stARTfestival Leverkusen 2026

stARTfestival — Bayer Kultur's Cultural Spring

The stARTfestival is the annual spring showcase of Bayer Kultur — the cultural department of the Leverkusen-based pharmaceutical company Bayer AG. From April 17 to June 18, 2026, the festival brings approximately 30 concerts to 6 venues in Leverkusen, Berlin, Weimar, and Wuppertal — with a clear focus on Leverkusen: the Erholungshaus and Scala Opladen are the main stages.

Italy as the Festival Theme 2026

Each year, the stARTfestival dedicates itself to a country or cultural region. In 2026, it's Italy — the country that has influenced Western musical history more than any other: Vivaldi, Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Ennio Morricone. The Italy theme runs through the entire program — from the opening concert with I Dolci Signori on April 17 to performances by Italian and Italian-loving ensembles over two months.

Bayer Kultur — 125 Years of Commitment

Bayer Kultur is one of the oldest and most renowned corporate cultural departments in Germany. For 125 years — the Bayer Brass Band celebrates this anniversary in 2026 — the pharmaceutical company has been actively involved in cultural preservation in its hometown of Leverkusen. The stARTfestival is one of the most important flagships of this work. The Erholungshaus in Leverkusen-Wiesdorf — a Bauhaus architectural gem — is its cultural home.

Program Highlights 2026

Among the approximately 30 program items, some stand out:

• Friday, April 17 — Opening: I Dolci Signori at the Erholungshaus, Italian opening concert
• Friday, April 24 — Chamber Orchestra Vienna-Berlin with Gautier Capuçon: French cellist Capuçon as soloist with the Vienna-Berlin Chamber Orchestra
• Tuesday, April 28 — Kamea Dance Company „Carmina Burana 2.0”: the Israeli dance company interprets Carl Orff's classic
• Tuesday, May 26 — Bayer Brass Band 125th Anniversary: the in-house brass band celebrates its 125th anniversary with a festive jubilee concert
• Saturday, May 30 — Jazzrausch Big Band: the Munich techno-jazz big band, one of Europe's most innovative ensembles

Six Venues Between Leverkusen and Berlin

The 6 venues are distributed as follows:

• Leverkusen — Erholungshaus (main venue) and Scala Opladen
• Berlin — a partner venue for selected concerts
• Weimar — a concert in the context of the classical city
• Wuppertal — Bayer Wuppertal as a corporate venue
• Further venues depending on the program

Leverkusen — City of Bayer and Bayer 04

Leverkusen is an independent city with around 165,000 inhabitants, located on the Rhine between Cologne and Düsseldorf. It is inextricably linked with Bayer AG — the company dominates the cityscape, employment, and culture. The city is also famous for the football club Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which became German champions in 2024. The Erholungshaus is located in the Wiesdorf district, directly on the former Bayer factory site.