After an Asian tour through Japan and South Korea, the Dresden Philharmonic is taking a summer break and looking back on a successful season. “Larger audiences, higher attendance rates, and more young guests are, for me as artistic director, far more than just encouraging statistics. They show that culture is a social necessity, not a luxury,” emphasized Philharmonic Director Frauke Roth.
People are looking for places where they can share experiences together, Roth explained. The strong response is also a testament to the Philharmonic’s high artistic quality, the special atmosphere of the concert hall in the Kulturpalast, and a diverse program. Despite difficult economic times, the Philharmonic has succeeded in reaching many people. This provides a welcome boost for the 10th-anniversary celebration of the new Kulturpalast in 2027.
According to the Philharmonic, concert attendance rose by two percentage points to 90 percent. There were nearly 20,000 more attendees than in the 2024–2025 season. The number of flexible subscriptions, in particular, is rising steadily, and the composition of the audience is also changing noticeably: “The Dresden Philharmonic is becoming increasingly popular among younger people.” According to the latest figures, nearly 80 percent of attendees are between the ages of 18 and 65.