Happy Birthday Händel — Messiah Concert
Halle celebrates Händel's birthday with 450 singers and the Messiah
About Happy Birthday Händel
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Halle's Favourite Composer's Birthday
Georg Friedrich Händel was born on February 23, 1685, in Halle an der Saale — and since 2000, the city has used this birthday as an occasion for an international choir festival. The initiator and organizer is the association Happy Birthday Händel, which is also active outside Halle under the name Messiah World Tour (in 2026, for example, in Dublin and London).
The concept is both simple and impressive: Around 450 singers from Halle's partner cities and cooperation choirs in Dublin, Oxford, Barcelona, Grenoble, and other locations travel to Halle for a weekend, rehearse together, and perform Händel's famous oratorio "Messiah" on Sunday. The Staatskapelle Halle accompanies, and the musical direction is often taken over by Proinnsías O'Duinn from Ireland.
Three Days, Three Locations
The festival weekend is spread across three symbolic locations in Halle: The Händel Monument on the market square for the birthday serenade, the Marktkirche for the choir evenings, and the Händel-Halle for the grand finale concert. Two events are free of charge; only the Messiah concert in the Händel-Halle requires a ticket.
Halle (Saale) — Händel City on the Edge of the Burgenland District
With around 240,000 inhabitants, Halle is the largest city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The independent city is located in the south of the state, on the edge of the Saalekreis district, easily accessible from Leipzig (ICE 20 min.), Berlin (75 min.), and Magdeburg. The old town with its market square, Roter Turm (Red Tower), Marktkirche, and Händel House can be explored well on foot — all Happy Birthday Händel concert venues are within a 10-minute walk of each other.
A Festival with Tradition
Happy Birthday Händel has been held continuously since the year 2000. Over 25 editions have made the format an international tradition — choirs from 14 countries have participated over the years. The 2026 edition is the 27th.
Happy Birthday Händel — edition 2026
The 341st Händel birthday is spread over three concert evenings: Thursday features a public serenade at the Händel Monument, Friday brings together the international choirs in the Marktkirche, and Saturday culminates in the grand Messiah concert in the Händel-Halle.
The list of participating singers ranges from Oxford to Barcelona to Dublin and Grenoble. Around 450 voices bring the oratorio to life — from intimate, delicate solos to massive choral passages. They are accompanied by the Staatskapelle Halle, the city's own orchestra. The baton is wielded by Irish conductor Proinnsías O'Duinn, a long-time artistic partner of the festival.
Programme Happy Birthday Händel 2026
Thursday, February 26, 2026 — Birthday Serenade
- 4:30 PM — Serenade at the Händel Monument on the Market Square: Wreath-laying ceremony, followed by a flash mob where local and international guests sing well-known pieces together, accompanied by brass instruments and the carillon of the Roter Turm
- Free admission
Friday, February 27, 2026 — Choir Evening
- 7:30 PM — "Choir Sounds from Near and Far" in the Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen: Performances by participating choirs from Germany, Ireland, France, and England
- Free admission
Saturday, February 28, 2026 — Messiah
- 7:30 PM — Performance of Händel's "Messiah" in the Händel-Halle
- Performers: approx. 450 singers from Oxford, Barcelona, Dublin, Grenoble, etc., Staatskapelle Halle
- Musical Direction: Proinnsías O'Duinn
- Tickets required, advance booking via Eventim
Highlights Happy Birthday Händel 2026
Prices Happy Birthday Händel 2026
Practical information — Happy Birthday Händel
Getting There
Train: Halle (Saale) Hbf, ICE connections from Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg. Market square approx. 12 min. walk, Händel-Halle 15 min. Car: A14 exit Halle-Trotha or Halle-Peißen.
Admission
February 26 (Serenade Händel Monument): free. February 27 (Choir Sounds Marktkirche): free. February 28 (Messiah in Händel-Halle): ticket required, advance booking via Eventim and box office.
On Site
Three venues in the city center, all within walking distance. Cloakroom available in the Händel-Halle, accessible.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Happy Birthday Händel
Händel-Halle, Marktkirche und Händel-Denkmal
Händel-Halle, Salzgrafenplatz 1, 06108 Halle (Saale)