Dresden Elbland Highlights: More than just ‘something going on’

15th Semperopernball | 07/02/20
The SemperOperaball is the largest classic entertainment event in Germany and one of the most important European ball events.
› Semperoper Dresden | Theaterplatz

www.semperopernball.de

Bandstand: Good Music! | 14/02/20 - 15/02/20
The largest indoor festival in Dresden, where the representatives of the local band scene present their latest sets
› HELLERAU – European Centre of the Arts

www.hellerau.org

Humorzone Dresden | 11/03/20 - 15/03/20
Dresdenʼs festival of comedy organised by Olaf Schubert.
› various venues

www.humorzone.de

Long Night of the Dresden Theatres (4pm - midnight) | 14/03/20
More than 30 stages will be showcasing extracts from drama, dance, opera and operetta as well as scenic readings, puppet theatre, cabaret and concerts.
› Various venues

www.lange-nacht-der-dresdner-theater.de

Sandstone and Music Festival | 21/03/20 - 06/12/20
Theme for 2020: Freedom and Risk
› various venues

www.sandstein-musik.de

Medieval Easter spectacular | 11/04/20 - 13/04/20
With handicrafts, knights and damsels, music & revelry.
› Schloss Burgk | Freital

Dresden Steam Locomotive Convention | 17/04/20 - 19/04/20
› Dresden Railway Museum | Zwickauer Strasse

www.dresdner-dampfloktreffen.de
www.igbwdresdenaltstadt.de

Tanzwoche Dresden (Dance Festival) | 19/04/20 - 29/04/20
Theme for 2020: Fusions
› various venues

www.tanzwoche.de

Canaletto living tableau | 24/04/20
Reenaction of the famous Canaletto painting set against the original background.
› Pirna

www.pirna.de

ELBE DAY Torgau | 24/04/20 - 26/04/20
A music festival commemorating the 75th anniversary of the historic meeting of the Allies in April 1945.

www.elbeday.de

Madama Butterfly | from 26/04/20
Giacomo Pucciniʼs tragic love story in the staging by Japanese director Miyamoto. Costumes by star designer Kenzo
› Semperoper Dresden

www.semperoper.de

VVO Oberelbe-Marathon | 26/04/20
The distance of this marathon run is 42 km and takes contestants along the Elbe Cycle Route, from “Saxon Switzerland” to Dresden
› Start in Königstein

www.oberelbe-marathon.de

International Children’s Choir Festival | 27/04/20 - 04/05/20
Five childrenʼs choirs from different continents will be in Dresden at the invitation of the childrenʼs choir of the Dresden Philharmonic.
› Kulturpalast Dresden, Frauenkirche

www.dresdnerphilharmonie.de

Fleet Parade of the Saxon Paddle Steamer Fleet | 1/5/2019
Full steam ahead! On May Day, the nine historic paddle steamers and the two saloon ships will set off in line astern formation on their traditional parade from the Dresden embankment to Pillnitz Palace.

www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de

Dresden Music Festival 2020 | 12/05/20 - 12/06/20
Theme for 2020: Nature as an inspiration Around 2,500 artists and contributors on and behind the stage, approximately 60 concerts in 20 atmospheric venues. Guest performers include the New York Philharmonic, the Academy St Martin in the Fields, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. International stars of classical music such as acclaimed piano virtuoso Daniil Trifanov, celebrated soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan, and Martin Grubinger, who is widely regarded as the best drummer in the world.
› various venues

www.musikfestspiele.com

Opening concert of the 2020 Music Festival | 12/05/20
New York Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweeden (conductor), Daniil Trifonov (piano)
› Kulturpalast Dresden

www.musikfestspiele.com

50th International Dixieland Festival | 17/05/20 - 24/05/20
The longest-established old-time jazz festival in Europe
› various venues

www.dixielandfestival-dresden.de

250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven: Complete cycle of the string quartets | 22/05/20 - 24/05/20
› Palais in the Grossen Garten

www.musikfestspiele.com

Karl May Festival | 22/05/20 - 24/05/20
Karl May’s books brought to life.
› Lössnitzgrund | Radebeul

www.karl-may-fest.de

The Return of the Oranges | 23/05/20
Every year, the orange trees are returned from winter storage to the grounds of the Dresden Zwinger in a festive parade.
› Dresdner Zwinger

www.der-dresdner-zwinger.de

XJAZZ Edition Radebeul | 05/06/20 - 07/06/20
Top-class musicians transform Radebeul into a hub for jazz fans and lovers of good music.
› Lutherkirche Radebeul, Weingut Karl Friedrich Aust, Radebeuler Kultur-Bahnhof

www.dynamitekonzerte.com

Frauenkirche Festival Night | 06/06/20
Dresden Music Festival and Frauenkirche Dresden together with Jan Vogler and Daniel Hope present a unique programme featuring international stars and talented newcomers.
› Neumarkt / Frauenkirche Dresden

www.frauenkirche-dresden.de

Meissen Literature Festival | 11/06/20 - 14/06/20
Germany’s largest open-air reading festival in the historic old town Meissen

www.literaturfest-meissen.de

Open days at the Radebeul vineyards | 13/06/20 - 14/06/20
› various venues

www.radebeuler-winzer.de

Neue Burgfestspiele Meissen (New Castle Festival in Meissen) | 13/06/20 - 28/06/20
Experience art and culture in a unique setting.
› Burghof Meissen

www.neue-burgfestspiele-meissen.de

Long Night of Science | 19/06/20
From 6 pm to 1 am, everyone can dabble in science.
› Research institutes and university buildings in Dresden

www.wissenschaftsnacht-dresden.de

BRN – Bunte Republik Neustadt | 19/06/20 - 21/06/20
Festival on the north bank of the Elbe
› Dresdenʼs “alternative quarter”: Äussere Neustadt

www.brn-dresden.de

Filmnächte am Elbufer (Film Nights on the Elbe Embankment) | 26/06/20 - 28/06/20
Film Nights takes place on the embankment of the River Elbe against the stunning night-time silhouette of Dresden’s Old Town. It must surely be the most beautiful open-air cinema and concert festival in Europe.

