The programmatic orientation of the Tafelhalle is divided into three areas: Music, dance and theater. In addition, the venue hosts international festivals such as the International Figure Theater Festival, the European Children’s Theater Festival Panoptikum, the youth festival licht.blicke, the Human Rights Film Festival, the Turkey/Germany Film Festival, the Silent Film Music Days or the st. katharina open air (with music and theater), which takes place outdoors in the ruins of St. Catherine’s Church. Important award ceremonies of the city of Nuremberg – such as the cultural, cabaret or Human Rights Film Prize – also take place here.

In the areas of dance and theater, the Tafelhalle sees itself as a co-producer and partner of the independent scene in Nuremberg. The institution offers young artists and established choreographers, directors and dancers a stage. It also serves as an initiator of genre-bridging projects and new, unconventional art forms. The dance and theater productions which are shown here are meant to provoke discussion and encourage exchange with the artists.

In each season, seven premiers and many revivals and guest performances are part of the program. Some take place in the performance space in the Künstlerhaus Nuremberg, which is a more experimental venue.

"Kontraste - Classic in the Tafelhalle", "The Art of Jazz" & the "Sunday Night Orchestra"

The musical portfolio of the Tafelhalle sets several varied program series together. Contemporary classical music has been performed here for more than 25 years as part of a close cooperation with the ensemble Kontraste. This has created the series "Kontraste - Classic in the Tafelhalle". With unconventional concerts, puppetry, silent films, poetry and cooperation with creative artists, the series offers a cross section of diverse events.

The program series "The Art of Jazz", in cooperation with the Jazzstudio Nuremberg, is one of the oldest and most successful jazz events in Germany. Since 1980, many of the great names in jazz – along with new discoveries and those at the cutting edge – have performed in the Tafelhalle. Every last Sunday in the month, the "Sunday Night Orchestra" invites fans of big band jazz to the theater café of the Tafelhalle. This musical ensemble has earned a reputation as an excellent orchestra with exceptional soloists – far beyond the borders of Nuremberg – and regularly puts on concerts with international names.

"Nordwärts" concert series

The very new, yet successful concert series "Nordwärts" – Northwards – presents current music from Scandinavia. Fresh and surprisingly different music from beyond the 56th parallel can be heard several times each season. Fairly unknown singer/songwriters, bands and music groups from the far North perform in various genres (jazz, folk, etc.) as part of this series.

To round things out, world music and crossover concerts are part of the program in the Tafelhalle as well as cabaret and chansons and entertainment, shows and comedy.