Kassel Music Days
One of Europe's oldest music festivals – classical music in the documenta-Halle, Staatstheater, UK14, and Kassel's historic churches.
2026
About Kassel Music Days
Kassel Music Days — edition 2026
A classical music festival in Kassel featuring ten concerts under the theme "What moves you?" – including chamber music, orchestral, choral, and staged performances. Venues: documenta-Halle, Staatstheater, UK14, and several historic churches. Ticket sales begin on September 1, 2026.
"What moves you?"
The 2026 theme explores how music stirs us physically, intellectually, and emotionally. From October 22 to November 2, 2026, ten concerts will delve into this question across familiar and newly discovered Kassel venues – from the documenta-Halle and the Staatstheater to local churches and the UK14.
Highlights Kassel Music Days 2026
- Ten concerts from October 22 to November 2, 2026
- 2026 Theme: "What moves you?"
- Venues: documenta-Halle, Staatstheater, UK14, and Kassel churches
- A blend of chamber, orchestral, choral, and staged concerts
- Featuring the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and countertenor Raffaele Pe
Programme Kassel Music Days 2026
Thu, Oct 22, 8:00 PM – Treppenhausorchester
Opening concert.
Fri, Oct 23, 8:00 PM – In C
Terry Riley's minimalist masterpiece.
Sat, Oct 24, 7:00 PM – Lamento Mirabile
Featuring the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin.
Sun, Oct 25, 10:00 AM – Festival Service
With the St. Martin Choir.
Sun, Oct 25, 6:00 PM – Lachrymae
Chamber music with members of the hr-Sinfonieorchester.
Tue, Oct 27, 7:00 PM – Boat Trip
A staged concert on the water with Studio Lev Cho:r.
Thu, Oct 29, 8:00 PM – Isacco
Oratorio by Marianna Martines.
Fri, Oct 30, 8:00 PM – Monteverdi a solo
Featuring countertenor Raffaele Pe.
Sat, Oct 31, 7:00 PM – Hear Us
Vocal ensemble performing works by Heinrich Schütz.
Sun, Nov 1, 5:00 PM – #FreeBruckner
Anton Bruckner performed by the Stegreiforchester.
Prices Kassel Music Days 2026
Tickets range from €7.50 (concessions) to €43 and are available via kasseler-musiktage.reservix.de/events, all Reservix box offices, or the ticket hotline at 0561 316 450 0. Ticket sales start on September 1, 2026. Children and youths up to 12 years old are admitted free; a 50% discount applies to those up to 27 years old.
Practical information — Kassel Music Days
Getting There
By ICE train: Arrive at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station, then take the tram to the city center for the venues. By car: Take the A7 or A44 motorway, exit at Kassel-Mitte.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale starting September 1, 2026, via kasseler-musiktage.reservix.de/events, all Reservix box offices, and the ticket hotline at 0561 316 450 0. You can also purchase tickets via email at [email protected]. Discounts: Free admission for children and youth up to 12 years old, 50% discount for those up to 27, €5 discount for welfare recipients and people with disabilities, and the KMT-Card 2026 (€50 for a 50% discount on one ticket per event throughout the year).
Tip
Ten concerts over the period between October 22 and November 2, 2026—a festival weekend is the perfect opportunity to combine multiple concerts in different halls and discover Kassel's unique venues.
One of Europe's oldest music festivals
Founded in 1933, the Kasseler Musiktage rank among the oldest music festivals in Europe. Ever since, the festival has defined the classical autumn in North Hesse, bringing international soloists, ensembles, and orchestras to Kassel. It is organized by the non-profit association Kasseler Musiktage e.V., which has been under the artistic direction of Olaf A. Schmitt and the management of Christoph Schluckwerder since 2016, with each year centered around a specific thematic question.
2026 Dates: October 22 to November 2
The 2026 Kasseler Musiktage will run from October 22 to November 2, 2026, featuring ten concerts and events. Ticket sales begin on September 1, 2026, via the online shop, all Reservix box offices, and the ticket hotline.
Program Concept: A Guiding Theme
Each edition is built around a dramaturgical guiding question that ties the program together. In 2026, the theme is "What moves you?"—exploring how music moves us in different ways, in different spaces, through diverse rhythms and emotions. The festival embraces traditional classical formats alongside performative, cross-genre, and experimental approaches.
Multiple Venues in Kassel
The Kasseler Musiktage utilizes various venues throughout the city, each offering a unique acoustic character:
- documenta-Halle Kassel
- Staatstheater Kassel
- UK14 – A cultural and event space in Kassel's city center
- Kassel's Churches (including Weinkirche, Martinskirche, and Alte Brüderkirche)
- Additional special venues depending on the program
International Ensembles and Soloists
Past editions have featured the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra (Bach, Handel), the hr-Sinfonieorchester with Maxim Emelyanychev, Quatuor Diotima, the Apollon Musagète Quartett, the Bridges Chamber Orchestra, and numerous regional orchestras and choirs. Guests for 2026 include the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, countertenor Raffaele Pe, and the Stegreiforchester.
Program Segments
Typical of the Kasseler Musiktage:
- Chamber music in churches and concert halls
- Orchestral and ensemble concerts in the documenta-Halle and Staatstheater
- Choral concerts in historic churches
- Staged and cross-genre performances, such as those at UK14
- A musical spectrum ranging from early music to the contemporary
Where it takes place Kassel Music Days
Kassel Music Days at a glance
History of Kassel Music Days
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .