Internationales Musikfest Hamburg

Hamburg's Grand Classical Festival by the Harbour

When the Elbphilharmonie and the historic Laeiszhalle simultaneously become festival stages, it's the Internationales Musikfest Hamburg. For over five weeks, the festival brings together top orchestras, international conductors, and soloists in the two most important concert halls of the Hanseatic city. It is the calling card of Hamburg's classical music scene – and one of the biggest festival dates in all of Northern Germany.

A New Motto Every Year

Each edition is built around a thematic arc, weaving together concert programmes, chamber music evenings, educational formats, and sound installations. From late spring to early summer, this creates a festival that doesn't just string together individual events but establishes a conceptual framework.

Concert Hall Double: Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle

The Grand and Chamber Halls of the Elbphilharmonie provide the high-tech acoustic stage; the Laeiszhalle in the neighbouring Karoviertel district has contributed the sound of Hamburg's classical concert tradition since 1908. This combination is unique for a German city and underscores the festival's ambition: to position Hamburg as a city of music with global reach.

HafenCity and Neustadt

The festival takes place in the Hamburg-Mitte district: the Elbphilharmonie in HafenCity by the water, the Laeiszhalle in Neustadt between Gänsemarkt and Karolinenviertel. Both venues are within walking distance of each other – visitors attending multiple concerts will discover the entire southern part of Hamburg's city centre along the way.