25th Elblandfestspiele Wittenberge — Anniversary Edition

25 Years of Open-Air on the Elbe

The Elblandfestspiele Wittenberge is the largest and best-known open-air festival in the Prignitz region — and with its 25th edition in 2026, it marks a quarter-century of the western Brandenburg region. What began in 2002 as a small summer concert festival has become a program with supra-regional appeal: four concert evenings on the Elblandbühne, set against the spectacular industrial backdrop of the Alte Ölmühle directly on the Elbe. The organizers are presenting a particularly diverse program for the anniversary summer of 2026 — featuring pop, Schlager, dance, symphonic music, and film scores.

July 3 — Ben Zucker Opens

On Friday, July 3, Ben Zucker will kick things off. The singer-songwriter, known for hits like "Wer sagt das?!" and "Kaltes klares Wasser," combines emotional pop-Schlager with a powerful voice and grand choruses — his open-air concert in Wittenberge is the season opener and guarantees a great atmosphere on the banks of the Elbe.

July 4 — Alex Christensen & Friends

On Saturday, July 4, Alex Christensen & Friends will follow with the famous crossover program Classical 90s Dance. The concept by the long-time U96 member is brilliant: 1990s dance classics — from "Encore une fois" to "Be My Lover" to "Better Off Alone" — are performed with a live orchestra. Arranged symphonically, with solo singers and a large stage, the 90s disco becomes a concert experience. One of the most spectacular tour programs of this season.

July 10 — "Großes Kino an der Elbe" (Gala)

The highlight of 2026 will be the grand gala "Großes Kino an der Elbe" on Friday, July 10. Host Kim Fisher will guide the audience through an evening full of stars: Jasmin Tabatabai, Natalia Avelon, actor Charles Brauer, Chinese tenor Hao Li, and Swiss character actor Pasquale Aleardi are invited. The Babelsberg Film Orchestra, one of Europe's most renowned film music orchestras, will provide the musical backdrop. Emerging artists from the Lotte Lehmann Academy and the local dance group "Quer durch die Gasse" will round off the production. Marianne Rosenberg is also part of the gala lineup.

July 11 — Die Prinzen Symphonica to Conclude

The festival concludes on Saturday, July 11, with Die Prinzen performing their Symphonica program — the a cappella classics of the Leipzig band ("Du musst ein Schwein sein", "Alles nur geklaut", "Mein Fahrrad") accompanied by the Babelsberg Film Orchestra. An unusual, captivating combination that presents the hits in a completely new sonic format.

Elblandbühne and the Alte Ölmühle

The venue is the Elblandbühne on the grounds of the Alte Ölmühle in Wittenberge. The Alte Ölmühle, once one of the largest industrial sites in the region, is now an industrial monument and event location — the monumental brick architecture directly on the Elbe forms a backdrop that no other festival in the region can replicate. At sunset, the brick facade is integrated into the stage design, opening up views across the Elbe to the vastness of Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg — a magical open-air atmosphere.

Wittenberge — City of Three Chimneys

Wittenberge, with around 17,000 inhabitants, is the largest town in the Prignitz district, located directly on the Elbe and one of Brandenburg's most historically interesting industrial cities. The famous Veritas sewing machine factory, the Singer sewing machine works, and the Alte Ölmühle shaped the town in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, Wittenberge is an example of successful industrial conversion — and a festival location that makes the most of its riverside setting every July.