Theaterfest Staatstheater Kassel
Intermedial art and theatre event for the opening of the 2026/27 season at Papinplatz
About Theaterfest Kassel
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Season Opening as City Theatre
The Theaterfest of the Staatstheater Kassel is not what the name might suggest: neither a classic open house nor a commercial city festival, but an artistic opening event for the new season that deliberately brings the theatre into public space. From August 28 to September 6, 2026, the Papinplatz next to the Schauspielhaus will become an intermedial art and theatre stage – ten days on which performance, concert, dance, and installation will fill the entire square.
Kick-off for the 2026/27 Season
The Theaterfest is the official kick-off for the 2026/27 season – a season that the Staatstheater Kassel ambitiously spans across five departments: Music Theatre, Drama, Dance, Concert, and Youth Theatre. A total of seven opera premieres and two world premieres are planned, including Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer to open the Music Theatre department (September 19, 2026, at the INTERIM). In Drama, the new Artistic Director Sarah Franke debuts with the opening production End of Beginnings, ich fühl's!.
525 Years of Staatsorchester
The Theaterfest falls within the lead-up to a special anniversary: in 2027, the Staatsorchester Kassel celebrates its 525th anniversary – the Hessian tradition dates back to the time of the Landgraves. Former General Music Directors will return for special concerts in the coming season. The Theaterfest sets the tone for this anniversary year, and the Staatsorchester will be represented with its own program points in the Theaterfest lineup.
Papinplatz as a Stage
The venue is the Papinplatz directly next to the Schauspielhaus, in Kassel's city center near Karlsplatz. While the main stage of the Opera House is currently being renovated and the INTERIM serves as an alternative venue, part of the theatre life is explicitly moving to the streets. Local cooperation partners, independent groups, and the ensemble itself jointly create a program that conceives public space as a stage.
Tanz_Kassel and Youth Theatre
The dance department TANZ_KASSEL will present performances from its new season theme Pietà – the Emancipation of the Body in a World Without Certainties. Choreographers such as Andrea Peña and Hofesh Shechter are scheduled for the season. The Youth Theatre will offer interactive formats for children and teenagers.
Kassel as a Theatre Location
With its four departments and around 700 employees, the Staatstheater Kassel is one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in Germany. The documenta city of Kassel already positions itself culturally in an unusual way for a medium-sized city – the Theaterfest is part of this self-image.
Theaterfest Kassel — edition 2026
Season opening with performances, concerts, dance, and installations in public space. Venue: Papinplatz and Schauspielhaus / INTERIM. Detailed program will be published on staatstheater-kassel.de.
Programme Theaterfest Kassel 2026
Season Kick-off 2026/27 — Theaterfest Context
- Ten-day Theaterfest at Papinplatz to open the 2026/27 season
- Performances from all departments (Music Theatre, Drama, Dance, Concert, Youth Theatre)
- Intermedial installation and art in public space
- Participation of local cooperation partners and independent groups
Accompanying Season Premieres (around the Theaterfest)
- September 19, 2026 — Richard Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer, opening of the Music Theatre department at the INTERIM
- Drama Opening — End of Beginnings, ich fühl's!, new Artistic Director Sarah Franke
- Seven opera premieres in the season (incl. Donizetti, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn)
- Two world premieres
- TANZ_KASSEL: Season theme Pietà – the Emancipation of the Body in a World Without Certainties with choreographers like Andrea Peña and Hofesh Shechter
- Program leading up to the 525th anniversary of the Staatsorchester Kassel in 2027 — former General Music Directors as guest conductors
Daily detailed program for the Theaterfest at staatstheater-kassel.de.
Highlights Theaterfest Kassel 2026
- Ten-day season opening
- Papinplatz as a public theatre space
- Intermedial performances and installations
- Kick-off for the 525th anniversary of the Staatsorchester
- Opening of the new Drama direction by Sarah Franke
- A large part of the program is accessible free of charge
Prices Theaterfest Kassel 2026
Program at Papinplatz is mostly free. Regular theatre performances in the Schauspielhaus and INTERIM are ticketed – tickets via the Staatstheater website.
Practical information — Theaterfest Kassel
Getting There
By tram: Line 1, 3, or 4 to Königsplatz or Friedrichsplatz, then walk to Schauspielhaus / Papinplatz. By train: Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe (ICE) or Kassel Hbf, then take a tram to the city center.
Admission
Admission to the Papinplatz program is mostly free. Some performances and productions in the Schauspielhaus / INTERIM are ticketed – tickets available at staatstheater-kassel.de.
Tip
If you want to experience the entire Theaterfest, it's best to plan a weekend. The exact daily program will be published by the Staatstheater Kassel on the festival website and can be viewed online.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Theaterfest Kassel al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Theaterfest Kassel
Papinplatz und Staatstheater Kassel (Schauspielhaus / INTERIM)
Papinplatz, 34117 Kassel