Theater Regensburg named Opera House of the Year 2025!

Theater Regensburg named Opera House of the Year 2025!

The cultural landscape of Regensburg has wonderful news to report. The Theater Regensburg was released on November 5, 2025 with the OPER! AWARD 2026 named “best opera house of 2025”. Director Sebastian Ritschel was overjoyed by this recognition and emphasized the excellent performance of his ensemble and the entire house. The jury bases its choice on the innovative strength of the theater and its courage to break new ground in its program.

The Regensburg Theater has not only distinguished itself by performing well-known works, but also focuses on “more new than familiar”. This openness in program design makes the institution particularly special. The anchoring of the theater in urban society is also praised. The jury also highlighted the theater's willingness to innovate in areas such as participation, accessibility, community building and sustainability. It is worth noting that the theater will receive an OPER! for the “Best Sustainability Initiative” in 2023. AWARD received.

The jury and the award

The OPERA! AWARDS are the only publicly presented award for international opera houses in Germany and are presented in 20 categories. The evaluation phase for this award spanned the year 2025. In previous years, the prizes went to, among others, La Monnaie / De Munt in Brussels (2023), De Nationale Opera in Amsterdam (2024) and the Theater Dortmund.

Among the well-wishers is Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, who emphasizes the importance of the theater for Regensburg's culture and community. Arts Minister Markus Blume praises the international class of the theater as well as the outstanding artistic achievements that have contributed to positioning Regensburg as a cultural hotspot.

A look into the future

The eagerly awaited awards ceremony will take place in Regensburg in February 2026 and will certainly be a highlight in the city's cultural calendar. It remains exciting to see how the Regensburg Theater will use its positive impulses and recognition to continue to create innovative and accessible programs for the audience in the future.

In conclusion, a good concert or opera is more than just an artistic experience; it is also a piece of community and identity. And the Regensburg Theater has offered both insights into the artistic diversity and opened doors for new perspectives and conversations.