Klavier-Festival Ruhr — Bochum

Klavier-Festival Ruhr — a world-class format

The Klavier-Festival Ruhr is one of the most important piano festivals in the world — founded in 1989 by Franz Xaver Ohnesorg, today directed by Franz Xaver Ohnesorg and Ralf Wienberg. Every year the festival brings the world's piano stars into the industrial-heritage region of the Ruhr. 72 concerts in 17 NRW cities are spread across the 2026 festival season — from 7 May to 21 July 2026. Bochum, with the Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr, is one of the most important venues.

The Bochum concerts 2026

Opening — 18 June 2026: Anna Vinnitskaya

The flagship Bochum concert is the opening on Thursday 18 June 2026, 20:00 in the Great Hall of the Anneliese Brost Musikforum:

• Anna Vinnitskaya (Russia) — piano
• Bochumer Symphoniker
• Programme: Béla Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 1 in A major, Sz. 83 + works by Bach and Beethoven

Vinnitskaya is one of the most important pianists of her generation — Echo Klassik laureate, regular soloist with the world's leading orchestras.

Closing — 21 July 2026: Grigory Sokolov

The closing concert of the entire 2026 festival is Grigory Sokolov's recital on Tuesday 21 July 2026 — also at the Anneliese Brost Musikforum. Sokolov is considered one of the greatest living pianists — known for his ascetic stage presence and his incomparable Bach and Schubert playing. His recitals have been sold out for years.

Further Bochum concerts

A total of 4 concerts in Bochum are planned — the other 2 dates between May and July will be staffed with soloists from the international piano festival programme. Full programme list at klavierfestival.de.

Festival stars 2026

The full 2026 festival brings to NRW, among others:

• Krystian Zimerman
• Seong-Jin Cho
• Grigory Sokolov
• Rudolf Buchbinder
• Igor Levit
• Sir András Schiff
• Arcadi Volodos

Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr

The Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr is Bochum's concert hall — opened in 2016, designed as the "Musikforum" of the Bochumer Symphoniker. The Great Hall offers 950 seats and is considered one of the best concert halls in the Ruhr area. The acoustics have been specifically optimised for solo piano and orchestral accompaniment.

Early-bird discount

Tickets for the 2026 festival have been available with an early-bird discount since November 2025 (source: Bochum-Journal). Regular prices between 25 € and 95 € depending on hall category and soloist. Via tickets.klavierfestival.de.