elbe steamer line of Saxon Steam Navigation. 68 performance venues are used, including churches, wineries, private gardens, galleries, schoolyards, and Pillnitz Castle itself.
Program: Concerts, Theater, Wine, Readings, Dance
The approximately 170 to 200 individual events cover almost every art form: Classical music in the Pillnitz Vineyard Church, rock on the three main stages, choirs and brass bands in the Loschwitz Church, theater in the Hosterwitz pavilion, readings in villas, dance on the village squares, street art in the vineyards. In addition, there are several wine villages where Saxon vintners serve their wines — Pillnitz König-Albert-Riesling, Wachwitz Müller-Thurgau, Loschwitz Spätburgunder. The festival combines the high culture of the Elbe Valley (churches, castles, villas) with a Volksfest (public festival) character (bratwurst, beer, live music late into the night).
History: Originated from Church Benefits
The Elbhangfest originated in 1990/91 as a benefit event for the churches of Loschwitz and Pillnitz, which urgently needed restoration after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Within a few years, the initial concerts to collect donations evolved into a festival that now attracts around 80,000 visitors annually. The non-profit association Elbhangfest e.V. organizes the festival with numerous volunteers; admission to the festival grounds remains free. Only individual special events require admission fees.
The Landscape as a Backdrop
What makes the Elbhangfest unmistakable is its backdrop. The Dresden Elbe Valley slopes are among the most impressive cultural landscapes in Central Europe: steep vineyards descend to the Elbe, interspersed with historic winegrower houses, Wilhelminian-era villas, Pillnitz Castle with its English garden, the 18th-century Pillnitz Vineyard Church, and the Loschwitz funicular station. Those traveling on the Elbe Cycle Route between Loschwitz and Pillnitz pass through a region shaped for centuries by art, wine, and proximity to the Saxon royal courts.
Elbhangfest — edition 2026
33rd Elbhangfest 2026 — «Rockt den Weber!»
The 2026 Elbhangfest focuses on a son of the region: Carl Maria von Weber, whose 240th birthday is being celebrated. He lived in Hosterwitz and regularly hiked through the forests of the Keppgrund — the rocky landscape that legend says inspired the famous Wolf's Glen scene in his opera «Der Freischütz». Under the motto «Rockt den Weber!», the festival combines classic Weber pieces with rock, jazz, and contemporary music. A special focus is on reopening a hiking trail to the Keppgrund, closed since 2010 — parts of the festival serve as a benefit for its restoration.
Main venues include the Carl Maria von Weber Museum with garden events, the Pillnitz Vineyard Church with a closing concert, and Pillnitz Castle with a performance by the youth orchestra. Additionally, there are the classic wine villages in Loschwitz, Wachwitz, Niederpoyritz, and Pillnitz, three main stages for rock and pop, and numerous private gardens and courtyards along Pillnitzer Landstraße.
Programme Elbhangfest 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026 — Opening
- Evening: Festival opening in Loschwitz with opening concert
- First concerts in wine villages and on the three main stages
- Theater performances related to Weber (Hosterwitz Pavilion)
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Main Program
- All day: 68 venues between Loschwitz and Pillnitz
- Rock and pop on the three main stages
- Classical and chamber music in Loschwitz Church, Maria am Wasser, Hosterwitz
- Wine villages with Saxon vintners (König-Albert-Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder)
- Theater, dance, and readings in gardens and villas
- Program at the Carl Maria von Weber Museum (Garden)
- Family activities with fairy tales, crafts, and children's concerts
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — Closing
- Morning: Frühschoppen (morning pint) in the wine villages
- Afternoon: Youth orchestra concert at Pillnitz Castle
- Theater, dance, and final concerts
- Conclusion: Concert in the Pillnitz Vineyard Church
The complete program with over 170 individual dates will be published by Elbhangfest e.V. at elbhangfest.de.
Highlights Elbhangfest 2026
- 240th birthday of Carl Maria von Weber as the festival motto
- Around 170 individual events at 68 venues over 7 km of Elbe Valley slopes
- Three main stages with rock, pop, and classical crossover
- Closing concert in the Pillnitz Vineyard Church
- Youth orchestra at Pillnitz Castle
- Saxon wines in the wine villages
- Benefit focus: Restoration of the Keppgrund hiking trail
- Free admission to the festival grounds
Prices Elbhangfest 2026
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Individual special events and concerts may charge admission fees — details will be published on the festival website. Food, drinks, and wine available on site.
Practical information — Elbhangfest
Date 2026
Friday to Sunday, June 26–28, 2026 (33rd Elbhangfest).
Location
Elbe Valley slopes between Loschwitz and Pillnitz along Pillnitzer Landstraße — districts of Loschwitz and Schönfeld-Weißig (Pillnitz locality), Dresden, postal code 01326.
Admission
Festival grounds free. Individual special events and concerts may charge admission fees — details on the festival website.
Getting There
Tip: Leave your car behind. Take the train to Dresden Hbf, then tram line 11 towards Bühlau to Pillnitz or bus 63 along Pillnitzer Landstraße. With the historic Elbe steamer line of Saxon Steam Navigation from Terrassenufer. By bike via the Elbe Cycle Route.
Organizer
Elbhangfest e.V., Phone +49 351 268 38 32, Email [email protected].
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Elbhangfest al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Elbhangfest
Elbhang Dresden — von Loschwitz über Wachwitz bis Pillnitz
Pillnitzer Landstraße, Dresden, 01326 Dresden