Name: Fest der Chöre Dortmund 2026
Start: 2026-06-13T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-13T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Innenstadt Dortmund (Plätze, Kirchen, Geschäfte)

Fest der Chöre

About Fest der Chöre

On June 13, 2026, the 18th edition of the 'Fest der Chöre' will take place in Dortmund's city centre: Over 120 choirs with 4,700 singers will fill squares, churches, and shops with classical, musical, jazz, pop, and folk music. Around 50,000 visitors are expected — one of Germany's largest choir events, free of charge and in the open air.

Dates 13 Jun — 13 Jun 2026

Venue Dortmund (05913)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Fest der Chöre — edition 2026

18th Fest der Chöre as the free finale of the Klangvokal Musikfestival. Over 120 choirs perform simultaneously on squares, in churches, and shops in the city centre — from classical to gospel.

The Fest der Chöre 2026 is the city highlight of the Klangvokal Musikfestival. Throughout the day, 120 choirs will sing at dozens of venues in the city centre — Friedensplatz, Alter Markt, Hansaplatz, St. Reinoldikirche, Petrikirche, and many others.

Highlights Fest der Chöre 2026

18th edition of Germany's largest choir festival
Over 120 choirs, 4,700 singers
Expected 50,000 visitors
All styles from classical to gospel
Completely free admission

Programme Fest der Chöre 2026

Saturday, June 13, 2026 — Dortmund City Centre

Main Venues

Friedensplatz — Classical and Pop Choirs
Alter Markt — Gospel and Folk Music
Hansaplatz — Youth Choirs and Schools
St. Reinoldikirche — Sacred Music, Renaissance, Baroque
Petrikirche — Classical Choral Music
Museum Ostwall — A Cappella and Experimental
Shops, Libraries, Hotel Lobbies — Small Choir Performances

Stylistic Diversity

Classical, Musical, Jazz, Pop, Folk Music, Gospel
Children's and Youth Choirs as a special focus
International Guest Choirs

Detailed schedule with times and venues: klangvokal-dortmund.de/das-fest-der-choere

Prices Fest der Chöre 2026

Free admission to all concerts and venues.

Practical information

Practical information — Fest der Chöre

Getting there

The city centre is accessible by all underground lines (Reinoldikirche, Stadtgarten, Kampstraße) and on foot from the main train station. By car: use multi-storey car parks; many areas in the city centre will be temporarily closed.

Admission

Completely free to all concert venues. Programme booklet with an overview of all choir performances available on site.

Tip

Plan a festival route through 4–5 venues — staying too long in one place means missing the diversity. Concerts in the churches (Reinoldi, Petri) often have the most festive atmosphere.

Fest der Chöre — Germany's largest choir festival

The Fest der Chöre is the annual highlight of the Klangvokal Musikfestival in Dortmund and is considered one of Germany's largest choir festivals. On June 13, 2026, the city centre will be transformed into an open choir stage for the 18th time. Over 120 choirs with a total of 4,700 singers in 180 ensembles will perform in a concentrated format on one day — and will be experienced by around 50,000 visitors.

The entire city centre as a stage

Choirs will sing simultaneously on squares such as Friedensplatz, Alter Markt, Hansaplatz, in the St. Reinoldikirche, the Petrikirche, and in shops, libraries, and the Ostwall Museum. Anyone walking through the city centre will experience a continuous sound mosaic — from a boys' choir in the Reinoldikirche to a gospel choir on the Alter Markt, from a women's choir in a fashion store to a classical choral society on Friedensplatz.

Stylistic diversity

The diversity of choirs is programmatic:

Classical — from Renaissance and Baroque to Modern
Musical — Broadway classics and the German musical world
Jazz — from big band choirs to vocal jazz ensembles
Pop — cover bands and a cappella pop
Folk music — regional and international
Gospel — traditional and modern
Children's and youth choirs — focus on emerging talent

Klangvokal Musikfestival — Context

The Fest der Chöre is part of the Klangvokal Musikfestival (May 15 – June 13, 2026), which celebrates the human voice in all its breadth. While the other concerts require tickets and take place in the Konzerthaus, Orchesterzentrum NRW, and domicil, the Fest der Chöre is designed as a free city variant — the festival's most accessible format.

Dortmund as a city of choirs

With the Chorakademie Dortmund, the boys' choir of St. Reinoldi, and many school and amateur choirs, Dortmund (a city district in North Rhine-Westphalia) has a strong choral tradition. The Fest der Chöre is the day of the year when this invisible infrastructure becomes visible — as the city's musical and social wealth.