Name: Hamburger Ballett-Tage 2026
Start: 2026-06-20T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-05T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Hamburgische Staatsoper

Ballett-Tage

About Ballett-Tage

The Hamburger Ballett-Tage are the annual festival of the Hamburg Ballet — the highlight and finale of the season. Over two weeks, the company condenses its repertoire into a festival arc: contemporary and classical works, guest performances, world premieres, plus the famous Nijinsky Gala as a grand finale. 2026 marks the 51st edition — opening with the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's "Wunderland". Venue: the Hamburgische Staatsoper in Neustadt.

Dates 20 Jun — 05 Jul 2026

Venue Hamburg (02000)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Ballett-Tage — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 51st Hamburger Ballett-Tage run from Saturday, June 20th to Sunday, July 5th, 2026, at the Hamburgische Staatsoper. Opening with the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's "Wunderland". Guest performance by the Hervé Koubi Company (France). Finale with the Nijinsky Gala LI on July 5th.

Over two festival weeks, the Hamburg Ballet condenses its season into a compact arc. Classical and contemporary works alternate, complemented by a two-day guest performance by an international company and the traditional gala night to conclude.

The opening night is dominated by the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's "Wunderland". Throughout the festival, some of the most famous Neumeier works are on the program, with "Nijinsky" and "The Seagull" among the highlights. The guest performance by the Hervé Koubi Company on June 30th and July 1st brings a different choreographic language to the festival.

Highlights Ballett-Tage 2026

World premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's "Wunderland" to open. Guest performance by the Hervé Koubi Company from France. Nijinsky Gala LI as the festival finale.

Programme Ballett-Tage 2026

Opening

June 20: World premiere Alexei Ratmansky — "Wunderland"

Program Highlights

June 20, 23, 26 and July 2: "Wunderland" (Ratmansky)
June 24: "Nijinsky" (Neumeier)
June 25–27: "FAST FORWARD" and "THE TIMES ARE RACING" (contemporary)
June 30 and July 1: Guest performance Hervé Koubi Company (France)
July 3: "The Seagull" (Neumeier)

Finale

July 5: Nijinsky Gala LI — traditional finale with guests from around the world

Prices Ballett-Tage 2026

Prices vary greatly depending on the performance and seating category. Tickets via the Staatsoper Hamburg box office, +49 40 356868. Festival passes offer discounts for multiple visits.

Practical information

Practical information — Ballett-Tage

Getting there

Subway stations Stephansplatz (U1) or Gänsemarkt (U2), both a three-minute walk to the Staatsoper.

Tickets

Online via staatsoper-hamburg.de, by phone at +49 40 356868, or at the theatre box office. Festival passes offer discounts for multiple visits.

Accessibility

Wheelchair spaces, elevators up to the 4th tier, disabled parking spaces near the entrance.

Hamburg, the German ballet centre

Since John Neumeier took over the direction of the Hamburg Ballet in 1973, the Hanseatic city has developed into the German ballet centre. The Hamburger Ballett-Tage originated in 1975 as a summer showcase and is now one of the world's most important festivals of this art form. 2026 sees the 51st edition — the first festival arc under the new artistic director who took over the company after 50 years of Neumeier.

Opening: World Premiere Ratmansky

The 2026 edition kicks off on June 20th with a world premiere: Alexei Ratmansky — one of the most important living choreographers, formerly of the American Ballet Theatre, now of the New York City Ballet — is creating a new full-length work for the Hamburg Ballet titled "Wunderland". Further performances follow on June 23rd, 26th, and July 2nd.

Repertoire and Guest Performances

Over the two festival weeks, the Hamburg Ballet performs a cross-section of its season: Neumeier works such as "Nijinsky" (June 24th) and "The Seagull" (July 3rd), contemporary pieces ("FAST FORWARD", "THE TIMES ARE RACING"), as well as a two-day guest performance by the Hervé Koubi Company from France (June 30th and July 1st) — one of France's outstanding contemporary dance groups, known for its fusion of hip-hop and classical dance techniques.

Finale: Nijinsky Gala LI

The traditional finale on July 5th is the Nijinsky Gala — a festive showcase of the best with soloists and guests from all over the world, making Hamburg particularly celebratory for its 51st edition. The venue is the Hamburgische Staatsoper on Große Theaterstraße in Neustadt (Hamburg-Mitte district), one of Germany's most traditional opera houses.