German cultural institutions launch new 2026/27 performance seasons

Cultural institutions in Germany are launching new performance seasons for 2026/27. The MDR ensembles, including the MDR Symphony Orchestra, MDR Radio Choir, and MDR Children's Choir, will begin their season on September 13, 2026, at the Gewandhaus Leipzig. The opening program features Robert Schumann’s oratorio ‘Das Paradies und die Peri’, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. The season follows the theme ‘Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends’ and will consist of 60 concerts across Central Germany.

In Bautzen, the German-Sorbian Folk Theatre has announced approximately 20 premieres for its upcoming season. The repertoire includes classics such as Friedrich Schiller’s ‘Kabale und Liebe’, Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, and Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’, alongside fairy tales, puppet shows, and dance theater. Artistic director Lutz Hillmann stated the season aims to emphasize diversity and regional roots while presenting works in both German and Sorbian languages.