Heidelberg Castle Festival 2026
100th Anniversary Edition in the Castle Courtyard, Dicker Turm, and Englischer Bau
About Castle Festival Heidelberg
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One Hundred Years of Castle Performances
The Heidelberg Castle Festival was launched in 1926 – as an open-air season for the Heidelberg City Theater in the ruins of the castle, which has towered over the old town as a monumental backdrop since its destruction in the War of the Palatinate Succession (1689 and 1693). In 2026, the festival celebrates its 100th anniversary, making it one of Germany's oldest summer festivals.
Three Venues in the Castle
The festival uses three spaces within the castle complex. The Castle Courtyard offers the largest open-air stage and hosts the main musical and theatrical productions – in case of bad weather, performances are moved to the Stadthalle. The Dicker Turm – a massive artillery tower with eight-meter-thick walls – is an intimate stage with powerful acoustics. In the Englischer Bau, an addition by Frederick V. in the Renaissance style, family and chamber productions are performed.
Program 2026 – Three Theater Premieres
The anniversary edition opens on June 11 with the premiere of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling" as a family production in the Englischer Bau (ages 6+). On June 14, "Frankenstein" based on Mary Shelley follows in the Dicker Turm. On June 19, Edmond Rostand's romantic comedy "Cyrano de Bergerac" premieres in the Castle Courtyard – one of the most famous productions in French repertoire.
Opera "Carmen" and Musical Program
The musical focus is Georges Bizet's "Carmen" – from July 10 in the Castle Courtyard. In addition, there are five Philharmonic Castle Concerts with the Heidelberg Philharmonic Orchestra, including themed evenings like "Bohemian Rhapsody," a Udo Jürgens tribute, and "Cinemania" (film music). The dinner show "Melodien à la carte – Alles Theater!" combines a three-course meal with a musical cross-section.
Anniversary Activities
Starting July 1, a walk-through theater tour will guide visitors through the history of the festival. In the Ottheinrichsbau, the exhibition "100 Years of Castle Festival" opens with historical documents, stage designs, and costumes from the festival archive. The organizer of all productions is the Heidelberg City Theater and Orchestra.
Castle Festival Heidelberg — edition 2026
Anniversary Edition 2026
For its 100th birthday, the Castle Festival is expanding its program to include an anniversary exhibition in the Ottheinrichsbau and a walk-through theater tour starting July 1, exploring the festival's history. The three venues – Castle Courtyard, Dicker Turm, and Englischer Bau – will present four staged productions and five concert evenings.
The Heidelberg City Theater and Orchestra is the organizer; all productions are created in-house.
Programme Castle Festival Heidelberg 2026
Premieres 2026
- June 11 – "The Ugly Duckling" based on H. C. Andersen (Family production, ages 6+) – Englischer Bau
- June 14 – "Frankenstein" based on Mary Shelley – Dicker Turm
- June 19 – "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand – Castle Courtyard
- July 10 – Georges Bizet: "Carmen" (Opera) – Castle Courtyard
Philharmonic Castle Concerts
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Rock meets Classical evening
- Udo Jürgens Tribute
- Cinemania – Live Film Music
- Two more concerts by the Heidelberg Philharmonic Orchestra
Special Formats
- "Melodien à la carte: Alles Theater!" – Dinner show in the Englischer Bau
- Walk-through theater tour (from July 1) through the festival's history
- Anniversary exhibition "100 Years of Castle Festival" in the Ottheinrichsbau
Highlights Castle Festival Heidelberg 2026
- 100th anniversary edition since 1926
- "Cyrano de Bergerac" as the main production in the Castle Courtyard
- Bizet: "Carmen" with the Heidelberg Philharmonic
- "Frankenstein" in the acoustically unique Dicker Turm
- Anniversary exhibition with historical festival documents
Prices Castle Festival Heidelberg 2026
Family productions from approx. 20 EUR. Theater and concert tickets from approx. 35 EUR. Main productions in the Castle Courtyard up to approx. 90 EUR. Discounts for students and pupils. Tickets via theaterheidelberg.de.
Practical information — Castle Festival Heidelberg
Getting There
Heidelberg is accessible via the A5 motorway (Heidelberg-Schwetzingen exit) and by train (ICE stop Heidelberg Hbf). From the main station, bus lines 33 and the mountain railway run to the Kornmarkt valley station. The mountain railway goes directly to the castle. The VRN's KombiTicket is valid with a festival ticket.
Tickets
Tickets start at approx. 20 EUR for family productions, up to approx. 90 EUR for the main productions in the Castle Courtyard. Sales via theaterheidelberg.de and at the theater box offices on Universitätsplatz.
In Case of Bad Weather
Open-air performances in the Castle Courtyard will be moved to the Stadthalle Heidelberg in case of rain. The Dicker Turm and Englischer Bau are weather-protected.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Castle Festival Heidelberg
Schloss Heidelberg (Schlosshof, Dicker Turm, Englischer Bau)
Schlosshof Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg