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Dresden – New year, exciting highlights! Anyone visiting Dresden Elbland in 2026 will enjoy a package of culture, sports, and indulgence.
From glamorous balls and top-class concerts to major exhibitions and challenging running events – the new year will really get the region in and around Dresden moving.
We reveal the best highlights of the new year.
These are the most beautiful events in Dresden Elbland in 2026
At the beginning of the year, art, sports, and music are once again in the spotlight in Dresden Elbland.
On February 6, the Semper Opera Ball celebrates the glamorous world of cinema under the motto “Film ab!” (Roll film!).
All winter lovers will get their money's worth at the Dresden Winter Festival from January 21 to March 1.
Look forward to a huge ice rink with skate rental, iceway, curling, slide, panoramic terrace, nostalgic carousel, and a cool Ferris wheel.
As soon as the temperatures rise, it's time to lace up your running shoes: The VVO Oberelbe Marathon on April 26 is one of the largest running events in central Germany.
From May 10 to 17, the International Dixieland Festival, Europe's oldest old-time jazz festival, brings swing and joie de vivre to Dresden. On various stages, from the zoo to the airport to the Riverboat Shuffle, you can experience unforgettable jazz moments here.
At the same time, the Dresden Music Festival from May 14 to June 14 will provide concert highlights.
The museums, galleries, and exhibition halls also offer exciting new themes and varied programs. Curious about what awaits you in Dresden Elbland in the coming year?
Highlights for 2026 in Dresden Elbland
Dresden Winter Festival
The Dresden Winter Festival invites visitors to enjoy winter fun on a 700-square-meter ice rink with skate rental, a 120-meter-long iceway, curling, a slide, a panoramic terrace, a nostalgic carousel, and a Ferris wheel.
Visitors can enjoy delicious food and lovingly selected goods in 20 festively decorated pagodas.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, the ice disco creates a lively atmosphere, and there are also special events around Valentine's Day and Carnival.
The most important information at a glance:
What?
Dresden Winter Festival
When?
From January 21 to March 1, 2026
Daily from 11 a.m.
Where?
On the Altmarkt in Dresden
More information about the Dresden Winter Festival can be found here.
Winter in Dresden – a paradise for the whole family
Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland with your family, friends, or colleagues and have lots of fun at Dresden's most romantic ice rink.
Over 1,250 square meters of ice, an extra rink for kids, three curling lanes, a cozy log cabin, fire pits, a colorful program, and delicious food from the Konzertplatz kitchen make Dresden's winter at the Konzertplatz Weißer Hirsch an insider tip.
Perfect for relaxed family afternoons or unforgettable Christmas parties.
The most important information at a glance:
What?
Dresden Winter at the Weißer Hirsch concert venue
When?
From November 25 to February 22, 2026
Where?
Bautzner Landstraße 16
01324 Dresden
Further information about Dresden Winter at the Weißer Hirsch concert venue can be found here.
Wine & Light at Wackerbarth Castle
Thousands of points of light, artistic sculptures, and atmospheric illuminations transform the vineyards and baroque grounds of Wackerbarth Castle into a romantic dreamscape.
At Wine & Light at Wackerbarth Castle, you can expect a winter sea of lights that will amaze you.
Delicious wine, winter specialties, and atmospheric music round off the visit.
The most important information at a glance:
What?
Wine & Light at Wackerbarth Castle
When?
From November 2025 to February 2026
Where?
Wackerbarth Castle
Wackerbarthstraße 1
01445 Radebeul
More information about Wine & Light at Wackerbarth Castle can be found here.
Running events: VVO Upper Elbe Marathon & Saxon Mt. Everest Stair Marathon
On April 26, 2026, it will be that time again: The VVO Oberelbe Marathon is one of the most beautiful scenic runs in Germany – with views of the Elbe, the city skyline, and a memorable finish line at Heinz-Steyer Stadium.
For those seeking the extreme, the Saxon Mt. Everest Stair Marathon, taking place on May 2 and 3, 2026, is just the thing. It is considered one of the toughest stair runs in the world.
