MDR Musiksommer

Four Weeks of Summer Festival

The MDR Musiksommer is one of the largest and most important classical summer festivals in Germany. From August 7 to September 5, 2026 — for its 35th edition — around 50 concerts will be held at approximately as many venues in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The locations include monasteries, castles, palace courtyards, historic industrial sites, and natural settings. The motto for 2026 is 'Nature as a Stage': open-air concerts, in parks, by lakes, and at castles will highlight the close connection between music and the landscape of Central Germany. In Leipzig — one of the central venues — the festival opens on August 7 at the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig on Augustusplatz.

MDR Symphony Orchestra and International Guests

A cornerstone of the festival is the MDR Symphony Orchestra (founded in 1924, one of the oldest radio orchestras in the world) under its chief conductor Dennis Russell Davies. In addition, top international ensembles and soloists will perform: young talents alongside established stars such as Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Tabea Zimmermann (viola), Lars Vogt, and Christian Tetzlaff. Crossover projects will blend classical music with jazz (e.g., WDR Big Band recordings), folk, or world music. The repertoire ranges from Baroque Bach programs and Romantic symphonies to modern works and world premieres.

Leipzig in the Festival

Leipzig — in the state of Saxony — is one of the central venues. The opening concert on August 7, 2026, featuring the MDR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, will take place at the Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz. The soloist for the opening concert is cellist Carlo Lay. Further concerts in Leipzig will be held in the Nikolaikirche, Thomaskirche, Mendelssohn-Haus, and Schumann-Haus — each of these venues boasting its own musical tradition. Between concerts, attendees can enjoy strolls along Augustusplatz, through Clara-Zetkin-Park, or to the Völkerschlachtdenkmal.

'Nature as a Stage' — Venues in the Region

Outside of Leipzig, the MDR Musiksommer will feature unusual locations: concerts at Wernigerode Castle (Saxony-Anhalt), Helfta Monastery (Eisleben), Wartburg Castle (Eisenach, Thuringia), the Oelsnitz Mining Museum, Lake Pöhl, Lichtenwalde Palace Park, Altzella Monastery Park, and the Friedrichswerdersche Kirche in Dresden. This geographical spread across three federal states is intentional — the festival aims to be a cultural link for Central Germany. Many concerts will be broadcast live or delayed on MDR Klassik (radio) and 3sat (TV), further expanding the regional reach.

Tradition Since 1992

The MDR Musiksommer was founded in 1992, shortly after the establishment of the MDR broadcaster through the merger of the radio institutions of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Since then, the festival has premiered numerous new works, fostered crossover experiments, and developed unique concert formats. With 'Nature as a Stage,' the 35th edition builds on its regional roots, emphasizing the connection between classical music and the landscape of Central Germany.