Merseburg Organ Days
International organ festival at Merseburg Cathedral featuring the legendary Ladegast organ
About Merseburg Organ Days
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Organ Festival on the Ladegast Organ
The Merseburg Organ Days are one of the oldest and most internationally respected organ series in Germany. They have been held annually since 1969, regularly filling Merseburg Cathedral with audiences from all over Europe. The occasion is the instrument itself: the Ladegast organ from 1855, one of the most significant organ works of the 19th century and the instrument on which Franz Liszt premiered his Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H and the Fantasy and Fugue on 'Ad nos, ad salutarem undam'.
From the outset, the festival has had a special ambition: it's not just about grand solo concerts, but also about encounters – orchestras, choirs, solo instruments, and voices – with the organ as the focal point. Over the years, Ton Koopman, Olivier Latry, Daniel Roth, Ludger Lohmann, Christopher Houlihan, and many others have performed here. There are open lunchtime concerts and formats for younger audiences, while the grand evening concerts feature orchestras.
2026: 'Musical Land Hungary'
The 56th edition in 2026 is dedicated to the theme 'Musical Land Hungary – from Saint Elisabeth to the Apocalypse'. The programme includes works by Pál Esterházy, Franz Liszt, Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, and Franz Schmidt. The opening concert on September 12th features the Angelika Children's Choir Budapest, and the opening weekend presents Liszt's oratorio 'The Legend of Saint Elisabeth', conducted by Michael Beauty with the Gewandhaus Children's and Youth Choir Leipzig. The closing concert features Schmidt's 'The Book with Seven Seals'. Soloists from Hungary include Zsolt Máté Mészáros, Kamilla Lévai, László Fassang, Istvan Ella, Enikő Ginzery.
Merseburg Cathedral is part of the Romanesque Road and is one of the most important architectural monuments in the Saalekreis district. Merseburg is located in the Saalekreis district in Saxony-Anhalt, about 20 kilometres south of Halle (Saale). The cathedral is a ten-minute walk from the train station.
Merseburg Organ Days — edition 2026
The 56th edition of the Merseburg Organ Days focuses on Hungarian organ music – from Liszt, who composed a significant part of his organ works specifically for the Merseburg Ladegast organ, to Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, and Franz Schmidt. A number of international soloists will perform, along with choirs from Budapest and Leipzig.
Programme Merseburg Organ Days 2026
Opening Weekend
- Sat, September 12, 2026 — Opening Concert (Cathedral) with works by Pál Esterházy, Franz Liszt, Béla Bartók, and Zoltán Kodály; Angelika Children's Choir Budapest, Family Concert
- Sun, September 13, 2026 — 'The Legend of Saint Elisabeth' by Franz Liszt; conducted by Michael Beauty; Gewandhaus Children's and Youth Choir Leipzig; soloists from Hungary
Mid-Festival
- Mon, September 14 — Lunchtime Concert
- Tue, September 15 — Solo recital on the Ladegast organ with László Fassang
- Wed, September 16 — Lunchtime Concert / Concert with Hungarian Chamber Musicians
- Thu, September 17 — Chamber Music Evening
- Fri, September 18 — Organ Recital
Closing Weekend
- Sat, September 19 — Evening Concert
- Sun, September 20, 2026 — Closing Concert: Zoltán Kodály 'Psalmus hungaricus', Franz Liszt 'Hungarian Coronation Mass', Franz Schmidt 'The Book with Seven Seals' (Oratorio)
Soloists 2026
- Zsolt Máté Mészáros, Kamilla Lévai, László Fassang, Istvan Ella, Enikő Ginzery
- Gewandhaus Children's and Youth Choir Leipzig
- Angelika Children's Choir Budapest
Detailed artist and work schedule in the programme booklet, available at merseburger-orgeltage.de.
Highlights Merseburg Organ Days 2026
Prices Merseburg Organ Days 2026
Practical information — Merseburg Organ Days
Getting There
By train: Merseburg station on the Halle–Erfurt ICE line. Approximately a 10-minute walk from the station to the cathedral.
By car: A38 exit Merseburg-Süd, follow signs to Domplatz. Parking available at Domvorstadt.
Tickets
Advance booking via the Merseburg Tourist Information, online, and at the box office. Opening and closing concerts often sell out – book early.
Notes
Concerts are mainly held in Merseburg Cathedral. Lunchtime concerts are a format for short visits. For the best acoustic experience, sit in the central or upper nave. Combination tickets for multiple concerts are available.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Merseburg Organ Days
Kaiserdom St. Johannes und St. Laurentius
Domplatz 9, 06217 Merseburg