Bregenzer Festspiele

The Bregenz Festival is a must for any culture vulture, with a varied programme of opera performances, orchestral concerts, music and poetry presentations at its outdoor stage, the Festspielhaus (festival hall) and the Lake Studio.

Discover the world’s largest lake stage and immerse yourself in the breathtaking world of opera and cultural history. A 50-minute tour takes visitors behind the scenes of this world-class event, full of interesting facts about the festival’s history and operatic productions.

Since its first premiere in 1946, the Bregenz Festival has become famous around the globe for its stunning setting and jaw-dropping stages. The roots of the festival actually go back to the desire for entertainment in the aftermath of World War II. The city of Bregenz decided to set up a stage at its most beautiful spot, on the shores of Lake Constance, initially using two gravel barges for the first performances – of Mozart’s Bastien et Bastienne. From these humble beginnings, the lake stage rose to international prominence in the 20th century and has since played host to the most famous operas of all time, including The Magic Flute (1985 and 2013), Aida (2010-2011), Turandot (2015-2016), Carmen (2017-2018) and Rigoletto (2019 and 2021). In 2022 and 2023, Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly takes to the stage, led by the Stage Director Andreas Homoki, who is the Artistic Director of the Opernhaus in Zurich.

Alongside the outdoor programme are various indoor performances at the Festspielhaus, with Beatrice Cenci, The Barber of Seville and Moses in Egypt having graced the stage in recent years, along with concerts each summer by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Supporting programmes are offered at the nearby Kunsthaus Bregenz, including an insightful Opera Workshop and a children and youth programme which helps younger visitors make their first steps in the world of art and culture.

Platz der Wiener Symphoniker
6900 Bregenz
www.bregenzerfestspiele.com