Köthen Bach Festival 2026 — „Community”
Bach's Köthen becomes a stage — ten days of Baroque music
About Köthen Bach Festival
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Köthen — Bach's „happiest time”
Between 1717 and 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach was Kapellmeister at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen. Here, in the small residential town between Dessau and Halle, he wrote the Brandenburg Concertos, the Cello Suites, the Violin Sonatas, and large parts of the early Well-Tempered Clavier. Bach himself later called the Köthen years his „happiest time”.
The Köthen Bach Festival has been celebrating this legacy annually since 1935. Venues include the Castle Church St. Jakob, the Hall of Mirrors in the Castle, the St. Agnus Church, and other historic spaces in Köthen. In 2026, around 40 events are planned — under the motto „Community”.
The Motto 2026: Community
„Around 40 events in diverse formats show that every voice counts” — as the organizers themselves put it. The motto is programmatic: In Köthen, Bach often focused on the interplay between soloist and ensemble, between individual voice and the greater whole. In 2026, this idea will be particularly highlighted — from chamber music Bach programs and school projects (200 children playing with professionals) to interfaith encounters.
Highlight Concerts
Among the outstanding program points are:
- Opening Concert (September 2nd) with soprano Miriam Feuersinger and the Köthener BachCollektiv at St. Agnus Church
- Cello Cycle (September 5th/6th) with Jean-Guihen Queyras, who will perform the complete Bach Solo Suites over two evenings
- Piano recitals with Alexander Melnikov
- Compositions of the present day by Caroline Shaw
- „Sing Bach!” — 200 schoolchildren together with professional musicians
- „A Celebration for Paul Gerhardt” (September 3rd): Word and music from the 17th century
- „Bach vs. Handel” (September 5th): a competitive concert format
- Four concerts featuring works by the Dessau composer Friedrich Wilhelm Rust
Köthen in the State of Saxony-Anhalt
Köthen (Anhalt) is a medium-sized town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld in Saxony-Anhalt, located between the former Anhalt residences of Dessau and Bernburg. The Köthen Castle is the largest preserved Renaissance castle of the former Principality of Anhalt-Köthen — and has been the main venue for the Bach Festival since Bach's time. It is also the Hahnemann town: the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, lived and worked here.
Köthen Bach Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Köthen Bach Festival is the most comprehensive program offering in recent years. Ten days, 40 events, the motto „Community”. It opens on Wednesday, September 2nd, with a concert by Miriam Feuersinger (soprano) and the Köthener BachCollektiv at St. Agnus Church — central Bach works performed in the church where Bach himself served as choirmaster.
The highlight is the Cello Cycle on September 5th and 6th: Jean-Guihen Queyras, one of the most distinguished cellists of our time, will perform all six Bach Solo Suites over two consecutive evenings. In addition, there will be piano recitals by Alexander Melnikov, a specialist in Bach on keyboard instruments and fortepiano.
Programme Köthen Bach Festival 2026
Friday, August 28, 2026 — Festival Start
- Opening event and reception at the Castle
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — Official Opening Concert
- Miriam Feuersinger (Soprano) & Köthener BachCollektiv at St. Agnus Church — central Bach works
Thursday, September 3 — „A Celebration for Paul Gerhardt”
- Word and music from the 17th century: spoken texts and vocal music from the era of the hymn writer Paul Gerhardt
Saturday, September 5 — „Bach vs. Handel” + Queyras Part 1
- Morning/Afternoon — Concert format „Bach vs. Handel”: a competitive comparison of the two Baroque giants
- Evening — Jean-Guihen Queyras: Bach Cello Suites, Part 1 (Suites 1–3)
Sunday, September 6 — Queyras Part 2 + Closing
- Afternoon — Jean-Guihen Queyras: Bach Cello Suites, Part 2 (Suites 4–6)
- Evening — Closing Concert
Further Program Points Throughout the Festival Week
- Alexander Melnikov (Piano) — Bach programs
- „Sing Bach!” — 200 schoolchildren together with professional musicians
- Four concerts featuring works by Friedrich Wilhelm Rust, composer from Dessau
- Works by Caroline Shaw (contemporary)
Full program overview and tickets available at bachfesttage.de and bachfesttage.reservix.de.
Highlights Köthen Bach Festival 2026
Prices Köthen Bach Festival 2026
Practical information — Köthen Bach Festival
Getting There
Train: Köthen Central Station (Hbf) with ICE connections (Magdeburg–Halle–Leipzig). Approx. 10-minute walk from the station to the castle. Car: A9 exit Köthen, A14 exit Schkopau, then B6.
Tickets
Advance booking via bachfesttage.reservix.de. Single concerts from approx. €15, top concerts (Queyras, Melnikov) approx. €35-55.
On Site
All venues are within walking distance in the old town. Köthen Castle with its Hall of Mirrors, St. Jakob Castle Church, St. Agnus Church. Program packages and family tickets available.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Köthen Bach Festival
Schloss Köthen, St. Agnus-Kirche, Spiegelsaal
Schloßplatz 4, 06366 Köthen (Anhalt)