［CITY］
Bregenz … Austria
［SCHEDULE］
2027：7.21 … 8.23
To the festival site ▷
Located at the western edge of Austria, Bregenz sits on the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee), bordering Switzerland and Germany. It is approximately a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from Munich and about an hour and a half from Zurich. Each summer, a special stage is constructed on the lake, where opera performances are held.
The festival began in 1946, when opera was performed on two gravel-carrying barges anchored on the lake. It has since grown into a major event, attracting over 200,000 music fans from around the world every year. In 2026, marking the festival’s 80th anniversary, it drew a record-breaking total of approximately 275,000 spectators.
The festival runs for one month, from late July to late August. The opera production changes every two years, with performances beginning shortly after 9:00 PM—well after dinner. The stage features massive, awe-inspiring sets. Surrounding this floating stage, the lakeside auditorium accommodates 6,000 spectators. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra performs in the pit, and the festival’s current music director is Enrique Mazzola.
A key part of the festival’s appeal is its commitment to featuring cutting-edge stage directors. For 2026 and 2027, the festival presents Verdi’s 《La Traviata》, directed by Damiano Michieletto—surprisingly, the first time this opera has ever been staged on the lake. Additionally, for 2028 and 2029, Lydia Steier will make her festival debut, directing Wagner’s 《The Flying Dutchman》.
The lakeshore area includes facilities such as a festival theater and various restaurants. In the event of rain, performances are moved to the festival theater; however, in recent years, the theater has also begun hosting separate opera productions of its own. This, too, has its own following; in 2027, Othmar Schoeck’s 《Penthesilea》 will be performed.
