Hamburger Kammermusikfest International — Agathenburg Castle

Agathenburg Castle — Baroque Gem

Agathenburg Castle is a Baroque castle complex in the district of Stade, located in the small village of Agathenburg near Stade. The castle was built in the 17th century as a summer residence for Swedish governors — Stade was part of Swedish territory at the time. Today, Agathenburg Castle is established as a cultural center and houses a renowned concert hall as well as changing exhibitions.

Hamburger Kammermusikfest International

The Hamburger Kammermusikfest International (HKI) is one of the most distinguished chamber music festivals in Northern Germany. It takes place mainly in Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie and other Hamburg venues, bringing together top international chamber music performers. Artistic direction and program design follow a clear profile in the field of classical and chamber music repertoire.

Third Guest Performance in Agathenburg

With the third guest performance in 2026, the concert in Agathenburg is no longer a one-off event but has established itself as a permanent program expansion of the Hamburg festival. The motto "from the Elbphilharmonie to Agathenburg Castle" is a deliberate bridge between Hamburg's high culture and rural cultural preservation in neighboring Lower Saxony.

Agathenburg Castle Concert Hall

The concert hall of Agathenburg Castle is acoustically valuable and offers the ideal size for chamber music. With a manageable seating capacity, an intimate concert atmosphere is created where the nuances of chamber music performance are particularly highlighted. The Baroque castle architecture complements the musical atmosphere.

Program to Follow

The exact program with works, instrumentation, and artists will be announced by Agathenburg Castle and the HKI in the spring of 2026. Works from the classical chamber music repertoire are expected — string quartets, piano trios, piano quintets, and similar ensembles — performed by top international artists.

Cultural Bridge

The concert is more than just a musical event — it is a bridge between Hamburg's high culture and rural cultural work in the district of Stade. Agathenburg Castle is thus increasingly establishing itself as a concert venue of supra-regional importance.