17th Hamburg Theatre Festival

At the 17th Hamburger Theater Festival all theatre lovers get their money's worth. Within the framework of the festival, numerous guest performances will be performed on Hamburg stages.

From 2 May to 26 June 2025, the Hamburg Theatre Festival will once again transform the city into a stage for outstanding guest performances from the German-speaking world. Whether classics or contemporary plays – the festival brings current debates, compelling personalities and great acting to renowned stages across Hamburg.

Highlights include Dirty Hands by Jean-Paul Sartre, directed by the Schauspielhaus Zürich, which will open the festival on 2 May at the Thalia Theatre. On 13 and 14 May, the Deutsches Schauspielhaus will present I Don’t Know What a Place Is, I Only Know Its Price by René Pollesch, a joint production by the Volksbühne Berlin and the Schauspielhaus Zürich. At the end of May, on the 28th and 29th, the Berliner Ensemble will guest perform the legendary Threepenny Opera at the same venue. The festival will conclude with Whatever by Marius von Mayenburg, a production by the Burgtheater Vienna, which will be staged again at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus on 25 and 26 June.

Further venues include Kampnagel and the St Pauli Theatre. The stage will feature well-known actors such as Caroline Peters, Wolfram Koch, Ulrich Matthes and Dieter Nuhr.

Who is it particularly suitable for?

The festival is aimed at culture enthusiasts, city break visitors and anyone who wants to experience theatre at the highest level.

A worthwhile next stop

Just a short walk from the venues, a stroll along the Binnenalster is well worth it – a popular meeting spot with its broad water surface and elegant arcades. Right next door, the Kontorhaus District impresses with its extraordinary architecture and Hanseatic heritage.