PODIUM Festival Esslingen

PODIUM Festival — Music Against Alienation

The PODIUM Festival Esslingen is one of the most innovative classical and crossover festivals in Germany — and 2026 features a special edition. From April 30 to May 10, 2026, the season runs under the motto "MUSIC FOR ALIENS". The motto refers to both extraterrestrial themes and earthly strangeness — the experience of being different in a society that increasingly alienates its members from one another. The festival asks whether and how music can bridge distances — a programmatic statement that shapes the concept of all concerts and events.

Over 20 Concerts at Extraordinary Venues

A hallmark of the PODIUM Festival is the selection of venues: not conventional concert halls, but spaces adapted to the character of the respective production. For the 2026 festival, the festival team and its guests will perform in:

• Stadtkirche St. Dionys — the late Gothic main church of Esslingen's old town, one of the oldest churches in Southern Germany
• Industriehalle Oberesslingen — a concrete industrial area used for rave and electronic performances
• Villa Merkel — the municipal art gallery, used for intimate concerts and visual programs
• KOMMA — Esslingen's socio-cultural center, a classic concert venue
• Württembergische Landesbühne — Esslingen's theater, used for crossover productions
• Further venues in city districts — neighborhood concerts as a connecting element between the festival and the city's population

Program — Orchestras, Theater, Open Air, Interaction

The program includes:

• Orchestral concerts with large ensembles — mostly in the Stadtkirche St. Dionys
• Theater performances with musical accompaniment at the Württembergische Landesbühne
• Neighborhood concerts in Esslingen's districts — accessible concerts in parish churches, schools, community centers
• Open-air events in Esslingen's spring courtyards and squares
• Interactive formats — concerts with audience participation, immersive soundscapes, crossover performances

The festival kicks off on March 1, 2026, with a prologue, followed by a grand opening celebration on April 25, 2026, and the annual neighborhood concerts in March. The main phase runs from April 30 to May 10, complemented by a closing concert.

Last Edition Under Artistic Director Joosten Ellée

2026 is a special edition: it is the last festival edition under the artistic direction of Joosten Ellée, who has led and shaped the PODIUM Festival programmatically for several years. With "MUSIC FOR ALIENS," Ellée sets a final programmatic focus — themes of connection, bridge-building, and music as a socially overcoming medium shape the selection. Those who visit the festival this year will experience the end of an era and the beginning of the search for new artistic leadership.

PODIUM.tuned — The Year-Round Program

The festival is embedded in the PODIUM.tuned program, which offers neighborhood concerts and community engagement throughout the year. This activity makes the PODIUM Festival not just a 10-day event, but a year-round pulsating cultural project with a lasting impact on Esslingen's city society.

Esslingen am Neckar — The Medieval City

Esslingen am Neckar, with around 94,000 inhabitants, is a city in the Esslingen district and one of Württemberg's oldest cities with rich medieval substance. The old town with its half-timbered houses, the Esslingen Castle high above the Neckar valley, and the Frauenkirche are worth seeing. With about 5 km of city walls, Germany's oldest sparkling wine cellar (Kessler Sekt, founded 1826), and the oldest pharmacy (16th century), the city has a unique historical character. In summer, Esslingen is a meeting point for wine hikes, castle tours, and boat trips on the Neckar. The PODIUM Festival is the cultural highlight of the Esslingen spring.