Name: Kassel Music Days 2026
Start: 2026-10-29T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-15T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kongress Palais, Staatstheater und Kasseler Kirchen

Kassel Music Days

About Kassel Music Days

The Kasseler Musiktage 2026 will take place between late October and mid-November – Northern Hesse's annual classical music event. Founded in 1933, the festival presents chamber music, orchestral, and choral concerts from all eras at venues such as the Kongress Palais, the Staatstheater, and Kassel's historic churches. As one of Europe's oldest music festivals, founded in 1933, it has been a staple of the Hessian classical autumn for almost a century, featuring international soloists and ensembles.

Dates 29 Oct — 15 Nov 2026

Venue Kassel (06611)

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Edition 2026

Kassel Music Days — edition 2026

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Classical music festival in Kassel featuring chamber music, orchestral concerts, choral concerts, and scenic concerts. Venues: Kongress Palais Kassel, Staatstheater, several historic churches. The 2026 festival's guiding question will be published on kasseler-musiktage.de before the festival begins. The exact program and dates are also being prepared.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.