The Dresden Music Festival offers top-class musical encounters in Dresden presenting a program of more than 60 events in more than 22 venues.
The Dresden Music Festival (Dresdner Musikfestspiele) is one of the largest and most highly acclaimed classical music festivals in Europe, presenting a top-class program of extraordinary density and variety every May and June. In dialogue between the important and leading voices of the classical music scene and the unique cultural and historical surroundings, the festival builds fascinating bridges between tradition and innovation, acting as an ambassador for an open-minded, diverse coexistence.
Since 2009 the internationally renowned cellist Jan Vogler has been the festival’s Artistic Director. Under his leadership, the festival, which was founded in 1978, has further expanded its worldwide renown.
Concerts with internationally celebrated soloists, orchestras and ensembles offer top-class musical encounters during the festival time in Dresden. In addition to stars from the classical music scene renowned artists from the fields of jazz, rock, pop and world music are testament to the exceptional programmatic variety of the festival.
The Dresden Music Festival’s events take place in numerous wonderful locations in and around Dresden. Many of its venues are located in the city center.
More than twenty performance venues – including historical Dresden landmarks such as the Semperoper, the Frauenkirche or the Kulturpalast, but also modern industrial buildings and open-air venues – are transformed into concert stages.
With its unique cultural and historical setting, Dresden ranks among the most attractive destinations for cultural tourism. Breath-taking architecture, museums of international renown (Old Masters Picture Gallery, Green Vault and the Albertinum), Semperoper et al. – Dresden’s city center offers manifold attractions.
But also around Dresden visitors should not miss Radebeul with its vineyards and wine taverns, Moritzburg and its Baroque palace, the city of Meissen (home of European porcelain) or the Saxon Switzerland.
Some performance venues offer drinks and food prior and after the concert. As many venues are located in the city center, a large number of restaurants for any taste and preference can be found.
There is no specific dress code. Feel free to choose your clothing from elegant to casual depending on the event and venue. Dresden has usually agreeable weather conditions in May and June with temperatures ranging from 12 - 25 ºC.
How to get there
By rail - Deutsche Bahn: As the capital of Saxony, Dresden has two main train stations, its Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) and Dresden-Neustadt, which offer connection to all major German cities via ICE, EC and IC trains.
By car: Use the highway A13 or A4 if you come from north (Berlin) or west (Leipzig/Chemnitz). Exit the highway at »Dresden-Hellerau« (from north) or »Dresden-Altstadt« (from west) and follow the signs indicating the city center. If you come from the south (Prague), use the highway A17 and exit the highway at »Dresden-Südvorstadt«.
By plane - Dresden International Airport: The Dresden International Airport lies nine kilometres north of the city center. Transfers to downtown include a S-Bahn commuter rail service that connects the airport to the central station (23 minutes) or a shuttle bus. You can also opt for a taxi which takes 15 to 30 minutes to the city center.
Local accommodation
Dresden offers its visitors a high variety of accommodation - from hotels to guest houses, from hostels to holiday cottages. We recommend to book in advance. The festival’s partner hotels in the city center provide special conditions:
INNSiDE by Meliá, Dresden: Excellent location in the historic center between the world-famous Frauenkirche and Albertinum – a more central starting point for the exploration of the city is hardly possible (up to 20 % discount on your overnight stay)
Townhouse Dresden a Vagabond Club: The Townhouse is located in the heart of the baroque old town, next to the famous Frauenkirche and vis-à-vis the Dresden Zwinger and the Semperoper (15 % discount on your overnight stay)