www.filmnaechte-am-elbufer.de

Palais Sommer | July - August
Summer festival for art, culture and education – free admission
› The park in front of the Japanese Palace

www.palaissommer.de

Scheune Schaubudensommer | July
International summer festival of theatre, entertainment and music
› Scheune Dresden | Äussere Neustadt

www.schaubudensommer.de

Museum Night Dresden | 04/07/20
From 6pm to 1am, 50 museums open their doors to the public. Shuttle bus and tram service to link the various sites.

www.dresden.de/museumsnacht

Dresdner Schlössernacht (Night of the Palaces) | 18/07/20
What a romantic spectacle! The three Elbe Palaces (Schloss Albrechtsberg, Schloss Lingner and Schloss Eckberg) are transformed into a fascinating cultural landscape.
› Elbe castles | Dresden

www.dresdner-schloessernacht.de

Weisseritztalbahn Narrow-Gauge Railway Festival | 18/07/20 - 19/07/20
This steam locomotive rally takes place on the 26km track from Freital-Hainsberg to Kurort Kipsdorf. A great day out for the family.

www.weisseritztalbahn.com

Pirnaer Hofnacht | 01/08/20
Secluded courtyards open their gates to the public for wine and music.
› Pirna town centre

www.pirna.de

ŠKODA Velorace Dresden | 08/08/20 - 09/08/20
Bicycle race through the streets of Dresden, open to professional and amateur riders.

www.sachsentour.org

Moritzburg Festival 2020 | 08/08/20 - 23/08/20
International festival of chamber music
› various venues

www.moritzburgfestival.de

CANALETTO – Dresden City Festival | 14/08/20 - 16/08/20
In thirteen different ‘worlds of experience’ and on eight stages, more than 1,000 artists lay on a diverse programme of music, variety, theatre, family events and sporting activities. Rounding off the festival in style is the grand fireworks display on Sunday evening..

www.Dresdner-Stadtfest.com

Steamer Parade | 15/08/20
7.30 pm - 11 pm, with live bands on board
› Start / fininish: Terrassenufer Dresden

www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de

Music and stallions | 22/08/20 - 23/08/20
Valuable stallions are paraded to a background of classical music in the torch-lit courtyard of the stud farm.
› Historic riding hall at the Moritzburg State Stud

www.saechsische-gestuetsverwaltung.de

Open Winery Days in Saxony / Tage des offenen Weingutes | 29/08/20 - 30/08/20
More than 40 vineyards and wine growers will be opening their doors to the public.

www.dresden-elbland.de

Moritzburg Stallion Parade | 12/09 | 20/09 | 26/09/20
Selected stallions of the state stud at Moritzburg are put through their paces during a four-hour programme.
› Hengstparadestation Moritzburg

www.saechsische-gestuetsverwaltung.de

Schmalspurbahn-Festival auf der Lössnitzgrundbahn | 19/09/20 - 20/09/20
Festival set on the Lössnitzgrundbahn narrow-gauge heritage railway
› Moritzburg railway station

www.loessnitzgrundbahn.de

30th Autumn Wine Festival combined with International Itinerant Theatre Festival | 25/09/20 - 27/09/20
› Historic village green at Radebeul-Altkötzschenbroda
www.weinfest-radebeul.de | www.radebeul.de

Meissen Wine Festival | 25/09/20 - 27/09/20
Wine festival with a big parade
› Meissen Old Town

www.meissner-weinfest.de

Heinrich Schütz Music Festival | 02/10/20 - 11/10/20
The only national festival dedicated to the long-serving Dresden Hofkapellmeister and first German composer of international renown
› various venues

www.schütz-musikfest.de

CYNETART | 16/10/20 - 18/10/20
The only festival in Germany that combines computer science and art.
› Festspielhaus HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts

www.cynetart.org

20th Jazztage Dresden (Jazz Days) | 21/10/20 - 22/11/20
33 days - 40,000 visitors - 500 performers - 30 different countries, featuring artists such as Gregory Porter
› various venues

www.jazztage-dresden.de

DAVE – Festival of Club Culture | 23/10/20 - 01/11/20
Concerts, parties and workshops in 25 clubs across the river in Neustadt.
The acronym DAVE stands for DRESDEN AUDIO VISUAL EXPERIENCE and is essentially an opportunity for the city’s clubs to showcase what they have to offer. DAVE was instituted to raise the profile of the local scene within the city and beyond. It is also intended to provide scope for the next generation of artists and DJs to emerge.
› various venues

www.dave-dresden.net

Fisch- und Waldfest | 26/10 – 27/10/2019
Hauls of caught fish displayed around the castle lake
› Moritzburg 

www.kulturlandschaft-moritzburg.de

Festival week: 150 Years of the Philharmonic | 21/11/20 - 29/11/20
A series of concerts in the Kulturpalast

www.kulturpalast-dresden.de

Christmas in Dresden Elbland opens with the 586th Striezelmarkt and many other themed seasonal markets. | 26/11/20 - 24/12/20
You can find more information about Christmas events in our Christmas brochure 2020 (from August) at www.dresden-weihnachten.info

Thank you, Dresden – The great Advent concert | 19/12/2019
by the Dresdner Kreuzchor
› Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion 

www.kreuzchor.de

Christmas vespers outside the Frauenkirche | 23/12/2019
› Neumarkt Dresden

www.frauenkirche-dresden.de