MainzMusik 2026 — sound.change
Annual festival of the Mainz University of Music with concerts, workshops, and performances under the motto sound.change
About MainzMusik 2026
The Mainz University of Music (HfM) is part of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and is one of Germany's younger, yet rapidly established, university music institutions. With its MainzMusik annual festival, the university presents itself in its full breadth once a year—as an educational, research, and concert institution.
The 2026 edition takes place from February 20 to 27 and is themed sound.change. The title combines two keywords: sound as the fundamental essence of music, and change as movement, transformation, societal, and technological shifts. The festival explores how musical practice positions itself in an era of constant change—digitalization, climate crisis, societal diversity, listening habits.
The venues include the university's concert halls on campus, the university auditorium, the student theater, and various Mainz venues—churches, museums, concert halls, and occasionally unconventional spaces like libraries or industrial buildings.
The program spectrum is intentionally broad: concerts featuring works from all eras from the Renaissance to the present day, chamber music evenings, solo recitals, orchestral concerts, vocal projects, jazz and improvisation evenings, electroacoustic performances, workshops with faculty and guest lecturers, lecture-recitals (concerts with commentary), sound art installations, and participatory formats.
Students are centrally involved—the festival is a showcase of their work. Additionally, university faculty and international guests enrich the program through masterclasses, workshops, and concert contributions.
MainzMusik is largely accessible free of charge; individual concerts and special events are offered for a small admission fee. The event is aimed equally at a professional audience (music students, music enthusiasts, musicians) and the general music-loving public of Mainz.
MainzMusik 2026 — edition 2026
The complete 2026 program will be published by the Mainz University of Music in the weeks leading up to the festival. The structure follows the proven cornerstones of previous years: Opening concert on February 20 with a representative program, followed by several concerts daily at various venues, workshops and masterclasses during the day, evening concerts, and weekends with denser programming; festival finale with a grand concert on February 27. The exact program and participants will align with the motto sound.change.
Programme MainzMusik 2026 2026
Program Structure 2026
Opening Feb 20
- Official opening with opening concert
- Presentation of the motto sound.change
- Reception in the foyer
Festival Week Feb 21-26
- Daytime workshops, masterclasses, lecture-recitals
- Evening concerts of various formats
- Chamber music evenings
- Solo recitals by students and faculty
- Vocal and choral projects
- Jazz and improvisation evenings
- Electroacoustic performances
- Various Mainz venues
Finale Feb 27
- Grand closing concert
- Orchestral or vocal program
Typical Venues
- Concert halls of the University of Music
- Auditorium of Mainz University
- Student Theater
- Churches and museums in Mainz
- Various special venues
Performers
- Students of the HfM Mainz
- Faculty and lecturers
- International guests
Highlights MainzMusik 2026 2026
- Annual festival of the Mainz University of Music
- Motto sound.change — musical transformation
- A week of dense programming
- Concerts from all eras
- Workshops and masterclasses
- Mostly free admission
Prices MainzMusik 2026 2026
Practical information — MainzMusik 2026
Main Venue
Mainz University of Music, Jakob-Welder-Weg 28, 55128 Mainz (Campus of Johannes Gutenberg University). Other venues: University Auditorium, Student Theater, various Mainz venues.
Dates 2026
Friday, February 20 to Friday, February 27, 2026.
Admission
Most events are free. Individual concerts and special events are ticketed (typically between 5 and 15 Euros). Detailed program and ticket prices at hfm.uni-mainz.de.
Getting There
From Mainz Main Station, take tram line 51/53 towards Universität, stop at Universität or Friedrich-von-Pfeiffer-Weg.
Registration
Registration is generally not required for concerts. Advance registration is recommended for workshops and masterclasses.
Audience
The festival is aimed at music students, music enthusiasts, professional musicians, and the general music-loving public of Mainz.
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