Tannhäuser awakens in Venus’ embrace, in her cave near Eisenach. The goddess of love reveals to him the wonders of her kingdom. Tannhäuser utters the name of the Holy Mary and Venus’s spell is broken.
The pilgrims’ hymns echo through the valley of Wartburg as the men travel towards Rome. Tannhäuser has returned and decides to join them and beg for forgiveness for his sins. After having gone hunting, Herman: the landgrave of Thuringia, arrives accompanied by many of the most famous minnesingers. Wolfram recognizes Tannhäuser and hails him, reminding him that Elisabeth still loves him and waits for him. Tannhäuser is invited to take part in the knight-singers’ competition. He gives up the journey to Rome and sets off for Wartburg.
Elisabeth will be present at the singers’ competition. The landgrave announces the theme: “What is love?”. Wolfram will go first and after him: Walter von der Vogelweide and Bitterolf. They all praise love as the most noble emotion of all. Tannhäuser sings: “Love is not a false proclamation of selflessness, it is joy and delight!” and continues with Venus’ hymn. The knights are outraged. Even though Elisabeth is sorrowed by Tannhäuser’s words, she still stands with him and protects him. The landgrave, touched by Elisabeth’s strong feelings of love, pardons the knight who must atone for his sins. Tannhäuser again decides to go on a pilgrimage to Rome.
Elisabeth prays for Tannhäuser. The pilgrims return from Rome but Tannhäuser is not with them. Elisabeth feels her impending death. After she passes away, Wolfram sings the sad song of Venus. A prayer appears, dressed in drapes: it is Tannhäuser. “Whenever this dry staff in my hand blooms, only then will your sins be forgiven”, the pope has told him in Rome. Wolfram tells him of Elisabeth’s suffering. A bell ring is heard as the pilgrims carry Elisabeth’s lifeless body. Tannhäuser goes mad: he follows the funeral procession and dies next to Elisabeth. The pilgrims tell the tale of how the pope’s staff has bloomed.
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