Mainfranken Theater Würzburg | Schedule & Tickets

The Mainfranken Theater Würzburg is the largest theater in Lower Franconia and, since the partial opening of the new building in December 2023, has been offering a diverse program with several venues in the heart of the city. In the Small House, which has around 330 seats, as well as in the rehearsal stage (approximately 125), visitors can experience drama, musical theater, dance, and concerts. The schedule is continuously updated, and tickets can be purchased online with seat selection or at the box office located at Theaterstraße 21. Due to its central location, access is convenient by foot, public transport, or car – the parking garage Am Theater is right next door. This overview consolidates the most important topics from the search for “schedule,” “tickets,” “Small House,” “seating plan,” “students,” “renovation,” “costs,” “artistic director,” and “parking,” providing practical details for the next theater visit in Würzburg.

Today's Schedule and Program: from Romeo and Juliet to La Traviata

The schedule of the Mainfranken Theater is the central point for the current program. Here, performances from all genres are listed by date, venue, and genre. Regular advance ticket sales begin on the 1st of each month for the following three months (this shifts to the next box office opening day if the 1st falls on a Sunday, Monday, or holiday). This allows visitors to secure tickets early for premieres, revivals, and family shows. In the 2025/26 season, the drama department opened with a new production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; according to theater communications, sales began on July 1, 2025, for dates until the end of November. In musical theater, Verdi's La Traviata is on the schedule – a work that traditionally attracts great interest in Würzburg. The daily overview “Today” shows which productions are available at short notice: On December 17, 2025, for example, two morning performances of Momo (based on Michael Ende) were offered in the Small House – an example of the theater planning school and family performances alongside evening shows. Additionally, depending on availability, the theater uses other venues in the city: Symphony concerts regularly take place in the Great Hall of the Hochschule für Musik (Hofstallstraße 6–8), and larger formats are shown in the interim venue Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle. For individual evenings, introductions are also offered about 30 to 45 minutes before the start, which are explicitly indicated in the schedule. Visitors can use the filter functions to search specifically for genres (drama, musical theater, dance, concert), dates, venues, or family offers. Those who want to remain flexible can monitor last-minute tickets and the evening box office; last-minute decisions can be made on the day of the performance. Tip: For popular titles like Anatevka (Fiddler on the Roof) – a successful production in Würzburg that has been scheduled again in the Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle – early booking is worthwhile.

Tickets, Box Office, and Prices: Online Booking, Evening Box Office, and Subscriptions

There are several ways to purchase tickets. Online, you can select your seat directly on the seating plan; payment is conveniently made via credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. Those who prefer personal assistance can use the box office in the foyer of the new building (Theaterstraße 21, 97070 Würzburg). Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; telephone and written orders are accepted by the box office Tuesday to Saturday between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM at +49 931 375-375 or karten@mainfrankentheater.de. The evening box office usually opens 60 minutes before the performance begins; on Sundays and holidays, sales even start 90 minutes earlier. Important: The evening box office only issues tickets for the current performance; there is no advance sale or detailed consultation. Advance sales for new dates always begin on the 1st of each month for the following three months – a reliable rhythm to secure premieres and desired dates early. In addition to single tickets, the theater offers a variety of subscription models and gift vouchers. The subscription offers are designed to cover different preferences: from premiere subscriptions to choice subscriptions and subscription series for concert and chamber music enthusiasts. Vouchers are available from 10 euros and can be purchased online or on-site. Price overviews and seating plans for the Small House, rehearsal stage, Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle, and Hochschule für Musik are available online; discounts are also indicated there. Regular visitors benefit from TheaterCards. They offer discounts on many productions and are a popular flexible alternative to traditional subscriptions. For highly sought-after performances, it is advisable to keep an eye on availability through the online schedule and make timely decisions on last-minute tickets – especially for premieres and guest performances, which are typically sold out quickly.

