Name: International Youth Brass Band Festival of Europe Bad Orb 2026
Start: 2026-09-11T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Salinenplatz, Konzerthalle Bad Orb, Innenstadt

Brass Band Festival Bad Orb

About Brass Band Festival Bad Orb

Three days of brass music in Bad Orb: From September 11th to 13th, 2026, over 1,000 young musicians from all over Europe will transform the spa town into an open-air concert stage. 18th edition, opening with 'Evening of Nations', 80 open-air concerts on Saturday, and a grand concert on Sunday featuring Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' under Jacob de Haan. Free admission. Over 1,000 young musicians from Europe, 'Evening of Nations' for the opening on Salinenplatz, around 80 open-air concerts on Saturday in the town center, and the grand concert on Sunday with Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' under patron Jacob de Haan.

Dates 11 Sep — 13 Sep 2026

Venue Bad Orb (06435)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Brass Band Festival Bad Orb — edition 2026

18th International Youth Brass Band Festival of Europe Bad Orb with over 1,000 young musicians from Europe. Opening Friday with 'Evening of Nations' on Salinenplatz, Saturday around 80 open-air concerts in the town center, Gala Concert in the concert hall, Sunday Grand Concert on Salinenplatz with the European Anthem under Jacob de Haan. Free admission.

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.

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

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

Prices Brass Band Festival Bad Orb 2026

Admission to all events is free.

Practical information

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.

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.