Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

German Unity Day Ceremony

As part of the official celebrations for the Day of German Unity, a ceremony will be held in the Great Hall under the motto »Opening Horizons«. Stream from 3.10.2023 no longer available.

On 2 and 3 October 2023, Hamburg will host the official celebrations for the German Unity Day. In addition to a civic festival in the city centre, an ecumenical service will be held on 3 October 2023 in the morning in the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis and a ceremony will take place at noon at the Elbphilharmonie. Around 1,300 guests, including the heads of the federal and state constitutional bodies as well as representatives from politics, business and society, are invited to Hamburg’s landmark on the River Elbe.

Actress Rhea Harder-Vennewald and moderator Yared Dibaba host the 90-minute programme with the motto »Horizonte öffnen« (Opening Horizons). The programme presents the diversity, modernity and internationality of the country and is intended to provide a confident outlook for the future. The President of the Bundesrat, Dr Peter Tschentscher, and the President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Prof Dr Stephan Harbarth, will give speeches. Furthermore, the programme features the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano and the Hamburg Ballet led by John Neumeier, as well as pianist Joja Wendt and the HipHop Academy Hamburg. The national anthem will be sung by the Alsterspatzen, the children’s and youth choir of the Hamburg State Opera.

Die Mitwirkenden

Hamburg Ballett

HipHop Academy Hamburg

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg

conductor Kent Nagano

Hamburger Alsterspatzen choir

Joja Wendt piano

Dr. Peter Tschentscher speech

Prof. Dr. Stephan Harbarth speech

Rhea Harder-Vennewald moderation

Yared Dibaba moderation

Mediatheque : More stories

Handel: Giulio Cesare
Play Video

Video on demand from 12 Feb 2026 : Handel: Giulio Cesare

Ancient drama with a stellar cast: Handel’s famous opera with Jakub Józef Orliński and Sandrine Piau in the leading roles.

The Myth of Heroism
Play Video

Video on demand from 4 Feb 2026 : The Myth of Heroism

Beethoven’s Third Symphony »Eroica« and other works with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra & Vocal Ensemble, Klaas Stok and Alan Gilbert.

The »Arctic Voices« festival

A legacy of perpetual ice: the indigenous music of the Arctic is moving towards the modern age.