Open Air · Dresden Old Town

Elbzauber

DateSAT · 5 SEP 2026
Start8:00 PM · Doors 6:00 PM
LocationDresden Old Town

A magical late-summer night in Dresden invites you to dream beneath a starlit sky.

An open-air event unlike anything Dresden has ever seen. Light, water, moving images and sound merge into one atmospheric total work of art. For the 190th anniversary of the Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt, the Elbe becomes a glittering stage: the starlit sky above you, the glowing Dresden Old Town before you — a once-in-a-lifetime late-summer evening that gets under your skin.

Trailer

Experience Elbzauber

A taste of the magical night on the Elbe.

The Artists

Howard CarpendaleFoto: Dominik Beckmann/BMC-Mediasolutions

Howard Carpendale

Music legend · Singer · Entertainer

Howard Carpendale, a native of South Africa, is a living legend who has had a profound influence on German-language popular music and has been delighting generations of fans for decades.

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A journey through musical worlds

Classical, pop and film music in a new sonic landscape — carried by the Filmorchester Babelsberg.

Classical

Opera, operetta and more. Camilla Nylund lends her unique voice to immortal melodies.

Pop

Timeless pop anthems in a philharmonic sound. The Filmorchester Babelsberg delivers goosebump moments.

Film music

Iconic film music that tells stories and stirs emotions — from the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg.

The Stage Concept

The Elbe becomes the Stage

Floating Water Stage

Several festively illuminated ships of the Saxon Steamship Company position themselves on the river and together with a floating water stage form the center of the show.

A stage concept like no other: Not a classical stage, but the Elbe itself becomes the stage!

Interactive layout: Hover your mouse over the areas

ELBEFilm Nights StageWater StageTerrace ShorePaddle SteamersSalon Ships
Film Nights Stage

The land stage at Königsufer

Water Stage

The floating main stage on the Elbe

Paddle Steamers

Historic paddle steamers

Salon Ships

Modern passenger ships

Multivision Show of the Highest Class

Scenes and images come to life on giant LED screens, while lighting effects bathe the water and the night in spectacular colors.

The orchestra plays on the Filmnächte stage, while soloists and a band perform simultaneously on two salon boats and a floating stage—a 360° experience.

Exquisite main course of the 3-course menu on board
Dining on board

A 3-course menu exclusively on board

Experience the spectacular open-air event with outstanding artists right from the ship. On board, look forward to an exclusive 3-course menu — a culinary delight that perfectly rounds off Elbzauber.

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An experience you feel in your heart

Let yourself be swept away by stories of great dreams, of life on the river and of setting out for new horizons. Elbzauber promises pure magic under the open sky.

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Elbzauber