Altmark Festspiele

Culture in Special Places

The Altmark region in the north of Saxony-Anhalt is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Germany — vast fields, small villages, Romanesque fieldstone churches, medieval Hanseatic cities like Stendal, Tangermünde, Salzwedel, and Werben. The Altmark Festspiele consistently utilize this architecture: the festival doesn't take place in a concert hall but moves from venue to venue, transforming a different location in the region into a stage every weekend from May to September.

Concept and Organizers

The festival is recognized in the cultural scene of Central Germany as “Culture in Special Places.” The performance spaces are manor houses, barns, fieldstone churches, castles, cattle sheds, factory halls, and castle ruins — spaces that are often acoustically impressive and atmospherically far superior to a concert hall. The organizer is Altmark Festspiele e.V., based in Salzwedel (Altmarkkreis Salzwedel), under the artistic direction of Reinhard Seehafer. Venues are spread across the entire Altmarkkreis Salzwedel and the Stendal district.

2026: “Recognizing Happiness”

The 2026 season runs from May 16 to September 5 under the motto “Recognizing Happiness”. Planned are 29 concerts at 18 venues with 420 artists from 21 nations. The opening will be presented by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra with pianist Hans H. Suh. The program includes the Regensburger Domspatzen (Marienkirche Salzwedel, July 11, 2026, 5 PM), Jochen Kowalski (countertenor), and the Polish GlassDuo (Anna and Arkadiusz Szafraniec, glass harp). Special event: Jazz at Jerichow Monastery from August 7 to 9.

Venues 2026 (Selection)

Alstom locomotive hall in Stendal, Diesdorf open-air museum, Marienkirche Salzwedel, several Romanesque churches, Jerichow Monastery, as well as manor houses and barns throughout the region.