Elbphilharmonie
A concert hall rising above the harbour, known for both its acoustics and architecture.
The Elbphilharmonie is Hamburg's landmark concert hall on the Elbe in the HafenCity district. Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron designed it. The public Plaza opened on 4 November 2016, and the building was officially inaugurated on 11 January 2017. The 2026/27 season marks its tenth anniversary.
The building has three concert spaces. The Grand Hall seats 2,100 people in a 'vineyard' layout, with terraces of seats rising around the stage. The Recital Hall is a flexible space for up to 550 people, and Kaistudio 1 seats about 150.
Visitors don't need a concert ticket to enjoy the building. The Plaza is a public viewing platform 37 metres above the ground that wraps all the way around. From there you can see the port and the city skyline, and it leads to the concert foyers, a shop and a bistro. The Elbphilharmonie and the historic Laeiszhalle share one programme, which ranges from resident and touring symphony orchestras to jazz, world music and curated festivals.
Highlights
- Grand Hall with 2,100 seats arranged in vineyard-style terraces
- Public Plaza 37 m up with a 360° view of the port and city
- Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, inaugurated 11 January 2017
- Three halls: Grand Hall, Recital Hall (up to 550 seats) and Kaistudio 1 (150 seats)
- 10th-anniversary season in 2026/27, with visits from leading international orchestras
