About Us

The international street theater festival tête-à-tête invites you to discover, marvel, and get swept up in the excitement. As the largest festival of its kind in Germany, it brings artists and companies from all over the world to the Baroque city—and attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

Every two years, Rastatt transforms into a vibrant hub of the so-called outdoor arts. Streets, squares, and parks become venues for a top-notch program of acrobatics, dance, theater, and performance. The productions are as entertaining as they are moving, as political as they are poetic—and often surprising in the best sense of the word. The daytime program, which makes up the majority of the lineup, is free of charge and open-air, making the festival particularly accessible to everyone.

With numerous performances over four days, tête-à-tête in Rastatt offers a wide range of current trends in international street and circus arts. Renowned companies meet exciting new discoveries and create a lively festival atmosphere right in the heart of the city.

The program is complemented by an evening program featuring selected ticketed events that highlight special artistic themes.

tête-à-tête stands for artistic diversity, international encounters, and cultural participation in public spaces. With its unique blend of prestige and insider appeal, it attracts guests from all over Germany and beyond—and impressively demonstrates just how powerful and contemporary street theater can be today.

With over 100 performances and more than 80,000 visitors, the festival ranks among the most significant events for outdoor arts in Germany—and far beyond.

The festival is organized by the City of Rastatt.
Artistic direction is provided by Kathrin Bahr and Julia von Wild.