Sternstunden Festival

Music Under Domes

The Hamburg Observatory in Bergedorf was inaugurated in 1912 and is one of the most beautiful historic observatory complexes in Europe. Domes, refractor buildings, the administration building, and a park are spread over several hectares on a plateau at Gojenbergsweg. Since 2023, this area has become the stage for an extraordinary festival once a year in the summer: Sternstunden brings classical music, electronic beats, and cosmological education into a shared choreography.

Five Stages, Three Worlds

Over two days, the program is spread across five stages within the complex. Concerts by the Bundesjugendorchester (Federal Youth Orchestra) and student ensembles from the university music department alternate with jazz sets and electro-pop acts. In parallel, there are astronomical lectures, telescope observations (sun during the day, possibly moon in the evening), hands-on activities, and curated walks through the refractor buildings.

Sponsorship and Support

The festival is an initiative of the University of Hamburg's music department in cooperation with the Hamburg Observatory and HAW Hamburg. It is supported by the Zeit-Stiftung Bucerius, the Nordmetall-Stiftung, the Buhck-Stiftung, and the Bergedorf district office. A rare alliance of science, higher education, and cultural funding, making an unusual festival format possible.

District Bergedorf, Borough Bergedorf-Zentrum

Bergedorf is Hamburg's easternmost district and also the largest in terms of area. The observatory is located on a hill southeast of the center, clearly visible from the A25 motorway. Those arriving by S-Bahn from Hamburg city center will reach Bergedorf in about 25 minutes, then take a bus or walk to the festival grounds. The event has established itself as a permanent fixture in Northern German summer culture since 2023.