Friends of the Festspielhaus

The Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is one of the most important cultural funding associations in Germany. With around 1,500 members, it supports the Festspielhaus artistic program.

A group of elegantly dressed people gathered in a manicured garden with flower beds and large planters for a social event.

The Friends association is the Festspielhaus’s oldest network. As a Friend of the Festspielhaus, you bring the Festspielhaus idea to the city, to the region, and to the world. Your membership fee is tax-deductible and goes directly into the Festspielhaus’s artistic program. At exclusive Friends events, you can enjoy connecting with other music lovers, and with priority ticket access you can reserve your favorite seats.

You could be here

The Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden are visiting an exhibition at the Frieder Burda Museum. A docent is explaining the paintings against the blue walls. The group is listening intently.
Members of the Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden stand on stage during a rehearsal visit and pose for a photo. Stage set elements can be seen in the background.
A group of people in formal attire pose for a photo in an elegant room with a curtain backdrop.
The Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden are seated at long tables outdoors, surrounded by lush gardens and flowering shrubs, at an elegant evening event.
A large room filled with people at an orchestra rehearsal. Seats are equipped with music stands. Cozy, focused atmosphere.
An elegant event room with people in formal attire standing by cocktail tables, engaged in conversation.
"Kopfsprung" in Vivaldis "Vier Jahreszeiten"

Become a member

Join the Friends of the Festspielhaus now

Your advantages

Pre-booking rights for all events is one of the advantages of membership. In addition, Friends can enjoy special events connected with selected performances. In this way, you’re right in the middle instead of just being there. 

Friends of the Festspielhaus service phone

Do you want to book tickets or reserve a table in our AIDA restaurant? A separate hotline is available for members of the Friends of the Festspielhaus: +49(0)7221 3013-222.

Secure your tickets before everyone else

In autumn, Artistic Director Benedikt Stampa presents the Festspielhaus program for the coming year. As a Friend of the Festspielhaus member, you find out everything aboutnext year’s classical events before the official pre-sales start, and can then secure your tickets.

First on the waiting list: Friends of the Festspielhaus members

Opera or concert tickets already sold out? In this case, we create waiting lists where Friends of the Festspielhaus members are placed at the very top.

Up close and personal: Artist receptions

A glass of sparkling wine with the soloist or a beer with the conductor: Friends of the Festspielhaus members are invited to exclusive artist receptions at selected events.

Glimpses behind the scenes

“How does …” A heading familiar from magazines. And you probably also sometimes wonder how Germany's largest opera house manages to run so smoothly. We provide Friends with exclusive insights into everything relating to the work at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden.

Before the premiere: Rehearsal visits

The artists’ excitement before a premiere is palpable. Of course, Friends of the Festspielhaus members get exclusive access to a rehearsal whenever possible.

Art-inspired travel: Cultural tours

We don’t shy away from comparison: The Friends of the Festspielhaus travel to the world’s leading opera houses and concert halls – tours which have since become iconic.

Knowing what you hear: workshops

When you know what you hear, you’re rewarded with double enjoyment. In line with your musical interests, our speakers design workshops that will inspire both the classical music experts among you and those who are just entering "classical" new territory.

Friends of the Festspielhaus know more: The newsletter

What's new at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and in the association? You can read all about it in the Friends of the Festspielhaus newsletter, which appears twice a year.

Friends’ Celebration

Celebrate friendship and music together in a relaxed atmosphere: let yourself be pampered – culinarily and artistically. On this day, those who makes things possible will celebrate the fruits of their contribution.

Still have questions?

Have a look at our FAQs.
To the FAQs

Gift a Friends of the Festspielhaus Membership

The best gift idea for Friends of the Festspielhaus members: donating a membership! In this way, you can give friends and relatives a unique glimpse behind the scenes of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and, above all, exclusive pre-booking rights.

Gift a membership now

Friends recruiting friends

Getting involved with the Friends of the Festspielhaus is doubly rewarding: on the one hand, you secure the future of music in the Festspielhaus, and on the other, when you successfully recruit friends, you can look forward to a number of exclusive surprises and experiences. What’s more, multiple recruiting offers benefits! 

You’ve recruited someone? Please contact us!
Contact: Bettina Schütt 
b.schuett@festspielhaus.de 
+49(0)7221-3013-278

A person casually leans against a tall table, wearing white pants and a gray sweater, in a modern, bright space.
„It's much more than the great feeling of doing something good together: In the Friends of the Festspielhaus, we go on cultural tours, we meet artists behind the scenes, we attend rehearsals. This also creates lasting personal friendships."
ETTA FLICK (Member of the Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden)

Exclusive for Friends and Supporters

These offers are for everyone involved in the Friends of the Festspielhaus, the Entrepreneurs’ Circle, or the Supporters’ Circle. You can register by sending an e-mail to b.schuett@festspielhaus.de

A group of ballerinas in white costumes performing an elegant choreography on stage.
Frau im Ohr

