International Youth Brass Band Festival of Europe Bad Orb
18th Edition – over 1,000 young musicians from all over Europe, patron Jacob de Haan
About Brass Band Festival Bad Orb
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Over 1,000 Musicians, One Town
Every two years, the small spa town of Bad Orb in Hesse's Spessart region becomes a European meeting point for young brass musicians. Over 1,000 young musicians from orchestras, marching bands, and brass bands from all over Europe travel to concert, march, and exchange ideas for three days. The 18th edition in 2026 runs from Friday, September 11th, to Sunday, September 13th. The patron is – as in previous years – the Dutch brass music composer Jacob de Haan.
Evening of Nations on Salinenplatz
The festival begins on Friday evening at 6 p.m. on Salinenplatz with the Evening of Nations: each participating orchestra enters while its country's national anthem is played – a moving start that makes Bad Orb a mini-European capital for an evening.
Saturday: 80 Open-Air Concerts in the Town Center
On Saturday, around 80 open-air concerts will take place throughout Bad Orb's town center. Each orchestra plays multiple times at different locations – the concert hall, the spa gardens, the market square, Salinenplatz, and squares around the concert hall. Anyone walking through Bad Orb will hear a different brass band from every side street. In the evening, there will be a Gala Concert in the concert hall and a party with the band „No Change“ in the festival tent.
Sunday: Grand Concert and Ode to Joy
The highlight is the Grand Concert on Sunday on Salinenplatz: all participating orchestras will play together under the direction of Jacob de Haan, performing the European Anthem (Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy') and other key pieces from the brass music repertoire. Afterwards, all orchestras, along with Bad Orb's local associations, will parade through the town – a parade of a thousand musicians.
Bad Orb – Spa Town with Festival Culture
Bad Orb is located in the Spessart Nature Park and has been a spa town since the 19th century. The combination of spa architecture (concert hall, Salinenplatz, spa gardens) and a dense town center makes it ideal for a festival of this scale. Admission to all events is free – a deliberate concept that makes youth music accessible to everyone.
Brass Band Festival Bad Orb — edition 2026
The 18th edition since 1989 continues the proven concept: three days of brass music in an open city, with the patronage of Dutch brass composer Jacob de Haan.
Programme Brass Band Festival Bad Orb 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026 — Evening of Nations
- 6:00 PM — Evening of Nations on Salinenplatz: Entry of the orchestras with national anthems
- Following: Open concerts by individual orchestras
- Evening: Welcome reception for the musicians
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 80 Open-Air Concerts
- Morning to Afternoon: approx. 80 open-air concerts throughout the town center
- Concert venues: Salinenplatz, Concert Hall, Market Square, Spa Gardens, side streets
- Evening: Gala Concert in the Concert Hall
- Party with the band „No Change“ in the festival tent
Sunday, September 13, 2026 — Grand Concert & Parade
- Grand Concert on Salinenplatz with all orchestras under Jacob de Haan:
- European Anthem – Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'
- Other key pieces from the brass music repertoire
- Final parade of all orchestras and Bad Orb associations through the town
Highlights Brass Band Festival Bad Orb 2026
- 18th edition since 1989
- Over 1,000 young musicians from all over Europe
- Patron: Jacob de Haan
- Evening of Nations on Salinenplatz
- 80 open-air concerts on Saturday
- Grand Concert with Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'
- Free admission
Prices Brass Band Festival Bad Orb 2026
Admission to all events is free.
Practical information — Brass Band Festival Bad Orb
Getting There
Train: to Wächtersbach or Gelnhausen, then bus to Bad Orb. Car: A66 Frankfurt–Fulda, exit Bad Orb. Traffic regulations during the festival weekend, better to use public transport.
Admission
Admission to all events is free – including the Evening of Nations, open-air concerts, and the grand concert.
Dates
Friday, September 11th – Sunday, September 13th, 2026.
Tip
Orchestras can register via the festival website (material available in German and English). If you are attending as a spectator, get a town map with the concert schedule at the entrance – otherwise, you might miss the most exciting concerts.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Brass Band Festival Bad Orb
Salinenplatz, Konzerthalle Bad Orb, Innenstadt
Salinenplatz und Innenstadt Bad Orb, 63619 Bad Orb