Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden 2026
Strauss Rosenkavalier and 100 Years Pierre Boulez — Classical Festival at Pentecost
2026
About Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden
Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden — edition 2026
Eight Days of Classical Music in Baden-Baden
The 2026 Pfingstfestspiele combine concert opera, symphonic exploration, and chamber music in a dense eight-day program. The highlight and musical centerpiece is "Der Rosenkavalier" — a concert performance of the entire opera with the SWR Symphony Orchestra under François-Xavier Roth.
Concurrently, the festival honors the 100th birthday of Pierre Boulez with works by the French composer and conductor, who is in a direct student lineage with François-Xavier Roth. Baroque concerts, Viennese Classicism, and jazz arrangements complete the program.
Highlights Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden 2026
- Concert performance of "Der Rosenkavalier" with Jonathan Tetelman
- SWR Symphony Orchestra under François-Xavier Roth
- 100th birthday of Pierre Boulez — several concerts with Boulez works
- Baroque concerts with historical performance practice ensembles
- Viennese Classicism (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven)
- Jazz arrangements between minuet and waltz
- Festspielhaus Baden-Baden — Europe's second-largest opera house
Programme Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden 2026
Program Highlights 2026
- Concert Performance "Der Rosenkavalier" (Richard Strauss) — SWR Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: François-Xavier Roth, Octavian: Jonathan Tetelman, international ensemble of soloists
- Pierre Boulez Program for his 100th Birthday — Works such as "Le Marteau sans maître," "Pli selon pli," "sur Incises," and compositions from Boulez's circle (Stockhausen, Berio, Carter)
- Baroque Concerts with historical performance practice ensembles
- Viennese Classicism — Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven
- Jazz Arrangements as a connecting element
- Lied Recital with Strauss Lieder
- Chamber Concerts with top international artists
Dates and Program
The complete program with all concert dates, soloists, and repertoire is available via festspielhaus.de, the Festspielhaus app, hotline (07221 3013-101), or by email ([email protected]). Concerts on Pentecost Sunday, Pentecost Monday, and the following days.
Prices Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden 2026
Tickets per concert approx. €35 (gallery) to €250 (premium category for "Der Rosenkavalier"). Discounts available for students and under 30s. Advance booking via festspielhaus.de, Festspielhaus app, hotline 07221 3013-101. Accommodation packages in cooperation with Baden-Baden hotels.
Practical information — Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden
Getting There
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Beim Alten Bahnhof 2. By train from Karlsruhe Hbf in 20 minutes, from Frankfurt 1h 30m, from Stuttgart 1h, from Strasbourg 1h. A 10-minute walk from Baden-Baden main station to the Festspielhaus. By car via the A 5 (Baden-Baden exit).
Tickets and Admission
Tickets range from approx. €35 (standard seats in the gallery) to €250 (premium category for "Der Rosenkavalier"), depending on the concert. Advance booking via festspielhaus.de, the Festspielhaus app, by phone (07221 3013-101), or by email ([email protected]). Important concerts tend to sell out early.
Accommodation
Baden-Baden has numerous hotels (from luxury to budget), many offering festival packages with accommodation, breakfast, and tickets. Booking through the Baden-Baden Tourist Information is recommended.
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden
With around 2,500 seats, the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is the second-largest opera house in Europe and the largest privately financed concert hall in Germany. Opened in 1998 in the style of a historic train station ("Beim Alten Bahnhof"), it is now one of the most important classical stages in Central Europe. The Pfingstfestspiele and the Easter Festival are part of the house's regular program rhythm.
Pfingstfestspiele 2026 — May 17 to 24
The Pfingstfestspiele 2026 program runs from Pentecost Saturday, May 17, to the following Sunday, May 24. Eight days of festival programming with concerts by the international classical elite, combined with a central concert opera performance and a thematic program focus.
Der Rosenkavalier with SWR Symphony Orchestra
The musical highlight is Richard Strauss' comic opera "Der Rosenkavalier" in a concert performance. The SWR Symphony Orchestra, conducted by its chief conductor François-Xavier Roth, performs the work — one of the most ambitious opera scores of the 20th century with a gigantic orchestral setup, many voices, and a playing time of over four hours. World-class tenor Jonathan Tetelman is announced as Octavian, and the entire ensemble of soloists consists of international top artists.
Pierre Boulez — 100th Birthday
2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the birthday of French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez (1925–2016) — and the Pfingstfestspiele 2026 pays extensive tribute to this personality. Several concerts are dedicated to Boulez's work, including "Le Marteau sans maître," "Pli selon pli," or "sur Incises." In addition, works by composers with whom Boulez worked closely (Stockhausen, Berio, Carter). François-Xavier Roth, who studied with Boulez, is an ideal ambassador for this program line.
Three Stylistic Lines
The 2026 festival program moves along three stylistic lines:
- Baroque and Viennese Classicism: Concerts with historical performance practice ensembles and Baroque specialists
- Strauss and Late Romanticism: centered around "Der Rosenkavalier" with songs, tone poems, and Strauss pupils
- Boulez and the 20th/21st Century: Works from the expressionist and post-war repertoire
In addition, jazz arrangements serve as a connecting element between minuets, waltzes, and modern improvisation — a program line that picks up on Strauss's own love for the swinging dance forms of his time.
Baden-Baden as a Festival City
Baden-Baden is a city in Baden-Württemberg, on the edge of the Black Forest, directly next to the Rhine and the French border. The spa town with its spa culture, casino, Festspielhaus, theater, and numerous galleries is one of the most important cultural cities in southern Germany. Accessible directly by ICE from Frankfurt (1h 30m), Stuttgart (1h), and Strasbourg (1h) — a prime festival city for an international audience.
Where it takes place Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden
Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden at a glance
History of Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden
Edition 2025 May 2025Festivals similar to Pfingstfestspiele Baden-Baden
Festivals near Baden-Baden
Festival-goer reviews
No comments yet. Be the first!. be the first!
No rating yet
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)