Students: Semester Ticket – Culture Nearly Free

A special offer is aimed at students of Julius Maximilian University, the Technical University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS), and the Hochschule für Musik: With the semester ticket, they can attend nearly all performances of the Mainfranken Theater free of charge (excluding special events and external guest performances). Five percent of the seats are reserved for students per performance – regardless of the respective price category. These contingents can be booked from four weeks to five days before the date. Booking is conveniently done online via a clearly marked symbol in the schedule (doctor's hat) or by phone through the box office. Important: The reserved tickets must be picked up at the box office; the student ID must be presented upon pickup and entry. Those picking up multiple free tickets need the enrollment certificates of all accompanying persons (a photo of the ID is sufficient). The model is financed collectively through semester fees: 2 euros per student per semester flow to the theater, keeping the offer widely accessible. Even if a performance is sold out, it is worth checking the semester ticket contingents or the evening box office – depending on occupancy, additional seats may be opened. The offer strengthens the networking of the city, universities, and theater, reduces barriers, and promotes cultural participation. For students who have never been to the theater, the advice is simple: check the schedule, click on the semester ticket logo, reserve, pick up at the box office – and experience culture live.

Small House, Rehearsal Stage, and Seating Plan: Capacities and Seat Selection

The centerpiece of the new building is the Small House with around 330 seats. The venue is designed for drama, dance, and chamber operas and has four designated wheelchair spaces. This offer is complemented by the rehearsal stage (studio) located in the basement with about 125 seats. Both halls are located in the theater's new building at Theaterstraße 21, allowing for short distances between the box office, foyer, and auditorium entrances. For all currently used venues, the theater provides detailed seating plans online – including price categories and accessible seats. The digital booking shows in real-time which rows and sectors are available; this allows for targeted selection of the preferred perspective in the room. Those who want to be close to the action can choose front rows in the Small House; those who prefer an overall impression can select middle rows. For concerts of the Würzburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Great Hall of the Hochschule für Musik (Hofstallstraße 6–8) continues to serve as a reliable venue with its own seating and seating plan. The Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle acts as a flexible interim venue for larger productions while the Great House is being renovated. Speaking of the Great House: Historically, it offered 738 seats, and after the renovation, around 650 seats are planned. For visitors, this means that during the transition period, ticket sales will focus on the Small House, the rehearsal stage, the university, and the Blaue Halle. The optimal seat selection varies depending on the piece and cast; introductions in the foyer or auditorium can provide additional information about the production and acoustics. The best way to find the right ticket remains a combined look at the seating plan, date, and category – online or with the support of the box office.

Renovation, Costs, and Timeline: What You Should Know About the Renovation

The theater renovation is divided into two major construction phases. The first phase began in 2018 and included the new construction of the so-called head building with the Small House, spacious foyers, rehearsal stages, a ballet hall, and integrated gastronomy. This new building was opened in December 2023; since then, regular performances have been taking place there. The second construction phase – since 2020 – concerns the renovation and expansion of the existing structure with the Great House, the backstage area, and additional new buildings such as the orchestra rehearsal hall, costume workshop, and functional areas. In this context, the Great House will in the future offer around 650 seats. The financing of the overall project is jointly provided by the Free State of Bavaria, the city and district of Würzburg, the district of Lower Franconia, as well as foundation and donation funds. An update of the cost estimate in October 2025 estimated the total costs at around 146 million euros – significantly more than the 103 million that were budgeted in the city council in 2021, and more than double the initial 72 million. Reasons cited include changes in planners, extended construction times, price increases for materials and energy, and miscalculations in earlier cost estimates. Looking at the timeline, it is evident that the Great House will not be regularly used again before 2030. For visitors, this means little change in the short term: the new building is operational, the schedule is running in the available halls; larger productions will be moved to the Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle as needed. Those who want to delve deeper into the status of the construction project can find a detailed FAQ section on the theater's website with background information on budget, causes of cost increases, and the future use of the new spaces. During the transition period, it is advisable to regularly check the notes on venues in the schedule, as individual productions may switch between halls.

