The festival's motto is "the archive" – as a place of preservation, remembrance, and reflection. An archive that creates identity and is constantly changing at the same time. Throughout its long history, the International May Festival has always been an occasion for the people of Wiesbaden to bring together international guests, tradition, and the present. Here, the great works of history and the latest interpretations by important artists of our time are brought together. As a result, the festival itself functions as a living chronicle of theater, which is continued in many encounters.

The International May Festival at the Hessian State Theater in Wiesbaden looks back on 130 years of history. It was founded in 1896 on the initiative of Emperor Wilhelm II and was intended to further enhance Wiesbaden's cultural status as a sophisticated spa town. From the very beginning, top-class international ensembles were invited to perform – opera performances in particular, featuring artists from Bayreuth, among others, shaped the program.

After interruptions during the two world wars, the festival was revived in 1950 as the "International May Festival." Since then, the festival has developed into one of the most renowned cultural festivals in Germany. Every year in May, the Wiesbaden State Theater brings outstanding opera, theater, dance, and concert productions from all over the world to its stages, combining tradition with contemporary accents.