Regensburg State Theatre Opening Festival – Season 2026/27
Historic Celebration: Theatre Regensburg becomes the 6th State Theatre of Bavaria – Season Motto "Freiheiten" (Freedoms)
About Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
A Historic Moment for Regensburg
With the 2026/27 season, Theatre Regensburg becomes the sixth State Theatre of Bavaria, following the Bavarian State Opera Munich, the Bavarian State Theatre Company, the Gärtnerplatz State Theatre, the Augsburg State Theatre, and the Nuremberg State Theatre. The official elevation was announced by the Free State of Bavaria on May 8, 2026 – a cultural-political recognition of Regensburg's over 150-year theatre tradition and a significant financial leap for the institution at Bismarckplatz.
The Opening Festival on September 19, 2026
The opening festival combines a theatre celebration with a grand gala. During the day, the theatre opens its doors for backstage tours, costume demonstrations, musical performances, and encounters with the ensemble and artistic direction. The evening features the official Opening Gala, which musically and scenically introduces the season motto Freiheiten. Intendant Sebastian Ritschel emphasizes in his season brochure: "Freedom is fragile, diverse, and places us all in active responsibility, demanding courage and conviction in times of fragile certainties."
The 2026/27 Season in Numbers
- 24 premieres throughout the season
- 8 world premieres
- 1 European premiere
- Four departments: Music Theatre, Drama, Dance, Youth Theatre
- Revivals of successful previous productions
- Concerts and special events
Regensburg as a Theatre City
Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage city on the Danube and the administrative capital of the Upper Palatinate, boasts a continuous theatre history dating back to the 19th century. The theatre at Bismarckplatz, founded in 1804, now operates across several venues – the main house, the Velodrom, and the Theater am Haidplatz. With State Theatre status, the institution receives increased funding, more staff, and greater national prominence.
Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg — edition 2026
The 2026 Opening Festival in Regensburg
On September 19, 2026, the Regensburg State Theatre opens its doors for the first time as a Bavarian State Theatre. The day begins with the Theatre Festival at Bismarckplatz – offering backstage tours, insights into workshops, and encounters with singers, actors, dancers, and the new artistic direction under Sebastian Ritschel. The evening features the Grand Opening Gala, artistically interpreting the season motto Freiheiten: musical highlights from the four departments of music theatre, drama, dance, and youth theatre, combined with speeches from the Bavarian State Government and the City of Regensburg.
Background: On May 8, 2026, the Free State of Bavaria officially declared that Theatre Regensburg would be elevated to the status of the sixth State Theatre of Bavaria – a major cultural-political event. The Opening Gala on September 19 marks the symbolic starting point of this new era.
Programme Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg 2026
Opening Day, September 19, 2026
- Daytime — Theatre Festival: Open house with backstage tours, insights into workshops and costumes, rehearsal excerpts, and open-air musical performances at Bismarckplatz
- Evening — Opening Gala "Freiheiten": Ceremonial event with contributions from all four departments (Music Theatre, Drama, Dance, Youth Theatre), opening speech by Intendant Sebastian Ritschel, keynote address by the Free State of Bavaria
- Season Preview 2026/27: 24 premieres announced, including 8 world premieres and 1 European premiere. Specific premieres and program details will be published on staatstheater-regensburg.de.
The detailed schedule for the gala will be published on the theatre's website approximately eight weeks before September 19.
Highlights Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg 2026
Prices Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg 2026
Practical information — Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg
Getting There
Bismarckplatz is located in the center of Regensburg, a short walk from the main train station (~10 minutes). By car, take the A3 (Regensburg-Pfaffenstein) or A93 (Regensburg-Kumpfmühl) motorways. Parking garages in the city center include: Petersweg, Theater Parkhaus, Dachauplatz.
Tickets
Tickets for the Opening Gala are available from the theatre box office at Bismarckplatz 7 (Tel. 0941 5072424) or online. Some daytime theatre festival events are free of charge.
Accommodation
Hotels in the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town should be booked well in advance for the festival weekend.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
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 reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Opening Festival State Theatre Regensburg
Theater am Bismarckplatz, Staatstheater Regensburg
Bismarckplatz 7, 93047 Regensburg