Lessing Days
International Theatre Festival at Thalia Theater
About Lessing Days
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Hamburg's Annual World Theatre Gathering
Since 2010, the Thalia Theater has hosted the Lessing Days, a festival lasting about two weeks, beginning at the end of January and concluding in mid-February. Over the years, around 170 guest performances have attracted approximately 225,000 spectators. It is the largest theatre event outside of the summer productions in Hamburg's festival calendar — curated by Joachim Lux and, from 2026, by Matthias Lilienthal.
Venues: Altstadt and Altona
The festival utilizes both venues of the Thalia Theater: the main house at Alstertor in Altstadt (Hamburg-Mitte district) and the Thalia Gaußstraße in Ottensen (Altona district). This distributes the festival across two of Hamburg's most densely packed cultural quarters. Foyer areas, cafés, and performance spaces merge into a single theatre landscape during the festival.
Theme 2026: Post-Populism
The 2026 edition asks how democracies can regain trust, language, and form after waves of populism. Ten productions from Japan, Poland, and German-speaking countries are on the programme. A highlight is Marta Górnicka's "Mothers — A Song for Wartime," in which a choir of women aged 9 to 71 from Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland share their experiences of war and violence. Jakub Skrzywanek's production "Attack on the Stary National Theatre" is also on the schedule. The opening address will be given by author and podcaster Jagoda Marinić.
Inhabilia — 24 Hours in the Foyer
A new format is "Inhabilia": students from the Düsseldorf Art Academy transform the foyers of the Thalia Theater into a 24-hour gathering with food, dance, and discussions. The festival thus extends beyond the stage — theatre becomes social practice.
Lessing Days — edition 2026
For about 16 days, the Thalia Theater will present its Lessing Days 2026. The selection focuses on productions that seek new forms of democratic discourse and coexistence in the wake of the populist waves of the 2020s. Highlights include contributions from Poland and Ukraine, as well as a Japanese production.
Parallel to the stage programme, the "Inhabilia" format transforms the foyers into a continuous 24-hour gathering, curated by students from the Düsseldorf Art Academy. Food, dance, discussions, and performances mix, and the audience is welcome to stay, sleep, and participate.
Programme Lessing Days 2026
Opening
- January 31: Opening with an address by Jagoda Marinić (author and podcaster) on the theme "Democracy after Populism"
International Productions 2026
- Mothers — A Song for Wartime (Marta Górnicka, PL/UA/BY) — Choir of women aged 9 to 71 from Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland on war and violence
- Attack on the Stary National Theatre (Jakub Skrzywanek, PL) — Production about the Polish theatre struggle
- Further productions from Japan and German-speaking countries (ten in total)
Inhabilia
- 24-hour foyer at the Thalia Theater
- Students from the Düsseldorf Art Academy
- Food, dance, discussions, performance
Highlights Lessing Days 2026
Ten international productions, opening with Jagoda Marinić, the "Inhabilia" format as a 24-hour foyer, and the festival's start under the new artistic direction of Matthias Lilienthal.
Prices Lessing Days 2026
Prices vary depending on the production and seating category. Tickets available from the Thalia Theater box office. Students and pupils receive discounts.
Practical information — Lessing Days
Getting There
Thalia Alstertor: U-Bahn Mönckebergstraße (U3) or Jungfernstieg (U1/U2/U4). Thalia Gaußstraße: S-Bahn Altona or bus to Gaußstraße.
Tickets
Via the Thalia Theater website or the theatre box office. English surtitles are available for most international productions.
Language
Productions are in their original language with German and English surtitles.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Lessing Days
Thalia Theater & Thalia Gaußstraße
Alstertor 1, 20095 Hamburg