Brühler Schlosskonzerte — Haydn Festival 2026

Classical Music in a World Heritage Site: The Brühl Festival

The Brühler Schlosskonzerte are one of the most renowned concert series for early music and classical music in Germany. The venue is the UNESCO World Heritage site Augustusburg Castle, Clemens August's electoral Rococo palace in Brühl near Cologne — one of the most important palace ensembles of the 18th century. The festival has been organized since 1962 by the non-profit Brühler Schlosskonzerte gGmbH.

Haydn Festival 2026 — 27 Concerts Over Seven Weekends

2026 is entirely dedicated to Joseph Haydn. From May 1 to July 26, 2026, 27 concerts spread over seven weekends in May, June, and July are on the program — symphonies, sonatas, string quartets, vocal works, and works by befriended composers such as Mozart and C.P.E. Bach.

Program Highlights

• May 1–3, 2026: “Let There Be Light!” — Opening weekend with soloists Berit Norbakken, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Thomas E. Bauer, and the Capella Augustina conducted by Andreas Spering
• May 15, 2026: “Kindred Spirits” — Andreas Staier on the fortepiano in the Garden Hall
• May 16–17, 2026: “Simply Great Music” — Concerts by the Simply Quartet
• June–July 2026: “Fiesta Vivaldi,” “Roaring Fifties,” and “Hofmusik” with artists such as Christian Binde and Fabrizio Ventura, as well as Anna Lucia Richter and the Bremer Barockorchester

Three Venues within Augustusburg Castle

The festival utilizes three rooms of the castle:

• Staircase: the famous Balthasar Neumann Staircase, one of the most significant Rococo staircases in Europe — an acoustic and visual experience
• Garden Hall: intimate atmosphere for chamber music
• Castle Church: for sacred works and larger vocal ensembles

For some concerts, the Gallery at the Castle is also used.

Bach um vier — Autumn Series from October 2026

After the summer Haydn Festival, the afternoon series “Bach um vier” continues in the Castle Church from October 2026 — until February 2027. The series opens with “For Soul and Senses” featuring the Capella Augustina and selected soloists. The series is aimed at visitors who want to experience classical music in a relaxed Sunday afternoon atmosphere.

Brühl and the Castle

Brühl is located about 15 kilometers south of Cologne in the Rhein-Erft district and is reachable from Cologne and Bonn within minutes via train. Augustusburg Castle, along with Falkenlust Hunting Lodge, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984.