What's new in Dresden Elbland?

As the capital of Saxony, Germany, Dresden is reputed as "Florence on the Elbe" and a membercity of the WTCF. It boasts not only Europe’s toptier Baroquestyle architecture and art treasures, but also diverse Christmas markets and an abundance of museums. Now let's explore the latest updates of the Dresden Elbland region via Dresden’s letter to visitors.

 

Dear Mr Cheuk,

we hope you are all well and have a good tourist season 2026.

Are you organising, or have you organised, any trips to Dresden this year? Or are you still planning one? Or have you published about Dresden or plan to do so? Every feedback from you is very important to us, thank you in advance.

We hope that Dresden Elbland will remain on your radar, there is always something new to discover here, and we are always happy to assist you should you have any questions and to send you from time to time some recommendations - here we go again, below you will find the latest proposals.

The biggest news of 2026 remains undoubtedly the launch of a new train connection between Copenhagen and Prague, via Dresden. The New Leo Express connects Dresden with Cracow and Přemyšl in Poland. The Nighttrain by Europaean Sleeper brings you from Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Dresden.

Speaking of transport —The Dresden Transport Museum celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2027 with special exhibitions, events and interactive experiences throughout the year. Highlights include the new Motorsport exhibition featuring the Melkus RS 1000 – the only road-legal racing car ever built in the GDR – alongside hands-on displays exploring the future of mobility.

I’m sure you’re planning for 2027 yet. You should definitely save this: the Old Masters Picture Gallery will celebrate the 450th anniversary of Peter Paul Rubens’ birth with a special exhibition (see the information below). 

Or how about a ball in the beautiful Semperoper in February? 

More about events and attractions next year: Preview 2027.
We hope you find this an inspiring read and wish you still a successful 2026 season!

Please take note:

The porcelain collection (Porzellansammlung) in Zwinger will be closed from 7.09. until, it is expected, 30.10.2026 due to building works. 

For further questions – anytime.

Thank you.

Our warmest greetings

 

We start our preview with the tourist highlight coming soon again: the Christmas markets.

They hardly need any introduction: Dresden’s Christmas markets have been well-known and much-loved for years, led by the famous Dresdner Striezelmarkt, which will be held for the 592nd! time this year (25.11.–24.12.2026)! 

Important: the Weihnachtsmarkt on the square Neumarkt by the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) and the Augustusmarkt next to the statue Golden Rider are usually open until the start of the new year as well.

We would also like to recommend:

05.12.2026 – the one and only Dresden Stollen Festivity round about the famous traditional regional Christmas pastry Dresdner Christstollen

18.12.2026 – the moody Big Christmas Concert Adventskonzert in the Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, also with special prices for groups

Winter Lights - Christmas time river cruises of the steamboat fleet Weiße Flotte

 …and – especially for lovers of romantic Christmas fairy tales – Three Wishes for Cinderella: a special winter exhibition dedicated to the beloved Christmas classic opens on 20 November 2026 at the enchanting Moritzburg Castle, where many scenes of the film were shot. 

 

2027-Rubens

The year 2027 sees the 450th anniversary of the birth of Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), the great innovator of European painting. To mark this occasion, Dresden is paying tribute to him by organising a major exhibition. The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister is collaborating with German and international partners in planning a superlative show featuring around 100 works.

29.06.2027-09.01.2028

2026 yet - Correggio

Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio (1489–1534), ranks among the most influential painters in art history.  This first comprehensive survey of his artistic career ever presented outside of Italy, highlights Correggio‘ s mastery.

19.09.2026-10.01.2027

 

2027 - Beethoven 200

To mark the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's death, Dresden's leading cultural institutions are presenting a series of special concerts celebrating the composer's legacy. The programme also recalls Beethoven's week-long stay in Dresden in 1796, following in the footsteps of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who had visited the city in 1789. Special programmes and packages are offered by:

▪️  Dresden Philharmonic Dresdner Philharmonie and 

▪️  The opera theatre Semperoper Dresden

also with special packages

The Semperoper offers discounted tickets for school classes, youth groups, and student groups. Group bookings can be requested by email at tickets-schulen@semperoper.de.

 

2027 - Festival Dresdner Musikfestspiele

Music lovers are invariably drawn to Dresden by the Dresdner Musikfestspiele, one of Europe's leading classical music festivals. From 13 May to 13 June 2027, more than 60 concerts will bring internationally acclaimed artists and orchestras to over 20 venues across the city. Festival highlights include Christian Thielemann, Joshua Bell, Janine Jansen & Alexandre Kantorow, and Philippe Herreweghe with the Collegium Vocale Gent.

 

Royal Palace - new permanent exhibition 

“Masks and Crowns. Court festival culture and representations of power”  

Now that the Grand Ballroom and the Proposition Hall have been recreated as they appeared in the mid-nineteenth century, the second floor of the Residenzschloss (Residential Castle) is at last complete. The works of art are among the most precious testimonies to European festival culture and centuries of courtly display.

 

KIM Schlosshotel opens

The new KIM Schlosshotel im Park is an exceptional hotel complex that enriches the region's tourist offering. Built in the style of the historic Altfranken Castle, which was originally constructed between 1850 and 1852 for Chamberlain Count von Luckner, the 102-room hotel combines historic architecture with modern comforts. Nestled within extensive parkland overlooking Dresden, it provides a peaceful retreat. 

 

Barceló Dresden Newa - fresh refurbished

Following extensive refurbishment, the Barceló Dresden Newa now boasts a modern design and even greater comfort. This historic hotel stands out thanks to its central location on Prager Straße close to the main station, its modernised rooms and its newly designed restaurants and function spaces. An attractive choice for group trips and a great base from which to explore Dresden at your leisure.

 

Meissen - and its world famous porcelain 

Welcome to Meissen, the pearl of the Elbland region. Stroll through its charming historic old town, crowned by the cathedral and Albrechtsburg Castle, and discover why the town is famous around the world for its porcelain. At Meissen Porcelain, Europe's oldest porcelain manufactory, visitors can explore the museum, watch master artisans at work and even try decorating porcelain themselves.

 

owned by Dresden Marketing GmbH