Friedenstein Open Air Gotha 2026

Classical Meets Pop in the Courtyard of Friedenstein Castle

The Friedenstein Open Air is one of Thuringia's most exciting summer classical events. In the impressive courtyard of the baroque Friedenstein Castle — Central Germany's largest early baroque palace complex — the Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach performs every year with national and international stars. The festival format «Thüringen Philharmonie meets…» combines grand orchestral sounds with pop, Schlager, film music, and crossover. 2026 marks the 6th edition.

2026 Programme Highlights

In August, several top acts will gather in the castle courtyard. Die Prinzen will stop in Gotha on August 14, 2026, with the grand finale of their «Symphonica 2026» tour, presenting their greatest hits in orchestral arrangements. On August 23rd, the popular film music gala «Sounds of Hollywood» follows, an audience favourite that brings the film score genre to life with the power of a symphony orchestra in the castle courtyard. Further concerts include Giovanni Zarrella & Friends, Johannes Oerding, a Udo Jürgens Gala, and the rousing Last Night of the Philharmonic Proms with soloist Nils Wanderer.

Open-Air Theatre «KÖNIGSHAUT» — Grimmenstein zu Friedenstein

From July 2nd to 4th, 2026, the courtyard will become a theatre stage: The open-air theatre «KÖNIGSHAUT — Grimmenstein zu Friedenstein» tells the prequel of the castle — from the medieval Grimmenstein fortress to the construction of the baroque residence Friedenstein. The play opens the festival season a few weeks before the major concerts and makes the castle a co-narrator of Thuringian history.

Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach

The festival is supported by the Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach, one of Thuringia's most traditional orchestras. With the Friedenstein Open Air, the orchestra opens its sonic cosmos to a broad summer audience — a deliberate bridge between concert hall classical music and grand pop experiences. Tickets are available via Eventim, Ticket Shop Thüringen, and the orchestra's own box office at Hauptmarkt 33 in Gotha.

Friedenstein Castle and the Residential City of Gotha

Friedenstein Castle dominates the skyline of the residential city of Gotha in the Gotha district (Thuringia state). It houses the Ducal Museum, the historical performance halls, and the collections of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha family. The courtyard offers unique festival acoustics and, at the same time, the atmosphere of a summer evening in a baroque palace garden — an open-air experience with significantly more history than usual.