Kassel Music Days
One of Europe's oldest music festivals – classical music in Kongress Palais, Staatstheater, and churches
About Kassel Music Days
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One of Europe's Oldest Music Festivals
The Kasseler Musiktage were founded in 1933 and are among the oldest music festivals in Europe. Since then, the festival has shaped the classical autumn in Northern Hesse, bringing international soloists, ensembles, and orchestras to Kassel. The non-profit association Kasseler Musiktage e.V. is the organizer, and since 2016, under Festival Director Olaf A. Schmitt and Managing Director Christoph Schluckwerder, it has developed a guiding thematic question each year.
2026 Dates: Late October to Mid-November
The exact festival dates for 2026 have not yet been set as of the editorial deadline – the program follows the usual annual rhythm between late October and mid-November. For comparison: the 2025 edition ran from October 23 to November 2. Dates will be communicated via kasseler-musiktage.de and the festival newsletter.
Program Concept: A Guiding Question
Each edition is framed by a dramaturgical guiding question that holds the program together. In 2025, it was «Woher klingt Musik?» (Where Does Music Resonate From?) – a question that spanned from Bach and Handel through classical to contemporary music. The new motto for 2026 will be presented before the festival begins.
Several Venues in Kassel
The Kasseler Musiktage utilize various venues in the city, each offering its own unique acoustic character:
- Kongress Palais Kassel – modern concert hall acoustics
- Staatstheater Kassel – large stage for orchestras
- Kassel Churches – historic acoustics for chamber music and choir
- Additional special venues depending on the program
International Ensembles and Soloists
Previous years featured, among others, the Freiburger Barockorchester (Bach, Handel), the hr-Sinfonieorchester with Maxim Emelyanychev, the Quatuor Diotima, the Apollon Musagète Quartett, the Bridges Chamber Orchestra, and numerous regional orchestras and choirs. A high-caliber lineup is expected again in 2026.
Program Segments
Typical for the Kasseler Musiktage:
- Chamber music in churches and halls
- Orchestral concerts in the Kongress Palais
- Choral concerts in historic churches
- Scenic concerts with staged elements
- Spanning from early music to the present day
Kassel Music Days — edition 2026
The exact festival dates for 2026 have not yet been set as of the editorial deadline. The festival follows the usual annual rhythm between late October and mid-November (2025: Oct 23–Nov 2). Program and dates available via kasseler-musiktage.de.
Programme Kassel Music Days 2026
Typical Program Structure of Kasseler Musiktage
- Festival opening with a grand opening concert (typically at Kongress Palais)
- Over the two festival weeks: approx. 20–25 concerts spread across all venues
- Chamber music concerts in churches (e.g., Martinskirche, Karlskirche)
- Orchestral concerts in the Kongress Palais
- Choral concerts and sacred music in historic churches
- Scenic concerts with staged elements
- Festival closing concert
Expected Venues
- Kongress Palais Kassel
- Staatstheater Kassel
- Martinskirche Kassel
- Karlskirche Kassel
- Other historic churches in Kassel
Expected Artists (Based on Experience)
- International soloists and chamber music ensembles
- Capital city and regional orchestras (e.g., hr-Sinfonieorchester, Freiburger Barockorchester)
- String quartets such as Quatuor Diotima, Apollon Musagète Quartett
- Bridges Chamber Orchestra (regional)
- Local choirs and vocal ensembles
The specific 2026 program will be published on kasseler-musiktage.de and in the festival newsletter before the festival begins.
Highlights Kassel Music Days 2026
- Festival with a tradition dating back to 1933
- Annual guiding question as a dramaturgical framework
- Venues include Kongress Palais, Staatstheater, and Kassel's churches
- A mix of chamber music, orchestral, choral, and scenic concerts
- International and regional ensembles
Prices Kassel Music Days 2026
Tickets available via kasseler-musiktage.reservix.de/events or advance booking hotline 0561 316 450 0. Festival subscriptions, single concert tickets, and student tickets are available. Specific prices on the festival website.
Practical information — Kassel Music Days
Getting There
By ICE train: Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe main station, then tram to the city center for the venues. By car: A7 or A44, exit Kassel-Mitte.
Tickets
Tickets available via kasseler-musiktage.reservix.de/events. Advance booking hotline: 0561 316 450 0. Advance booking email: [email protected]. Festival subscriptions and single concert tickets are available.
Tip
The 2026 program will be published on kasseler-musiktage.de before the festival begins. For classical music enthusiasts, a festival weekend is worthwhile: combine several concerts in different halls to experience Kassel's venues.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Kassel Music Days
Kongress Palais, Staatstheater und Kasseler Kirchen
Heinrich-Schütz-Allee 35, 34131 Kassel