Hamburg's new opera house: majority agrees - 100,000 signatures protest!

Hamburg's new opera house: majority agrees - 100,000 signatures protest!

The plans for a new opera house in Hamburg are taking concrete shape. On November 26, 2025, the Hamburg parliament approved the new building in HafenCity with a clear majority. This reports NDR. Almost all parties, including the SPD, Greens, CDU and AfD, agreed to sign a contract between the city of Hamburg and the Kühne Foundation.

A comprehensive project

Through this agreement, the city of Hamburg will make the property at Baakenhöft available free of charge. The city plans to invest around 250 million euros to develop the site TIME. The Kühne Foundation, headed by the prominent entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kühne, will cover the construction costs amounting to at least 300 million euros. There are even signs that the sum could rise to up to 340 million euros.

But approval did not come without resistance. The left-wing parliamentary group criticized the lack of citizen participation and voted against the project. In addition, the “Opera Plans Initiative” handed over 10,000 signatures to the Senate before the vote. Protest against the project also came from around 100,000 citizens who signed a protest letter. Scientists called for a moratorium to reconsider the plans.

A world-class opera house

Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) has announced that this opera house will not only be an architectural highlight, but will also pursue the goal of creating a world-class opera that will place Hamburg prominently on the international cultural scene. The architectural design by Bjarke Ingels Group is estimated to cost around 500 million euros. With its futuristic elements, it is intended to shape Hamburg's skyline and offer a viewing platform.

The Hamburg State Opera will remain the city's sole opera house and will move to the new house upon completion, which is expected to have its first premiere in the early 2030s. Interestingly, there is close cooperation between the city, the State Opera and the Kühne Foundation to realize the project together. The city itself will be involved in the planning and implementation through a project company.

Historical debates

The choice of location for the new opera house is controversial. The Baakenhafen is reminiscent of historical colonial crimes, which is criticized by many critics. While some celebrate the new building's potential, others warn that the past should not be forgotten. The role of the Kuehne + Nagel group in the Nazi past is also controversial and is also up for discussion.

Planning work on the new opera will begin next week and is expected to take around two years. An architectural competition will also take place here with five international architectural firms to find the best ideas for the new building.

It remains exciting to see how the project will develop and whether the voices of the critics will be heard. Hamburg culture definitely has a new piece on its plate, and the next steps will be followed with great interest.