Hamburger Orgelsommer
Around 50 concerts in six Hamburg churches — Organ music from July 8 to September 2, 2026
About Hamburger Orgelsommer
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Hamburg — Organ City with Tradition
With over 400 historical and newer organs, Hamburg is one of Europe's most important organ cities. The five main churches St. Petri, St. Jacobi, St. Katharinen, St. Nikolai, and St. Michaelis form the backbone of this tradition. The Hamburger Orgelsommer brings together the summer concert season of all major Hamburg churches, consolidating them into a cohesive festival.
Eight Weeks of Organ Music
The current edition runs from July 8 to September 2, 2026. The focus is on the Wednesday evening concerts at 7 PM in the main church St. Michaelis — the Michel. On other weekdays, concerts in the other main churches and in St. Marien-Dom (Catholic Cathedral) complement the program. In total, the summer comprises about 50 individual concerts.
St. Michaelis — One Space, Four Organs
A special feature of the main church St. Michaelis is its unique setup: four organs in one space. The main organ, the Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach organ, the remote organ, and the crypt organ can be played individually or in combination. This unusual acoustic possibility attracts international soloists who design programs specifically for the Michel.
International Soloists 2026
- Magne H. Draagen — Opening concert with orchestra
- Wolfgang Capek (Vienna / St. Augustin)
- Anna Lapwood — the British star organist
- Loreto Aramendi (Spain)
- Jonathan Scott (Manchester)
- Niklas Jahn (Dresden)
Further soloists will perform in the other churches, each with programs tailored to the acoustics.
Concert Introductions
Before the Wednesday concerts in the Michel, there is a free introduction at 6:30 PM in the visitor center — a brief prelude to the concert, providing background on the composer and program. An elegant way to prepare for the concert.
Admission and Information
Tickets cost €12 plus booking fees per concert. Bookings can be made through the St. Michaelis ticket shop (tickets.st-michaelis.de) or by phone (040/450 118 676). Those planning multiple concerts can also check the websites of the other churches.
Hamburg-Mitte and a Border of Districts
The main churches are spread across the districts of Hamburg-Mitte (St. Petri, St. Jacobi, St. Katharinen, St. Nikolai, St. Michaelis) and Hamburg-Nord/Eimsbüttel (St. Marien-Dom). Anyone attending a consistent organ program will get to know five of the most important historical city center churches through the festival — a tour that is a sight in itself.
Hamburger Orgelsommer — edition 2026
The 2026 edition continues the established format of the organ summer: Wednesday evening concerts at 7 PM in St. Michaelis as the focus, supplemented by dates in the other main churches and St. Marien-Dom. The summer opens on July 8 with a concert by Magne H. Draagen, performing with an orchestra.
The "one space — four organs" setup in the Michel also makes Wednesday evenings interesting from an organological perspective: the main organ, the Bach organ, the remote organ, and the crypt organ can be played individually or in combination — a unique possibility in Germany.
Programme Hamburger Orgelsommer 2026
Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7 PM — Opening at the Michel
- Magne H. Draagen with orchestra — Opening concert
- 6:30 PM Introduction in the visitor center (free)
Wednesdays, July 15 – Wednesday, August 26, 2026 — Weekly Concerts at the Michel (7 PM each)
- Wolfgang Capek (Vienna / St. Augustin)
- Anna Lapwood — British star organist
- Loreto Aramendi (Spain)
- Jonathan Scott (Manchester)
- Niklas Jahn (Dresden)
- Further international and German soloists
Parallel — Concerts in the Other Churches
- Dates at St. Petri, St. Jacobi, St. Katharinen, St. Nikolai
- Concerts at the Catholic St. Marien-Dom
- Approximately 50 dates spread across the summer months
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — Season Finale
- Closing concert at the Michel
Full program with soloists, works, and venues: orgelstadt-hamburg.de and st-michaelis.de.
Highlights Hamburger Orgelsommer 2026
Prices Hamburger Orgelsommer 2026
Practical information — Hamburger Orgelsommer
Getting There
St. Michaelis: U-Bahn (subway) U3 Rödingsmarkt or Landungsbrücken, then a 5–10 minute walk. St. Petri/St. Jacobi: U-Bahn U3 Mönckebergstraße. St. Katharinen: U-Bahn U3 Meßberg. St. Nikolai Memorial: U-Bahn U3 Rödingsmarkt. St. Marien-Dom: U-Bahn U1/U3 Hauptbahnhof Nord.
Tickets
Standard price €12 per concert. Bookings via tickets.st-michaelis.de or by phone (040/450 118 676, Mon-Fri 10 AM–4 PM). Concerts in other churches via their respective ticket shops.
Tip
The introductions at 6:30 PM in the St. Michaelis visitor center are free and worthwhile. The concert series is not recommended for children under six. For sold-out concerts, entry after the concert begins is not possible.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Hamburger Orgelsommer
St. Michaelis + St. Petri, St. Jacobi, St. Katharinen, St. Nikolai, St. Marien-Dom
Englische Planke 1, 20459 Hamburg