Discover romance

Dresden, 13 January 2026. Dresden is dedicating the year 2026 entirely to Carl Maria von Weber. To mark the 200th anniversary of the composer's death on 5 June 2026, the state capital, together with numerous cultural institutions, is honouring the life, work and lasting influence of one of the most important representatives of German Romanticism. Under the motto ‘Discover Romanticism. Festival Year 2026,’ guests and locals alike can look forward to a multifaceted programme of concerts, opera performances, exhibitions, lectures and experiences in Dresden and the entire Dresden Elbland region. Dresden Marketing GmbH (DMG) is supporting the anniversary year with targeted communication measures, including a dedicated flyer, a website and a newly developed Weber Trail that connects the composer's key locations. Corinne Miseer, Managing Director of DMG: "Weber and Wagner have lasting tourism potential for our destination in Germany and selected foreign markets. Both are very exciting and well-known musical personalities with whom we can appeal to all generations and once again underline our importance as a world-class music metropolis."

Carl Maria von Weber lived and worked in Dresden from 1817 until his death in 1826. As Royal Kapellmeister and Director of the German Opera at the Dresden Court Theatre, he had a lasting influence on the city's musical life. Under his influence, Dresden became a centre of musical Romanticism, and it was here that he composed his most famous work, the opera ‘Der Freischütz’.  Weber died in London in 1826. On the initiative of Richard Wagner, Weber's remains were transferred to Dresden in 1844. His final resting place is in the Old Catholic Cemetery in Friedrichstadt.

Programme highlights 2026

One of the highlights of the anniversary year will be the opening concert of the Dresden Music Festival with Weber's Jubel-Ouvertüre (15 May 2026). The Saxon State and University Library (SLUB) holds numerous autographs, letters and musical manuscripts by Weber and will be displaying them in the special exhibition ‘No Freischütz for Dresden. Carl Maria von Weber and German opera’ from 3 February to 6 June 2026.

The Landesbühnen Sachsen theatre company is dedicating two productions to the anniversary year: Der Freischütz and Silvana. Der Freischütz is particularly impressive on the Felsenbühne Rathen stage, thanks to the atmospheric staging in the natural surroundings of Saxon Switzerland. The romantic opera Silvana at the Landesbühnen Sachsen theatre company, on the other hand, allows Weber's early masterpiece to be rediscovered (dates from March to June 2026).

From 28 March to 6 September 2026, the Kügelgenhaus – Museum of Dresden Romanticism will focus on the two contemporaries and influential figures of Romanticism in an exhibition entitled ‘WO SCHATTEN WOHNEN – E.T.A. Hoffmann, Carl Maria von Weber und das Dunkle in der Romantik’ (Where Shadows Dwell – E.T.A. Hoffmann, Carl Maria von Weber and the Dark Side of Romanticism).

The Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden is also participating in the anniversary year. On 29 May 2026, the choir and symphony orchestra of the renowned university will perform forgotten choral symphonic works by Weber, among other pieces, in the large concert hall of the University of Music in Dresden. Both the Dresden Philharmonic and the Saxon State Opera and the Saxon State Orchestra Dresden will honour Weber's legacy in several concerts. The Young Symphony Orchestra and the Big Band of the Saxon State Music School invite you to ‘Weber meets Jazz’ at the Kulturpalast Dresden on 30 March 2026.

Close to the artist and the man. Weber locations in Dresden

Those who want to get to know Weber beyond his music will have the opportunity to do so in Dresden and the Elbe region. Authentic locations have been preserved, marked and linked to form themed routes. This makes the search for Weber's traces an experience not only for connoisseurs of his oeuvre. The central locations in Dresden Elbland include the Carl Maria von Weber Museum in Hosterwitz/Pillnitz (reopening in autumn 2029 after extensive renovation), the Carl Maria von Weber monument on Dresden's Theaterplatz and Weber's former residences on Altmarkt and Neumarkt.

The Weber stations are combined into three tours on Komoot: one tour on the old town side, one between the Baroque quarter and the three Elbe castles, and one tour through Hosterwitz and Pillnitz.

Everything about Weber in Dresden Elbland can be found at www.visit-dresden-elbland.de/weber.