Thuringian Palace Days Weimar
Whitsun in the Weimar Palaces and Parks of the Klassik Stiftung under the motto «Travelling People and Courtly Theatre»
About Palace Days Weimar
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Whitsun in Weimar's Palaces
The Thuringian Palace Days are the annual Whitsun festival of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar and its partners from the Thuringian Treasury. From May 22 to 25, 2026, 13 cultural institutions with over 20 residences throughout Thuringia will open their doors — Weimar, with its palaces, parks, and the Klassik-Stiftung, forms the centre. The 2026 motto — «Performed! Travelling People and Courtly Theatre» — takes the tension between travelling artists and courtly representation as its guiding principle.
Schloss Belvedere and Schloss Tiefurt at the Centre
The two Baroque pleasure palaces on the outskirts of Weimar are the most important festival venues:
- Schloss Belvedere with its park — summer residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, today a museum of Rococo furniture and courtly art. During the Palace Days, «Adventure Garden» backpack tours for families
- Schloss Tiefurt with its park — summer seat of Duchess Anna Amalia and her literary circle. Constantin Festival on May 23, 2026 with its 250th anniversary (Prince Constantin in Tiefurt)
- Stadtschloss Weimar — Wittumspalais and Dichterzimmer (Poets' Rooms)
- Park an der Ilm with the Goethe Garden House
«Travelling People and Courtly Theatre»
The 2026 motto explores how travelling artists — theatre troupes, musicians, acrobats, dancers — used the palace rooms as a stage. The highly cultured courts needed the «travelling people» for their entertainment but kept them at a distance through access restrictions. This tension of mobility, privilege, and audience runs through the entire programme of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts.
Highlights 2026
- «Goethe and the Women» — literary-musical performance
- «Goethe Times, Bad Times» — Weimar Cabaret in the tradition of political cabaret
- Liedstadt Festival Weimar — hourly concerts with various artists on May 23, all concerts free of charge
- Themed tours through the Dichterzimmer, the restored palace chapel, and the Wittumspalais
- Ekhof Theatre in Friedenstein Castle (Gotha) — one of the world's second-oldest Baroque theatres with preserved stage machinery
- Workshops: Building a card theatre, Puppet making, experiencing palace history
- «Adventure Garden» backpack tours in Schloss Belvedere for families
- Free rally activities for children in Schloss Kochberg
- App «Weimar+» with audio guides and interactive content for children, rental devices available at museum ticket offices
Weimar — Treasury of German Culture
The city of Weimar (approx. 65,000 inhabitants) in the state of Thuringia has been the most important German cultural centre since the time of Goethe, Schiller, and Herder and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998. The Klassik Stiftung Weimar manages 25 museums, libraries, palaces, and parks, making it one of Germany's largest cultural institutions. The Palace Days annually open the entire ensemble for a joint festival — an ideal opportunity to experience Weimar's cultural heritage in its breadth.
Palace Days Weimar — edition 2026
2026 Edition — Travelling People and Courtly Theatre
Four days of festival, 13 cultural institutions, over 20 residences — the 2026 Thuringian Palace Days open the palaces and parks of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar and its partners from the Thuringian Treasury. Weimar forms the centre with Belvedere, Tiefurt, Stadtschloss, and Park an der Ilm.
The motto «Performed! Travelling People and Courtly Theatre» explores the tension between travelling artists and courtly representation — a perfect bridge between historical performance practice and contemporary guest performances.
Programme Palace Days Weimar 2026
Thursday, May 22, 2026 — Opening
- Opening event at Schloss Belvedere
- Themed tours through the Dichterzimmer
- Concert in the palace chapel
Friday, May 23, 2026 — Liedstadt and Constantin Festival
- Constantin Festival at Schloss and Park Tiefurt — 250 years of Constantin in Tiefurt
- Liedstadt Festival Weimar — hourly concerts with various artists, all concerts free of charge
- Themed tours
Saturday, May 24, 2026 — Main Programme Day
- «Goethe and the Women» — literary-musical performance
- «Goethe Times, Bad Times» — Weimar Cabaret
- «Adventure Garden» backpack tours at Schloss Belvedere for families
- Card theatre and puppet-making workshops
- Chamber concerts in the palace library
Sunday, May 25, 2026 (Whit Sunday/Monday) — Festival Finale
- Classical Croquet in the Co-Labor
- Free rally activities for children at Schloss Kochberg
- Festival concert to conclude the event
- Symphonic performances
Other Venues in Thuringia
- Ekhof Theatre at Schloss Friedenstein Gotha — world's second-oldest Baroque theatre with preserved stage machinery
- Schloss Altenburg, Schloss Heldburg, Schloss Molsdorf
Detailed programme with all concert times, tickets, and travel information at klassik-stiftung.de and schatzkammer-thueringen.de.
Highlights Palace Days Weimar 2026
- Whitsun festival from May 22-25, 2026, in Weimar's palaces and parks
- Motto «Performed! Travelling People and Courtly Theatre»
- Constantin Festival at Schloss Tiefurt on May 23 — 250 years of Constantin
- Liedstadt Festival Weimar with hourly free concerts on May 23
- Performances «Goethe and the Women» and «Goethe Times, Bad Times»
- Ekhof Theatre at Schloss Friedenstein Gotha — world's second-oldest Baroque theatre
- Family programme with «Adventure Garden» backpack tours and free rallies
- «Weimar+» app with audio guides and interactive content
- UNESCO World Heritage backdrop
Prices Palace Days Weimar 2026
Concert and performance tickets available via tickets.klassik-stiftung.de. Liedstadt concerts on May 23, 2026, are free. Palace tours and family activities are priced differently — some free, others at museum rates (€5-15). Day and festival passes available.
Practical information — Palace Days Weimar
Date 2026
Whitsun, May 22-25, 2026 (Thursday to Whit Monday).
Venues (Selection)
Schloss Belvedere, Schloss Tiefurt, Stadtschloss Weimar, Park an der Ilm. Further palaces in Thuringia: Schloss Altenburg, Schloss Friedenstein Gotha (Ekhof Theatre), Schloss Heldburg, Schloss Molsdorf, Schloss Kochberg, among others.
Tickets
Advance booking via tickets.klassik-stiftung.de. Some programme items (Liedstadt on May 23, family activities) are free. Day tickets and festival passes available.
Getting There
By train: ICE/IC to Weimar Hauptbahnhof. Schloss Belvedere by bus line 11 from Goetheplatz. Schloss Tiefurt by bus line 3.
Special Information
Palace Children's Day separately on September 20, 2026. App «Weimar+» is free, rental devices at museum ticket offices.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Palace Days Weimar
Schloss Belvedere, Schloss Tiefurt, Stadtschloss und Park an der Ilm
Schloss Belvedere, 99425 Weimar