Stadttheater Bern – culture to experience and enjoy

Bühnen Bern Foundation

On 1 July 2011, the Bern Symphony Orchestra and Stadttheater Bern, with its dance, musical theatre and drama departments, were merged to form the "Konzert Theater Bern" foundation. Ten years later, the multi-disciplinary theatre was renamed "Bühnen Bern".

Bern's symphony orchestra has around 100 musicians – and the opera, drama and ballet departments also have permanent ensembles with Swiss and international artists. This makes Bühnen Bern the largest concert theatre in Bern's Mittelland region.

During the season from September to July, you can enjoy more than 300 Bühnen Bern performances, including operas, operettas, plays, ballets, musicals and dance shows. As well as classic events, the city's theatre also hosts many world premières and Swiss premières where the opera and ballet departments join forces with the Bern Symphony Orchestra. The extensive programme is rounded out by open rehearsals, introductions to the various productions and a range of offers for children and young people.

Bühnen Bern venues

As well as Stadttheater Bern, which is located right on Kornhausplatz, the foundation also has two other venues in Bern: the Vidmarhallen in Liebefeld and a venue on Tresorplatz that opened in 2021. What's more, the "Schauspielmobil" takes selected performances on the road to give people in more rural regions access to the theatre.

The Bern Symphony Orchestra is based in the Casino building on Theaterplatz – but you can often hear them play at the Konservatorium Bern or the Diaconis church as well. The orchestra's history goes back more than 140 years: Since it was founded in 1877, the orchestra and its musicians from over 20 countries have become one of the most important institutions in the Swiss capital. Take a look at Bühnen Bern's current programme here.