Kilometers of steps, burning thighs, and a finish line that has legendary status – are you up for it?
The most important information at a glance:
What?
- VVO Upper Elbe Marathon
- Saxon Mt. Everest Stair Marathon
When?
- April 26, 2026 (VVO Upper Elbe Marathon)
- May 2 and 3, 2026 (Saxon Mt. Everest Stair Marathon)
Where?
Along the Elbe Cycle Route from Saxon Switzerland to Dresden (VVO Upper Elbe Marathon) and Spitzhaustreppe in Radebeul (Saxon Mt. Everest Stair Marathon).
More information about the VVO Oberelbe Marathon and Saxon Mt. Everest Stair Marathon is available here.
Semper Opera Ball, motto: “Roll film!”
The 101st edition of the Semper Opera Ball on February 6, 2026, will transport guests into the glamorous world of cinema.
Stars and starlets will celebrate a glittering ball night at the Semperoper and at the open-air ball on Theaterplatz.
Glamour, dancing, and the magic of film await guests at Dresden's traditional opera house.
The most important information at a glance:
What?
Semper Opera Ball, motto: “Roll film!”
When?
February 6, 2026
Where?
Semper Opera Dresden and Theaterplatz
More information about the Semper Opera Ball, motto: “Roll film!” can be found here.
Paula Modersohn Becker and Edvard Munch. The big questions of life.
To mark the 150th anniversary of Paula Modersohn-Becker's birth, the Albertinum, in cooperation with the Munch Museum in Oslo, is presenting the first major joint exhibition of works by these two artists, which remain highly relevant to this day.
When?
February 8 to May 31, 2026
www.skd.museum
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How are you? The exhibition on mental health
Awareness of mental health is growing, especially among young people. This special exhibition focuses on how we communicate about mental health, highlights risk factors for mental illness, and sheds light on the interactions between physical and mental health. The exhibition offers a multi-layered approach to a topic that affects us all.
When?
March 7, 2026, to April 4, 2027
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Desire – Passion – Joy of Life
350 years ago, the Elbvenezianischer Carneval (Elbe Venetian Carnival) was celebrated in Dresden for the first time and continued for many decades. This tradition is being revived, and Dresden residents and guests are invited to immerse themselves in a baroque lifestyle with costumes and masks.
When?
February 14 and 15, 2026
www.elbvenezianischercarneval.de
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Dance Platform Germany 2026 in Dresden – Dresden dances!
Every two years, Germany's most remarkable dance productions are presented in a different city. In 2026, Dresden will host a major contemporary dance event. Expect productions that open up new perspectives, create exciting encounters, and provide inspiring impetus for the dance landscape of tomorrow.
When?
March 11–15, 2026
www.hellerau.org
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Humorzone Dresden
With over 100 artists on 15 stages throughout the city under the patronage of Olaf Schubert.
When?
March 11-15, 2026
www.humorzone.de
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10th Dresden Art Fair
Dresden's contemporary art scene presents itself at Saxony's largest sales and networking forum for visual arts, held every two years as a biennial event.
When?
April 17-19, 2026
www.kuenstlermesse-dresden.de
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International Dixieland Festival
Europe's oldest old-time jazz festival takes place at a wide variety of venues, from the zoo to the airport to the Riverboat Shuffle (May 13).
When?
May 10-17, 2026
www.dixielandfestival-dresden.com
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Dresden Music Festival, motto: “The Lightness of Being”
It is one of the largest and most renowned classical music festivals in Europe and is under the patronage of Jan Vogler. He has given the 49th festival the motto “Lightness of Being” and is adding theater and comedy to the festival program this time.
When?
May 14 to June 14
www.musikfestspiele.com
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Karl May Festival
A weekend in the Wild West with cowboys, country music, and plenty of adventure;
celebrating 100 years of Villa Bärenfett and the 150th birthday of Patty Frank, co-founder of the Karl May Museum.
When?
May 15–17, 2026