Freitag, 9.10.2026 | vormittags Bei diesem außergewöhnlichen Probenbesuch erhalten Sie vorab spannende Einblicke durch die Chefdramaturgin Vivien Arnold und beim Probenbesuch selbst live über Kopfhörer wertvolle Insider-Informationen, die Ihnen ganz besondere Eindrücke von Neumeiers Version des Ballett Klassikers geben. Nach dieser Probe treffen wir uns im Aida-Bistro zu einem gemeinsamen Austausch. Preis: 30 € pro Person

A laptop displaying a webpage on a red gradient background. The page contains text and images.
Die digitale Welt des Festspielhauses

Montag, 12.10.2026 | 10 Uhr Bei unserer kleinen „digitalen Reise“ mit Maria Riedinger, die die Online- Auftritte des Festspielhauses verantwortet, schauen wir uns an, was die neue Website bietet, wie Sie im Webshop Karten buchen können, was die Festspielhaus-App kann – und wie Hintergrundinfos, Bilder und Videos auf Facebook, Instagram und TikTok das Festspielhaus Erlebnis auch zu Hause lebendig halten. Preis: 10 € pro Person, inklusive Kaffeepause, Dauer ca. 3 Stunden

A bearded man wearing a grey suit sits on a chair against a dark background.
Probenbesuch Herbstfestspiele

Donnerstag, 12.11.2026 | 16.15 Uhr Zunächst schnuppern Sie in die Probe zum Fauré-Requiem mit Dirigent Lionel Sow. In einer kleinen Pause können Sie Ihre Fragen an Christina Schonk (General Manager) stellen, bevor wir die Probe zu Beethovens 9. mit dem Dirigenten Pablo González erleben. Im AIDA Bistro werden wir am Ende unserer Probenbesuchen die Gelegenheit haben, uns bei einem Snack und Getränken auszutauschen. Preis: 25 € pro Person

Historic building with a sandstone facade and tall windows. Flags and potted plants decorate the entrance area. Quiet, sunny ambiance.
Seminar „Mozart trifft Bach“

Donnerstag, 3. Dezember 2026 | 10 Uhr Die Berliner Philharmoniker sind zurück! Eine Orientierung im Programm ihrer Kurzresidenz im Dezember bietet Festspielhaus Dozent Dariusz Szymanski. In seinem Seminar wird er insbesondere Ottorino Respighis prächtige „Römische Trilogie“ und Richard Strauss’ „Also sprach Zarathustra“ beleuchten – beides Meisterwerke, die die Möglichkeiten der modernen Orchestrierung und das Klangmaterial der italienischen und deutschen Tradition nutzen, um dramatische und bildhafte Musik zu schaffen. Preis: 40 € pro Person

An abstract artwork featuring red and white shapes distributed chaotically.
Entfaltung der Farbe – Simon Hantaï

Donnerstag, 10. Dezember 2026 | 18:30 Uhr Der ungarische, 1948 nach Paris emigrierte Simon Hantaï (1922 - 2008) gehört zu den wichtigsten Vertretern der internationalen Nachkriegsmoderne. Sein Markenzeichen ist die „Pilage“-Methode, die Leinwand vor dem Bemalen mit Öl- oder Acrylfarbe zu falten, zu knoten oder zu zerknüllen, um farbig leuchtende Zufallsmuster zu erzeugen. Mit über 40, teils monumentalen Schlüsselwerken gibt die Ausstellung einen facettenreichen Überblick über sein bildgewaltiges Schaffen, ein sinnlich bewegendes Fest der Farbe. Nach der exklusiven Führung gemeinsamer Ausklang im Café Kunsthalle. Preis: 40 € pro Person

A conductor in a formal suit leads an orchestra. He holds a baton and is surrounded by focused musicians.
Probenbesuch Zauberflöte

Mittwoch, 16. Dezember 2026 | nachmittags/früher Abend Iván Fischer und das Budapest Festival Orchestra bringen Mozarts „Zauberflöte“ bei den diesjährigen Winterfestspielen in einem halbszenischen Format auf die Bühne, das Fischer auf seinem Opernfestival in Vicenza entwickelte. Vor diesem exklusiven Probenbesuch liefert Dominik Bilger Informationen rund um die Oper und diese spezielle Inszenierung. Preis: 25 € pro Person

Looking back

The Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden stand on stage during a rehearsal of the opera “Lohengrin.” They gather around a large, circular staircase installation that is dimly lit.
Members of the Friends' Association enjoy an open-air concert at the summer festival. A pianist and a singer are performing. The audience is seated on chairs in front of a hedge and a fountain.
At the general meeting of the Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, five people are seated at a long table, engaged in discussion. The members of the Friends of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden are seated in front of them, listening attentively. The room has white walls.
People are chatting in the lobby of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, holding glasses of drinks in their hands.
A large room filled with people at an orchestra rehearsal. Seats are equipped with music stands. Cozy, focused atmosphere.
Articles of association of friends of the Festspielhaus
Privacy policy of Friends of the Festspielhaus

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