DRESDEN-concept welcomes the Palucca University of Dance Dresden and the Saxon State Theatres – Dresden State Opera and Dresden State Theatre – as new members

09.01.2026

A successful start to the new year: DRESDEN-concept continues to grow and welcomes two outstanding institutions as new members on 1 January 2026: the Palucca University of Dance Dresden and the Saxon State Theatres – Dresden State Opera and Dresden State Theatre. With 45 institutions now represented, DRESDEN-concept uniquely represents Dresden’s magnificent scientific and cultural landscape.

Palucca University of Dance Dresden

The Palucca University of Dance Dresden is a state-run art university founded in 1925 by Gret Palucca and an internationally recognised educational institution for artistic dance, specialising in dance, dance education and choreography. The university, headed by Prof. Katharina Christl, offers an integrated secondary school with in-depth dance training, a bachelor’s degree in dance, master’s degrees in choreography and dance teaching, and an artistic master class.

Palucca University of Dance Dresden

Saxon State Theatre – Dresden State Opera and Dresden State Theatre

The Dresden State Opera and the Dresden State Theatre together form the Saxon State Theatre, a state-owned cultural institution.
The Dresden State Opera is an internationally renowned theatre with ensembles of the highest calibre: the Saxon State Orchestra Dresden, one of the world’s most traditional orchestras, the Saxon State Opera Choir Dresden and the Semperoper Ballet. In addition to opera, ballet and concert performances on the stage of the Semperoper, children’s and youth music theatre performances take place on the studio stage ‘Semper Zwei’.
The Dresden State Theatre is the largest theatre in Saxony. With four stages and around 600 performances a year, it is one of Germany’s largest and most modern theatres. The Schauspielhaus and the Kleines Haus offer a diverse programme of plays, opera, ballet and concerts. In addition, the theatre offers educational programmes for all age groups, including theatre camps for young talents, acting courses for adults and a special programme for aspiring critics.

Dresden State Opera

Dresden State Theatre

TUD Dresden University of Technology // 7 Universities of Applied Sciences and of the Arts

TUD Dresden University of Technology
University of Applied Sciences (HTW Dresden)
Dresden University of Fine Arts
Dresden University of Music Carl Maria von Weber
University of Applied Sciences for Social Work, Education and Nursing (ehs)
Cooperative State University of Saxony (DHSN), Dresden Campus
Dresden International University (DIU)
Palucca University of Dance Dresden

University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus // 3 Sites of the German Centers for Health Research

University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (UKD)
German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Dresden
Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID)
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Site Dresden

3 Institutes of the Max Planck Society

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI PKS)
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (MPI CPfS)

9 Institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS
Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS
Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP
Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Site Dresden
Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration-All-Silicon System Integration IZM-ASSID
Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, Site Dresden
Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV

4 Institutes of the Leibniz Association

Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF)
Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW)
Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER)
Senckenberg Natural History Collections

2 Institutes of the Helmholtz Association

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
DLR Institute of Software Methods for Product Virtualization

7 Further Research Institutions

Barkhausen Institut
United Nations University – Institute for the Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU‐FLORES)
PTS – Institut für Fasern & Papier gGmbH
Hannah Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Studies e. V. (HAIT) at the TU Dresden
Institute for Saxon History and Cultural Anthropology (ISGV)
NaMLab
Kurt Schwabe Institute for Measurement and Sensor Technologies Meinsberg e. V. (KSI Meinsberg)

8 Cultural Institutions

Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden – The Museum of Man
Saxon State Library – Dresden State and University Library (SLUB)
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD)
Archaeological Heritage Office in Saxony (LfA)
Technische Sammlungen Dresden
HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts
State Capital of Dresden – Culture, Science and Tourism Division
Saxon State Theatre – Dresden State Opera and Dresden State Theatre

to the overview of all 45 partner institutions