“The Great Secret”
MEDIA DATES
November 25, 2026, 10:30 a.m. at the Großen Festspielhaus
Contact for all press inquiries – Agency re*creation
Dr. Renate Stelzl & Mag. Martina C. Trummer
Awarenweg 2, 5081 Anif
+43 662 89 00 83
presse@salzburgeradventsingen.at
The agency re*creation provides professional support for journalists and ensures communication with our media partners. The advertising and marketing activities for the Salzburg Advent Singing are also carried out by their experienced team.
For re*creation, it’s Advent all year round!
Anticipation for the Anniversary Advent Singing 2026
“The Great Secret”
For artistic director and author Hans Köhl, the mystery of birth deserves special attention in the anniversary Advent Singing 2026:
“In my ongoing effort to explore new dimensions of Advent themes, my curiosity about the diversity of the world’s religions has grown, as has the awareness of the universal human search for the ‘great secret,’ which manifests itself most profoundly in the divine miracle of birth.”
Combined with the most beautiful musical and vocal sounds, this Salzburg Advent Singing will once again be something truly special.
>>> GIFT TIP
For anyone looking for a delightful gift, tickets for the Anniversary Advent Singing 2026 as well as our vouchers are available online.
>>> STREAMING AT HOME
The Salzburg Advent Singing 2025 “The Blind Shepherd” can be listened to free of charge via audio streaming. On our website https://www.salzburgeradventsingen.at/en/on/ you will find this year’s production as well as many other audio and video recordings of Salzburg Advent Singing performances from past years.
1) Copyright Notice: Whenever the images are used, the copyright notice “© Salzburger Adventsingen/Franz Neumayr” must be included.
2) The images may only be used in print or online for the purpose of announcing or promoting the Salzburger Adventsingen, as well as for follow-up coverage of the event. The use of Salzburger Adventsingen photo material to promote other events is expressly prohibited.
3) For any commercial use other than that specified in 2) – e.g., for Advent calendars, books, and similar items – the use of the image material is permitted only with the express authorization of the copyright holder. Please contact service@salzburgeradventsingen.at for this purpose
4) Please send your publication as a PDF for our clipping service to presse@salzburgeradventsingen.at. Thank you very much! Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Media event, 9 October 2026
80 Years of the Salzburg Advent Singing: An Anniversary, a Farewell and a New Beginning
In 2026, the Salzburg Advent Singing celebrates its 80th anniversary. At a press briefing held on 8 October at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, the artistic team presented this year’s anniversary production, “Das große Geheimnis” (The Great Mystery), which premieres at the Großes Festspielhaus on 27 November. The production takes audiences back to Salzburg’s historic Old Town, weaving the Christmas story together with themes of humanity, compassion and solidarity. Musically, it spans eight decades: composer Shane Woodborne combines new compositions and arrangements with works by composers who have shaped the Salzburg Advent Singing over generations. The stage design and costumes evoke the atmosphere of Salzburg’s Old Town in bygone times. Another milestone follows on 28 November, when the 1,000th performance takes place at the Großes Festspielhaus.
The anniversary production also marks the end of a defining era. After 27 years as Artistic Director, Hans Köhl bids farewell to the Salzburg Advent Singing. Director Gerda Gratzer, who has been responsible for the theatrical staging since 2022, is also stepping down. In 2027, experienced theatre professional Robert Pienz will take over as Artistic Director, writing and directing his first production. This change in artistic leadership coincides with a change of venue: due to upcoming renovation work at the Großes Festspielhaus, the Salzburg Advent Singing will move to the Felsenreitschule in 2027. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of an event that has welcomed more than two million visitors since its founding in 1946.
Click here to get more information about the new production! (German only)