Isny Theatre Festival

Festival under the Circus Tent in the Allgäu

The Isny Theatre Festival is one of Southern Germany's most original summer festivals: a travelling circus tent setup at Burkwang in the historic old town of Isny, which becomes a meeting point for contemporary circus, theatre, music, and spoken word for nine days. The 2026 edition runs from July 31 to August 8 and brings international companies and renowned musicians to the small Allgäu town.

The 2026 Programme — Opening with Die Sterne

The opening evening on Friday, July 31, will be headlined by the Hamburg-based indie-pop band Die Sterne, with the punk trio Acht Eimer Hühnerherzen as the support act. On Saturday, August 1, the Bavarian folk ensemble All Well will give an open-air concert. Contemporary circus dominates the first festival days: Atelier Lefeuvre & André will present their poetic circus on August 2, Common Ground will perform contemporary circus on August 4, and Fabbrica C will showcase group acrobatics on August 5. The Poetry Slam on August 3 and the circus thriller La Víspera on the same evening will offer highlights beyond traditional theatre forms.

The musical highlight of the second half of the festival will be Jamaican reggae superstar Anthony B on August 7, Theater Kunstdünger with children's theatre on the same day, and French jazz accordionist Vincent Peirani on the closing night, August 8. Indie musician DILLA will perform on August 6.

Workshops Alongside the Programme

The Isny Theatre Festival is not just a performance venue — it's a place for practice. Workshops will run parallel to the performance programme from July 31 to August 7: Drum Circle, Handpan lessons, inclusive music programmes, and a Rock-Pop Choir. Workshop fees range from 100 to 160 Euros for the entire cycle, making the festival also a week-long creative workshop in the Allgäu.

Isny — Historic Allgäu Town

Isny im Allgäu, with around 14,000 inhabitants, is a small town in the Ravensburg district of the state of Baden-Württemberg. The town is situated at 700 meters on the edge of the Allgäu and the Adelegg, with views of the pre-Alpine chain. The medieval old town with its half-timbered houses and town walls provides a special backdrop for the Theatre Festival — the circus tent at Burkwang is located in close proximity to the historic buildings. The festival complements well with hikes in the Adelegg or excursions into the Allgäu pre-Alps.