Elbzauber - Das Open Air auf dem Fluss

The Saxon Steamship Company turns the Elbe into a stage.

Dresden. To mark its 190th anniversary, Saxon Steam Navigation is launching a major new event: Elbzauber. On September 5, 2026, the Elbe will become a spectacular world of music, light and history for the first time. Managing Director Stefan Bloch: "Elbzauber reinterprets the river as a cultural space and combines historic steam navigation with music and light art."
The centerpiece of the evening will be a floating stage on the Elbe. Against the historic backdrop of the old town and surrounded by the world's oldest and largest fleet of paddle steamers, an extraordinary performance venue will be created that integrates the river landscape into the overall experience.

The organizers are relying on top-class performers such as soprano Camilla Nylund and the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. Together, they will present an emotionally charged program that combines classical elements with modern soundscapes. With orchestral highlights and specially arranged pieces, the result is an evening that will have an impact far beyond Dresden.
There is also a new website for the new event: www.elbzauber.live.

Managing Director Astrid Rockel: "The central idea is to combine our fleet with a modern emotional experience - an evening for everyone, families, culture lovers, tourists and fans of the Elbe."