Hanau's Brüder Grimm Festspiele draw 91,000 visitors despite heat‑wave cancellations

The 42nd Brüder Grimm Festspiele in Hanau ran from 8 May to 31 July, featuring theatre, musicals, readings, workshops and behind‑the‑scenes tours. Over 91,000 people attended the performances in the city’s amphitheatre.

A severe heat wave at the end of June forced organisers to cancel eight shows for safety reasons. Officials said that without the cancellations the festival could have attracted about 92,000 visitors, surpassing the 2025 record. The fairy‑tale production “Snow White” was the season’s biggest draw, with more than 30,500 attendees.

Mayor Claus Kaminsky (SPD) praised the decision to cancel shows, emphasizing audience and staff safety, while festival director Frank‑Lorenz Engel highlighted the strong community support despite the extreme weather.