Festtage Staatsoper Berlin

The festive days at the Staatsoper Berlin at a glance

The Berlin State Opera's festival is the eagerly awaited annual highlight of Berlin's classical music world. To give Easter a very special musical touch, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden attracts international music lovers to its concert halls. The Staatskapelle Berlin is at the heart of the classical music festival and is regularly accompanied by soloists from all over the world.

The festival is known for its outstanding opera and concert performances with international stars, exciting new productions and premieres:
General Music Director Christian Thielemann will be at the conductor's podium right at the start of the 2026 festival, conducting Richard Strauss's ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ in a magnificent production by multimedia artist André Heller.

Giuseppe Verdi's ‘Un ballo in maschera’ will be the premiere of this year's festival programme, featuring a particularly high-calibre cast including Anna Netrebko, Charles Castronovo and Ludovic Tézier.

At the Festtage Liederabend, Matthias Goerne, one of the most prominent lieder singers of our time, will present Franz Schubert's ‘Die schöne Müllerin’ accompanied by Markus Hinterhäuser on the piano.

The 2026 festival will be rounded off by the ‘Good Friday Concert’ of the Staatskapelle Berlin and the State Opera Choir, who will perform Brahms' ‘German Requiem’ in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall under the baton of their general music director.

What makes the Berlin State Opera's festival so special

• National and international stars: Every year, yet never the same. Once again this year, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden welcomes many internationally renowned artists, including Anna Netrebko, Ludovic Tézier, Charles Castronovo, Matthias Goerne, Julia Kleiter and many more.
  

• Broad repertoire: The festival programme is always varied: in addition to dramatic grand opera (Un ballo in maschera), the opera programme also includes a ‘comedy for music’ (Der Rosenkavalier).
  

• Old meets new: the Staatsoper has been a feature of Berlin's cityscape since 1743 – and yet it remains committed to artistic modernity every single day.
  

The history of the Berlin State Opera Festival

The State Opera Festival was launched in 1996 by the Argentine-Israeli star conductor Daniel Barenboim. It quickly established itself as one of the world's most important classical music events. Barenboim was then General Music Director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and also regularly enriched the programme as a pianist.
Christian Thielemann succeeded him as General Music Director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in the 2024/25 season. He will be conducting ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ and the Festtage concert of the Staatskapelle Berlin during the 2026 Festtage.

Our tips for your visit to the Berlin State Opera's festive season

• Tickets and seat selection: The Berlin State Opera's festive season is one of the most sought-after classical music events in the city. So be sure to secure your tickets in good time.
  

• A look behind the scenes: Before and during the festive season, there are always opportunities to take one of the guided tours of the listed Staatsoper Unter den Linden. This gives you an exciting insight behind doors that are otherwise closed to the public.
  

• Explore the area: The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is located in Berlin-Mitte, not far from Museum Island. After an exhilarating concert experience, there is hardly a more beautiful place to stand by the water and reflect on the music.