The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has unveiled its new 2026/2027 programme under the theme of ‘Longing’
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Kufstein/Erl - The Tiroler Festspiele Erl unveiled its programme for the 2026/2027 season on 2 April. Under the thematic theme of “Longing”, the coming festival year spans four seasons and combines opera, concerts and cross-disciplinary formats into a cohesive programme driven by its central theme.
The theme of “Longing” forms the thematic framework of the new season and runs as a common thread through all formats. This refers both to a longing for distant lands and the unknown, as well as for closeness, artistic expression and inner experience. The Tiroler Festspiele Erl, under the artistic direction of Artistic Director Jonas Kaufmann, deliberately explores this tension and brings it together through various artistic perspectives.
Structurally, the division into four seasons remains in place: The season kicks off with the “Ausklang” in October 2026, followed by the winter season around Christmas, the Easter Festival and the 2027 summer programme. These are complemented by the “Zwischentöne” series, which adds further highlights throughout the year.
Specific programme highlights are particularly evident in the winter season: Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata, one of the central works of the opera repertoire, returns to the programme, complemented by concert performances such as Nabucco and Gaetano Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. Traditional formats such as Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day concerts also remain integral parts of the programme.
In 2027, the Easter Festival will be dedicated, among other things, to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and, with Richard Wagner’s Parsifal, will focus on a work that explores questions of spirituality and transcendence. In the summer, large-scale productions such as Tristan und Isolde will follow, as well as rarely performed works such as Der ferne Klang by Franz Schreker.
The Tiroler Festspiele Erl is part of the KUltura initiative in the Kufstein region and ranks among the region’s key cultural beacons. As a long-standing partner of the Tourismusverband Kufsteinerland, it makes a significant contribution to the cultural positioning of the Kufstein region as a year-round destination.
The festival venue of Erl embodies a unique blend of architecture, landscape and artistic excellence: the striking festival hall, the high musical quality and the distinctive atmosphere of the place – nestled in the Tyrolean countryside – shape the festival’s reputation far beyond the region.
Georg Hörhager, Chairman of the Tourismusverband Kufsteinerland: “The Tiroler Festspiele Erl is a central cultural anchor for the Kufsteinerland. This is made clear once again with the new season: a programme that combines major works from the repertoire with new approaches, thereby underlining the strength of the venue. International artistic personalities, fresh impetus in the formats and a consistent commitment to promoting young voices demonstrate how vibrantly and forward-looking the festival’s development is.”
With the 2026/2027 programme, the Tiroler Festspiele Erl continues on its chosen path, combining artistic continuity with further development of its content.
Press photo: Free to use for editorial purposes provided the source is credited
Image 01: The striking Festival Theatre in Erl, nestled in the Tyrolean countryside, © TVB Kufsteinerland/Marcel Lesch – Evolumina
Image 02: Visitors can look forward to a top-class programme in the new season, © TVB Kufsteinerland/Marcel Lesch – Evolumina
Image 03: Artistic Director of the Festspiele Erl, Jonas Kaufmann, © Festspiele Erl/Xiomara Bender
Photos of the artists:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tfe_presse/albums/72177720332841122/with/55182194889
Enquiries for media representatives
Tourismusverband Kufsteinerland
Stefanie Dabrowski
Tel.: +43 664 88 23 99 39
Email: presse@kufstein.com
Tiroler Festspiele Erl
Martin Riegler, Press Officer
Email: presse@tiroler-festspiele.at
Tel.: +43 676 762 66 69