A stage for international artists
Dancers, directors, musicians and other creative artists make for a unique atmosphere in Stuttgart. Each year in the summer months, Baden-Württemberg's state capital becomes a festival city: artists from all over the world present their work – with a broad spectrum ranging from films to dance and music.
International Bachfestival
From 13th to 28th March 2026, the International Bach Academy will host the International Bach Festival Stuttgart. Stuttgart's largest classical music festival combines tradition and innovation under the motto “Weil wir Bach lieben!” (“Because we love Bach!”). Following its premiere in 2025, the Bach Festival will take place annually around Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday, bringing together young musicians and renowned artists and ensembles from around the world.
Additional information under: www.bachfest-stuttgart.de
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
From 5th to 10th May 2026 the best of animated film can be seen at the 33rd International Festival of Animated Film (Trickfilmfestival). The festival covers the entire spectrum of current developments in the field of animated film and its interfaces with visual effects, architecture, art, design, music and games. The films screened at cinemas in Stuttgart's city centre and also at the "Festival Garden" – the informal and free open-air cinema on Palace Square – will delight not only film enthusiasts. The large LED projection screen allows for shows of animated short films and popular features to be screened day and night. The Festival offers a platform to filmmakers, directors and production companies to present their films. There's also a varied fringe programme ranging from school and studio presentations to retrospective and screenplay workshops with leading experts. The festival, founded in 1982, has developed into the core event for animation film in Germany and now ranks as one of the biggest and most important festivals of animated film in the world.
The FMX Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Immersive Media is Europe's most influential congress for digital entertainment. Artists, scientists and producers meet to discuss the latest production issues and technologies. The FMX will be held from 5th to 8th May 2026.
Additional information under: www.itfs.de/en
SWR Summer Festival
Every two years the SWR Summer Festival on Stuttgart's Palace Square presents a varied programme of entertainment. From 22nd to 25th May 2026 visitors can stroll around the festival and gain idyllic backdrop of the New Palace. A special highlight for more than ten years now has also been a showing of the new "Tatort" TV thriller in a unique setting. Audiences can enjoy the Stuttgart "Tatort" on the festival stage before its first official TV broadcast. This attracts more visitors than any other SWR event.
Additional information under: www.swr.de/sommerfestival/stuttgart
Kessel Festival
Following its successful premiere in 2019, the Kessel Festival, which takes its name from the Stuttgart "Kessel", or valley basin, will be held for the sixth time on 26th and 27th June 2026 at the Cannstatter Wasen fairground, the equestrian stadium and on the R. Neckar. The music, sports and culture festival offers a wide range of attractions. Established, German stars of the music scene such as Nina Chuba, SDP and Juli will perform on the main stage, while the Kulturbühne provides a platform for younger, up-and-coming musicians. (Ball) sports clubs from Stuttgart and the surrounding region invite visitors to join in or watch the sports or fun sports events. There's hands-on future-oriented ideas to discover at the Übermorgen (Day after Tomorrow) Market, and various interactive events for children and families round off the festival program.
Additional information under: www.kesselfestival.de
Jazz Open Stuttgart
In the summer of 2026 Baden-Württemberg's state capital will once again be the hotspot of the jazz scene: for the 32nd time now, stars of the international jazz, blues, soul and pop scene will meet in Stuttgart from 1st to 12th July 2026 to perform at the Jazz Open Stuttgart.
Apart from the festival stage on the forecourt of the New Palace (Neues Schloss), concerts can also be heard during the twelve days of the festival at the Sparda Welt event centre and on the inner courtyard of the Old Palace. In addition, the Clubbühne of the BIX Jazzclub presents a selection of concerts more or less throughout the festival. There are also free concerts at the "open stages" at the StadtPalais – Museum for Stuttgart on Charlottenplatz, the music pavilion on Palace Square, in the Church “Domkirche St. Eberhard”, the Stuttgart Museum of Art, the Dorotheen Quartier, and the City Library.
This summer the Jazz Open Stuttgart will once again bring big names to Baden-Württemberg's state capital. This year's Jazz Open will be opened on Palace Square by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, who will perform songs from the Australian superstar's four-decade-long career. Other highlights include Katy Perry, one of the most successful artists in music history, US rock star Lenny Kravitz, and electro-pop specialist Moby, who will perform at the finale on 12th July.
Additional information under: www.jazzopen.com
Ballet in the Park
Each summer since 2007 the Stuttgart Ballet has invited audiences to its "Ballet in the Park" public viewing event in the Oberer Schlossgarten (Palace Gardens). As the dancers of the Stuttgart Ballet pirouette over the stage of Stuttgart's Opera House, thousands of spectators can watch their performance out of doors, seated on their picnic blankets around the Eckensee Lake – completely free of charge. On 25th July 2026, the Stuttgart Ballet will celebrate 20 years of Ballet in the Park with a gala performance on stage at the Opera House and on screen in the Upper Palace Gardens. Excerpts from the classical repertoire and modern pieces will be performed. Soloists and the entire ensemble will look back on the success story of Ballet in the Park. While dance enthusiasts can enjoy the performance of the top-calibre Stuttgart Ballet on the Saturday evening, on the Sunday morning (26th July 2026) it's the turn of the company's up-and-coming young dancers to be seen live on the screen, when the students of the famous John Cranko School invite audiences to their matinée.
Additional information under: www.stuttgart-ballet.de
Indian Film Festival
In 2026 it will once again be "Namasté India" in Stuttgart. For the 23rd time, from 22nd to 26th July 2026, the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg will stage Germany's only Indian Film Festival at the Metropol Cinema in Stuttgart. As in previous years, numerous directors, actors and producers will come to Stuttgart to present their films in person. The extremely varied programme includes not only the great Bollywood blockbusters, but also a wide range of documentary and short films, giving an overview of the entire scope of the Indian film industry. Thanks to the diversity of the films presented, a host of European and world premieres, and competitions in the categories "Best Feature Film", "Best Short Film", "Best Documentary" and "Director's Vision Award", as well as the People's Choice Award, the Indian Film Festival has firmly established itself as the greatest Indian film highlight outside of India.
Additional information under: www.indisches-filmfestival.de/en
