SOMMERSZENE Festival Opens in Salzburg with Sasha Waltz and Contemporary Performances
The SOMMERSZENE 2026 programme officially gets underway, bringing a diverse lineup of contemporary performing arts to audiences. Running from June 8 to June 23, the festival features fourteen distinct productions, including five Austrian premieres and two world premieres.
What to Expect from the Salzburg Performing Arts Programme
As a cornerstone of contemporary culture in Salzburg, SZENE Salzburg has curated an extensive schedule that highlights the socio-political urgency of choreography and performance. The opening night kicks off with Sasha Waltz’s influential dance piece Travelogue I – Twenty to Eight, exploring interpersonal dynamics through rhythm, expressivity, and humor.
Visitors attending this year's festival can explore a wide spectrum of aesthetic languages and stylistic forms across multiple venues:
- Cult Favorites and International Debuts: Jan Marten's high-endurance performance THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER 2.0 brings precision and structure to the stage, while French choreographer Leïla Ka presents her debut Maldonne, celebrating female power.
- Political and Collective Expression: Marco da Silva Ferreira's F*cking Future highlights the collective body, and Michikazu Matsune presents the multifaceted performance Tomorrow we dreamed of yesterday.
- Local and Festival Highlights: The lineup features strong contributions from the creative community, including Rosana Ribeiro premiering Break the Dam, Ann Van den Broek's restaging of We Solo Men for the BODHI Project, and site-specific works like Rauschen by Cornelia Böhnisch and Katharina Schrott in the Kollegienkirche.
- Interactive and Participatory Works: Festival-goers can also experience Deva Schubert's sound-focused piece at the Kunstverein, alongside Dimitri de Perrot's installations INTO THE DIRT & SCHAUFENSTER #1 in the Kurgarten. The festival concludes with Doris Uhlich and Susanne Kirnbauer performing their acclaimed duet Come Back Again.
To explore more cultural highlights and upcoming performances around the city, you can browse through Salzburg museums and venues, check out the interactive city map, or plan your itinerary with Musemap (musemap.art).
