International Choir Festival Magdeburg
International Choir Festival in the State Capital of Saxony-Anhalt
About Choir Festival Magdeburg
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Choir Festival Magdeburg al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Magdeburg's Festival of Sound with International Appeal
The state capital of Saxony-Anhalt has a long choral tradition, but it only became an international festival in 2022. Together with the organizer INTERKULTUR – one of the most important players in the field of choir festivals worldwide – the Choir Association of Saxony-Anhalt has been organizing the event every two years since then. In 2024, the second edition attracted around 4,000 active participants and visitors to Magdeburg; in 2026, five intensive days are planned from September 16 to 20.
Competition, Encounter, Sound
The heart of the Choir Festival is the international choir competition with eight categories: mixed choirs, equal-voice ensembles, children's and youth choirs, sacred music, popular music, and folklore – in various difficulty levels. An international expert jury will evaluate the performances and award prizes; in parallel, there will be individual coaching sessions and evaluation performances with feedback discussions. Those who do not wish to compete can participate in the non-competitive festival track.
Concerts between the Cathedral and the Hyparschale
In addition to the competition, several major events will shape the program: the opening concert in St. John's Church, the Long Night of Choirs in the modernized Hyparschale on the banks of the Elbe, a symphonic film music concert with the Sine nomine Choir and Exaudi Choir and the Magdeburg Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Sing'n'Drink pub concerts in Magdeburg's city center. Friendship concerts will bring together international ensembles with Magdeburg school and adult choirs – musically and personally.
Saxony-Anhalt as a Land of Choirs
The festival takes place within the city limits of Magdeburg (independent city, state of Saxony-Anhalt), embedded in the city's rich cultural heritage: from the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral – the oldest Gothic-style cathedral on German soil – and St. John's Church to the Hyparschale, an iconic post-war modern hyperboloid structure by Ulrich Müther. Magdeburg, once the seat of Emperor Otto I, presents itself at the Choir Festival in its most open, cosmopolitan guise.
Choir Festival Magdeburg — edition 2026
The 3rd edition of the International Choir Festival Magdeburg will take place from September 16 to 20, 2026. International competition choirs from several continents, as well as numerous regional ensembles, are expected. The registration deadline was April 20, 2026; late registrations were possible upon request. The registration fee ranged from €150 to €300 per choir and category.
A special highlight: the symphonic film music concert on September 19 with the Magdeburg Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Sine nomine Choir and the Exaudi Choir – a new format that combines choral music with a large orchestra and screen images.
Programme Choir Festival Magdeburg 2026
Day 1 — Wednesday, September 16, 2026
- Arrival and accreditation of choirs
- Evening — Opening Concert in St. John's Church
- Following — Sing'n'Drink: Pub concerts with regional and international ensembles in Magdeburg's city center
Day 2 — Thursday, September 17, 2026
- During the day — International Choir Competition (Category competitions)
- Coaching & Evaluation Performances
- Friendship concerts in Magdeburg schools and community centers
Day 3 — Friday, September 18, 2026
- International Choir Competition (Continuation)
- "Lux Aeterna" — Concert program with violin, vocals, electronics, and video art
- International Concert in the Telemann Concert Hall: Guest choirs present their home repertoires
Day 4 — Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Final rounds of the Choir Competition
- Symphonic Film Music Concert with Sine nomine Choir, Exaudi Choir, and the Magdeburg Philharmonic Orchestra
- Late evening — Long Night of Choirs in the Hyparschale, Aftershow party from 10:30 PM
Day 5 — Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Morning — Awards Ceremony
- Family program with sing-along activities, rhythm games, and instrument making
- Closing Concert in St. Nicholas' Church
Detailed concert program and times at chorfest-magdeburg.de/programm/kalender.
Highlights Choir Festival Magdeburg 2026
Prices Choir Festival Magdeburg 2026
Practical information — Choir Festival Magdeburg
Getting There
Magdeburg Hauptbahnhof is an ICE high-speed train stop; from the station, you can reach the city center in a 10-minute walk. From Hannover or Berlin airports, it's about 1.5 hours by train.
Tickets
Concert tickets are available through the festival website and at the box office; many encounter and Sing'n'Drink formats are free to attend.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses in the city center are in high demand during the festival – book well in advance.
Language
German and English are the main languages; participating choirs come from all over the world.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Choir Festival Magdeburg al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Choir Festival Magdeburg
Johanniskirche, Magdeburger Dom, Hyparschale u.a.
Breiter Weg, 39104 Magdeburg