Directions, Shuttle, and Parking: How to Arrive Relaxed

The theater address is: Theaterstraße 21, 97070 Würzburg. Thanks to its central city location, the venue is easily accessible on foot, by bicycle, via public transport, or by car. For drivers, the parking garage Am Theater (Rüdigerstraße 3) is available right next to the theater. The operator offers 24/7 operation, elevators, video surveillance, accessible parking spaces, and electric charging options. As a guideline: daytime parking rates start at around 2 euros per hour, with a daily maximum of about 19 euros (according to operator and parking information services). Those attending a performance at the Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle (address: Alfred-Nobel-Straße 33) benefit from the free theater shuttle. The buses currently depart 70 and 40 minutes before the performance begins from the bus station (platform A) and from the side entrance of the theater on Ludwigstraße; return trips occur directly after the performance ends. For concert evenings in the Great Hall of the Hochschule für Musik (Hofstallstraße 6–8), it is advisable to arrive by public transport or by foot from the city center; the respective venue is clearly indicated in the online schedule for each date. Those with mobility impairments should check the information on accessible entrances in the visitor information in advance and choose seats with a short distance to the entrance. In general, the paths between the box office, foyer, and auditoriums in the new building are compact. Plan some buffer time for evening performances, especially on weekends and during parallel events in the city center.

Ensemble, Departments, and Artistic Direction: Who Shapes the Theater?

As a classic multi-genre house, the Mainfranken Theater combines the areas of musical theater (opera/operetta/musical), drama, dance company, and the Würzburg Philharmonic Orchestra. This structure is reflected in the schedule as well as in the series for symphony and chamber concerts. In the 2025/26 season, Mark Rohde took over as general music director; his inaugural concert took place at the end of October 2025 in the Great Hall of the Hochschule für Musik – with a programmatic arc from Richard Wagner to Anton Bruckner. Since 2025, artistic director Georg Rootering has been leading the house in a provisional capacity through the renovation phase; for the term beginning in 2026/27, the Würzburg city council appointed Dr. Daniel Morgenroth as the new artistic director. The artistic teams focus on both repertoire classics and contemporary pieces, as well as family offerings. An example of the range: In the Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle, large operas like Carmen are being revived; in drama, alongside Romeo and Juliet, new works are on the program in a season, and the dance company develops world premieres. The Philharmonic Orchestra plays its own concert series and collaborates closely with the Hochschule für Musik – an agreement that strengthens artistic exchange and fosters young talent. For the audience, the multi-genre structure means a rich selection of overarching themed evenings, classical works in new interpretations, and formats for children and families. Those who want to get to know the ensemble can find portraits of the singers, actors, dancers, and musicians on the website. Season brochures bundle highlights, world premieres, and revivals – complemented by thematic accompanying offers such as matinees, introductions, and audience discussions.

Sources:

• Mainfranken Theater Würzburg – Schedule
• Mainfranken Theater Würzburg – Tickets, Box Office, Advance Sales
• Mainfranken Theater Würzburg – Tickets (EN) including Semester Ticket
• Mainfranken Theater Würzburg – Visitor Information
• Mainfranken Theater Würzburg – Theater, Renovation, Construction Phases
• Mainfranken24 – Theater Renovation: Cost Development and Timeline (16.10.2025)
• City of Würzburg – New Artistic Director from 2026/27: Dr. Daniel Morgenroth
• OperaWire – Change in Artistic Direction (03.01.2025)
• Mainfranken Theater – Press Info Concert: New GMD Mark Rohde, Season Highlights 2025/26
• Mainfranken Theater – Venues & Seating Plans (EN)
• ParkMe – Parking Garage Am Theater, Rüdigerstraße 3 (Rates & Details)
• Waze – Parking Garage Am Theater (Address & Contact)