MareMusikFestival Cuxhaven 2026 — 5th Edition

Classical Music by the Sea — 5th Edition

The MareMusikFestival Cuxhaven has become one of Northern Germany's most original classical music festivals in just a few years. Its motto “Classical music without ties” is its program: top-class music, but a relaxed atmosphere, often by the sea, often in unconventional spaces — from the spa park to the historic castle hall.

Date 2026 — May 22 to 25, Warm-Up on April 30

The 5th edition will take place from May 22 to 25, 2026 — over the Whitsun weekend. The Warm-Up concert, which traditionally sets the mood for the festival days, will start on April 30, 2026.

The Venues

The MareMusikFestival uses Cuxhaven's most acoustically and atmospherically appealing locations:

• Kugelbake-Halle (Döse) — the large event hall for the opening with Carmina Burana
• Schloss Ritzebüttel — baroque castle in the town center
• Villa Gehben — historic villa
• Herz-Jesu-Kirche (Grimmershörn) — sacred sound space
• Gnadenkirche (Süderwisch)
• Kurpark Döse — open-air venue

Program Highlights 2026

The opening will feature Carmina Burana in a monumental performance with a 160-member choir. The Mozart Gala “Amadeus Amadeus” brings together two international soloists: violinist Simon Haje and French trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary. A Miles Davis Tribute builds a bridge to jazz history. Also characteristic of the festival are the so-called Switch Concerts, where the audience experiences multiple venues during one event.

Free Whitsun Breakfast

On May 24, 2026, the festival traditionally invites you to a free Whitsun breakfast — a convivial meeting point that makes the festival a shared experience.

Cuxhaven as a Festival Backdrop

Cuxhaven, the North Sea town at the mouth of the Elbe, with its Wadden Sea (UNESCO World Natural Heritage), its harbor, and its historic spa resorts of Döse, Duhnen, Sahlenburg, is an exceptional festival location. The MareMusikFestival uses this maritime backdrop to present classical music in an unusually open setting.