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.
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
From 23rd to 28th April 2024 the best of animated film can be seen at the 31th 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 23rd to 26th 2024.
Additional information under: www.itfs.de/en
SWR Summer Festival
Each year the SWR Summer Festival on Stuttgart's Palace Square presents a varied programme of entertainment. From 17th to 20th May 2024 visitors can stroll around the festival and gain fascinating insights into the media world, or watch the stars perform on the big festival stage against the 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
Stuttgart Music Festival
From 30th May to 8th June 2024 the International Bach Academy Stuttgart will stage its annual Stuttgart Music Festival. In interaction with internationally renowned artists and ensembles, as well as in cooperation with Stuttgart's leading cultural institutions, a programme evolves for a festival whose brilliance shines out far beyond the bounds of the state capital.
Additional information under: www.musikfest.de
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 fourth time on 31st May and 1st June 2024 at the Cannstatter Wasen fairground, the equestrian stadium and on the R. Neckar. The sustainable music, sports and culture festival offers a wide range of attractions. Established, German stars of the music scene such as Shirin David, Cro or Provinz 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 sustainability to discover at the Übermorgen (Day after Tomorrow) Market, and various interactive events for children and families round off the festival programme.
Additional information under: www.kesselfestival.de
Jazzopen Stuttgart
In the summer of 2024 Baden-Württemberg's state capital will once again be the hotspot of the jazz scene: for the 30th time now, stars of the international jazz, blues, soul and pop scene will meet in Stuttgart from 19th to 29th July 2024 to perform at the jazzopen Stuttgart.
Apart from the festival stage on the forecourt of the New Palace (Neues Schloss), concerts can also be heard during the eleven 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 on Charlottenplatz, the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, the Church “Domkirche St. Eberhard” and the Pavilion on Palace Square.
This summer the jazzopen Stuttgart will once again bring big names to Baden-Württemberg's state capital. This year's special highlights include Herbert Grönemeyer, who will play the first concert on Schlossplatz together with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, Lenny Kravitz, Sting and Sam Smith.
Marcus Miller and the renowned guitarist Al Di Meola will perform on the jazzopen stage in the Old Palace in 2024.
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 20th July 2024, the Stuttgart Ballet will bring Swan Lake, a true ballet classic, to the stage in the opera house and the screen in the Upper Palace Gardens. While dance enthusiasts can enjoy the performance of the top-calibre Stuttgart Ballet on the Saturday evening, on the Sunday morning (21th July 2024) 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 2024 it will once again be "Namasté India" in Stuttgart. For the 21st time, from 17th to 22nd June 2024, 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
HipHop Open
After an eight-year break, the Hip-Hop Open returned to the birthplace of German hip-hop in 2023. From 9th to 10th August 2024 the HipHop Open will be celebrated again. Skepta, SSIO, RIN and BABYJOY are just a few of the performers in the festival's line-up.
Additional information under: www.hiphopopen.de
