International Choral Festival Finsterwalde

The City of Singers Finsterwalde

Finsterwalde in the Elbe-Elster district has been known as the "City of Singers" since the worldwide success of the operetta "Die Sänger von Finsterwalde" (The Singers of Finsterwalde), created in 1899. This identity is not just a marketing term but a living practice: in 2024, Finsterwalde's singing tradition was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of Germany. The International Choral Festival is the best-known visible expression of this tradition.

20 Choirs, 500 Singers, One Courtyard

The 2026 festival brings together around 500 singers in 20 choirs. The Brandenburg Choral Association brings 10 choirs from 7 Brandenburg districts, and the Elbe-Elster district is represented by 9 ensembles. The international guest choir in 2026 comes from Salaspils — Finsterwalde's partner city in Latvia. A total of two male choirs, several female and children's choirs, a gospel choir, and 13 mixed ensembles will share the stage in the courtyard of the Kulturweberei.

Opening: Summer Party of the Gebrüder Graun Music School

The summer party on Friday evening (5–9 PM) opens the festival with students from the Gebrüder Graun District Music and Art School — around 150 musicians will be on stage for the opening. The festival thus connects the international professional level with local music education.

Concerts on Saturday and Sunday

The actual concerts begin on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 AM each day. The choirs perform one after another, with workshops, networking events, and a pro-agro regional market featuring Brandenburg specialties in between. Free admission on all three days.

Sponsoring Structure and Funding

The event is organized by the City of Finsterwalde together with the Brandenburg Choral Association. The festival is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg as part of the Lausitz Cultural Plan.

Finsterwalde — Town in the South of Lusatia

Finsterwalde, in the south of the Elbe-Elster district, is a medium-sized town between Berlin and Dresden, located at the transition from the Lower Lusatian Heathland to the Schraden region. The town consistently sees itself as a cultural city with a singing heritage, and the festival is a highlight of city life.