Putbus Festival
Classical Music Festival at the Putbus Theatre on the Island of Rügen
2026
About Putbus Festival
Putbus Festival — edition 2026
Putbus Festival 2026 — "Finding the Special"
The 2026 edition runs from May 14th to 25th, from Ascension Day to Pentecost, under the motto "Finding the Special."
The festival opens on May 14th with the concert "Klassik lebt I" (Classical Music Lives I) by the Kammersymphonie Berlin. Over the nearly two weeks, orchestral concerts, chamber music, a cappella singing, dance theatre, children's theatre, and visual arts will meet. Highlights include the ballet gala by the State Ballet School Berlin, the Korean dance ensemble 4JIT from Seoul, and the orchestral concert "Klassik lebt II" (Classical Music Lives II) by the Prussian Chamber Orchestra. The free open-air concert "Musik im Park" (Music in the Park) on May 24th concludes the festival in a public-friendly manner.
Highlights Putbus Festival 2026
- Festival Motto 2026: "Finding the Special"
- Opening with the Kammersymphonie Berlin on May 14th
- Ballet gala by the State Ballet School Berlin
- Dance ensemble 4JIT from Seoul
- Orchestral concert "Klassik lebt II" with the Prussian Chamber Orchestra
- Free open-air concert "Musik im Park" on May 24th
Programme Putbus Festival 2026
Programme Putbus Festival 2026 (Selection)
Venues: Putbus Theatre (Markt 13), Palace Park, Palace Church, Orangery.
- May 14th — Opening "Klassik lebt I": Kammersymphonie Berlin with children's choir, Putbus Theatre.
- May 15th — Musik Salon 7+1: Seven international chamber musicians, accompanied by live drawings by Otto Sperlich.
- May 16th — "Hören und Swingen" (Listen and Swing): A cappella ensemble "Berlins 4"; in the evening, music dinner "Hören und Genießen" (Listen and Enjoy).
- May 17th — Dance Theatre for Children: "The Little Prince," German Dance Company Neustrelitz.
- May 20th — Concert "Gran Partita": Camerata of the Federal Doctors' Philharmonic Orchestra.
- May 21st — Ballet Gala: State Ballet School Berlin.
- May 22nd — "Klassik lebt II": Prussian Chamber Orchestra.
- May 23rd — "Harald Sumik – Resonances": Homage to Keith Jarrett; also "Hören, Sehen, Staunen" (Listen, See, Marvel) with the ensemble 4JIT from Seoul.
- May 24th — "Musik im Park": Free open-air concert in the Palace Park.
- May 25th — Closing Concert: Thomas Putensen and Philharmonic Orchestra; also an exhibition on the Rügen composer and painter Wolfgang Jacobi.
The complete programme will be published by the Friends of the Putbus Theatre at theater-putbus.de.
Prices Putbus Festival 2026
Tickets range from 10 to 48 Euros depending on the event. When booking three events, the Friends association grants a 20% package discount. The open-air concert "Musik im Park" on May 24th is free (donations welcome). Theatre box office open Tuesdays to Fridays, telephone +49 38301 808330.
Practical information — Putbus Festival
Getting There
By Train: via Stralsund to Bergen auf Rügen, then by regional train or the "Rasender Roland" narrow-gauge railway to Putbus. By Car: via the B96 and the Rügendamm. The Putbus Theatre is located at Markt 13.
Tickets
Tickets range from 10 to 48 Euros depending on the event. When booking three events, the Friends association grants a 20% package discount. Theatre box office open Tuesdays to Fridays, telephone +49 38301 808330. A theatre shuttle service is offered.
On Site
For concerts in the Palace Church and Orangery, please bring warm clothing. The open-air concert "Musik im Park" is free – bring a camping chair and a picnic.
Festival in the White Town
Putbus in the south of the island of Rügen is an architectural gem of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a neoclassical residential town that Prince Wilhelm Malte zu Putbus had systematically laid out in the 19th century – with white buildings, the circular "Circus," and a sprawling palace park. It is within this ensemble that the Putbus Festival takes place annually, the festival of the Putbus Theatre, the island's oldest stage.
A Diverse Programme
The Putbus Festival is not purely a concert festival, but a broad cultural celebration. The programme includes chamber concerts and orchestral concerts, dance theatre and ballet, children's theatre, music dinners, and exhibitions of visual arts. The popular "Hören und…" (Listen and…) series combines music with enjoyment, singing, or visual arts, giving the festival its distinctive character.
Venues Around the Theatre
Several locations in the town are used: the Putbus Theatre at Markt 13 as the central stage, the Palace Park with the free open-air concert "Musik im Park" (Music in the Park), the Palace Church, and the Orangery. Thus, the entire neoclassical town layout becomes part of the festival.
Tradition Since 2003 — and Earlier
The Putbus Festival in its current form has existed since 2003 and is supported by the Friends of the Putbus Theatre association. It builds upon an older festival tradition that was shaped by Wilhelm Keitel between 1982 and 2002. This means the musical festivals in Putbus date back over four decades.
Putbus, Rügen, and Cultural Heritage
Putbus is located in the Vorpommern-Rügen district. With its theatre, palace park, and festival tradition, the town is a cultural centre of the island. The Putbus Festival makes the Pentecost period the highlight of Putbus's cultural year, attracting music lovers from all over Northern Germany.
Where it takes place Putbus Festival
Putbus Festival at a glance
History of Putbus Festival
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