Experience a Unique Opera Event on the Shores of Lake Constance
Each summer, the Bregenz Festival Stage becomes the breathtaking setting for spectacular opera productions. With impressive stage designs, cutting-edge technology, and world-class musical performances, this extraordinary cultural event attracts around 200,000 visitors annually to Lake Constance. The Bregenzer Festspiele, which will celebrate their 80th anniversary in 2026, are behind this renowned festival. A highly creative and experienced team at Festspielhaus Bregenz ensures that each production is a seamless fusion of music, art, and technology.
A Stage with History
The idea of a stage built directly on the water dates back to 1946 when the first performances were held on two gravel barges. By 1950, the first wooden platform had been constructed on stilts, with a grandstand on the shore accommodating 6,500 spectators - an impressive capacity for its time. The construction of Festspielhaus Bregenz in 1980 gave the floating stage its current structure. At the heart of the stage is a permanent concrete core, around which an entirely new set is created every two years. In 2023/24, this core underwent an extensive renovation, including a complete upgrade of the lighting and sound technology, hydraulic machinery, and the installation of two new underwater supply tunnels. These enhancements ensure the seamless operation of the festival’s elaborate productions well into the future.
Stage Construction: A Fusion of Art and Technology
Each new production on the floating stage is both an artistic and technical masterpiece. Work on a new stage design begins more than two years before its premiere. Set designers and a large team of technical experts collaborate to bring the directors’ visions to life. Beyond the spectacular aesthetics, engineers must also account for challenges such as wind, weather, and structural stability. Despite these complexities, the Bregenz Festival Stage continues to deliver breathtaking designs that garner international acclaim. Productions such as Turandot, Aida, and Rigoletto have become globally recognised, not just for their artistic brilliance but for their iconic stage settings.
An Exceptional Acoustic Experience
Acoustically, the floating stage sets new standards with its “Bregenz Directional Hearing” system. Developed specifically for the Bregenzer Festspiele, the BOA system (Bregenz Open Acoustics) ensures that audiences can perceive both the location and movement of singers and other sound sources with remarkable precision. The latest evolution, BOA 2.0, further enhances this immersive audio experience.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look
For those eager to discover the technical intricacies of the floating stage and the unique challenges of open-air productions, guided tours are available from June to August. These exclusive backstage insights reveal the fascinating world behind the scenes of the Bregenzer Festspiele.
Curious to see more?
You can follow the Bregenz Festival Stage in real time: our webcam provides fresh images every two minutes, 24/7. Watch the stage being built, rehearsals in progress, and the magic of live performances - or simply enjoy the stunning view over Lake Constance.
Bregenzer Festspiele – A Story of Success
Since their founding in 1946, the Bregenzer Festspiele have grown into one of Europe’s leading opera festivals. What began on two gravel barges now attracts around 200,000 culture enthusiasts from around the world each year. With the opening of Festspielhaus Bregenz in 1980, the festival expanded its programme beyond the floating stage, adding theatre productions, musical theatre, concerts, and contemporary performances. A special focus of the festival is its Junge Festspiele, which aims to introduce children and young audiences to the world of opera.
New Artistic Direction in 2024
In October 2024, Finnish opera director Lilli Paasikivi took over as Artistic Director of the Bregenzer Festspiele. The former director of the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki succeeded Elisabeth Sobotka, who successfully led the festival from 2015 to 2024.
2025 Programme – Der Freischütz and More
Following its acclaimed premiere in 2024, Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz will return to the floating stage in 2025. This visually stunning production blends reality and fantasy into a breathtaking stage experience.
Meanwhile, Festspielhaus Bregenz will feature Oedipe by George Enescu - a rarely performed opera that tells the powerful and tragic story of King Oedipus in a deeply moving and musically sophisticated production.
As always, the festival will be accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, which has been an integral part of the Bregenzer Festspiele since the very first performance in 1946.
Plan Your Visit
Tickets for all performances of the Bregenzer Festspiele, as well as further details for your visit, can be found directly on the festival’s website.