International Organ Days Trier Cathedral

The International Organ Days at Trier Cathedral are a significant concert series of the Cathedral Music, held annually in the weeks between Pentecost and midsummer. It utilizes a special feature of Trier Cathedral: the famous Schwalbennest organ.

The Schwalbennest organ owes its name to its unusual position — it hangs high on the cathedral wall, seemingly weightless, like a swallow's nest. This construction method was a way in the Middle Ages and early modern period to accommodate large organs in the church space without blocking the floor. The Trier Schwalbennest organ is one of the few surviving examples of this construction type in Germany and is considered one of the country's most acoustically and visually extraordinary organ instruments.

The 2026 program series runs from Tuesday, May 12 to Tuesday, June 16, 2026. On Tuesdays, at 8 PM, six concerts by internationally renowned organists will be performed. The repertoire includes classical-romantic organ literature, works of contemporary organ music, and thematic programs — from Baroque and Bach to the modern era.

The series is led and programmed by Cathedral Organist Josef Still. Still is one of Germany's most recognized cathedral organists and presents a sophisticated program with international guest organists each year. Tickets are available through Ticket Regional. In the 2026 festival year — 40 years of UNESCO World Heritage Trier — the series is embedded in the festive World Heritage context.