Name: Musikfest ION — International Festival of Sacred Music 2026
Start: 2026-06-19T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-05T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kirchen der Nürnberger Altstadt (St. Sebald, St. Lorenz u.a.)

Musikfest ION

About Musikfest ION

The Musikfest ION (International Organ Week Nuremberg) is an international festival of sacred music that has taken place annually in the churches of Nuremberg's Old Town since 1951. For about ten days in June/July, sacred music, organ music, and vocal music resound in the city's important sacral buildings — St. Sebald, St. Lorenz, St. Egidien, the Frauenkirche, and other venues. The festival originated from the desire to seek new dialogue and cultural plurality in Nuremberg after World War II — a spirit of reconciliation that continues to shape the festival today. In 2026, Musikfest ION will celebrate its 75th anniversary with around 30 concerts and international artists such as The King's Singers, Anna Prohaska, Rebekka Bakken, and Cameron Carpenter.

Dates 19 Jun — 05 Jul 2026

Venue Nürnberg (09564)

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Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Musikfest ION — edition 2026

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The 75th Musikfest ION 2026 celebrates its anniversary with around 30 concerts in the churches of Nuremberg's Old Town from June 19 to July 5. The anniversary edition opens on June 19 with the "Große Nürnberger Musiknacht" (Grand Nuremberg Music Night) in cooperation with BR-KLASSIK. Performers include The King's Singers, Anna Prohaska, Rebekka Bakken, Cameron Carpenter, Chanticleer, Solomon's Knot, and the RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin. The program offers significantly more music and events than in previous years.

For its 75th anniversary, Musikfest ION is significantly expanding its program. The opening on Friday, June 19, will be the Große Nürnberger Musiknacht in collaboration with BR-KLASSIK: several short concerts of about 45 minutes each at three venues on one evening, featuring Maayan Licht, Solomon's Knot, and Chanticleer, bookable with a combo ticket.

Later, The King's Singers will perform their program "Close Harmony," Cameron Carpenter will play a program from Bach and Handel to Brahms and César Franck in St. Sebald on June 20, Anna Prohaska will give a Lieder recital with Eric Schneider on June 30, and Rebekka Bakken will make her ION debut. The closing will be a grand celebratory concert. Accompanying this will be daily organ matinees in the Frauenkirche and sing-along formats. Ticket sales began in November.

Highlights Musikfest ION 2026

75th anniversary with around 30 concerts, opening with the Große Nürnberger Musiknacht (BR-KLASSIK cooperation), The King's Singers, Cameron Carpenter in St. Sebald, Anna Prohaska, Rebekka Bakken (ION debut), daily organ matinees in the Frauenkirche, concerts in the historic churches of the Old Town.

Programme Musikfest ION 2026

Friday, June 19, 2026 — Opening

Große Nürnberger Musiknacht (BR-KLASSIK Cooperation): Short concerts at three venues with Maayan Licht, Solomon's Knot, Chanticleer

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Cameron Carpenter (Organ) — St. Sebald: Works by Bach, Handel, Brahms, César Franck

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Anna Prohaska (Soprano) & Eric Schneider (Piano) — Lieder Recital

Further Highlights (June 19 – July 5)

The King's Singers — "Close Harmony"
Rebekka Bakken (ION Debut)
RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin, Tenebrae Choir, Stegreif Orchestra
Daily Organ Matinees in the Frauenkirche (approx. 12:15 PM)
Sing-along Formats (SingBach, Sing-along Concert)
Grand 75th Anniversary Concert

Prices Musikfest ION 2026

Tickets via Reservix (ion.reservix.de/events), tickets starting from approx. €15. Combo ticket for the Große Nürnberger Musiknacht. Several concerts sell out early — booking in advance is recommended.

Practical information

Practical information — Musikfest ION

Getting There

Nuremberg is excellently connected by ICE high-speed trains; the venues are mostly located within the easily walkable Old Town. The subway stations Lorenzkirche and Hauptmarkt provide access to the central churches.

Venues

St. Sebald, St. Lorenz, St. Egidien, Frauenkirche, St. Martha, Gustav-Adolf-Gedächtniskirche, Kulturkirche Gostenhof, Historischer Rathaussaal, Aufseßsaal in the GNM.

Tickets

Tickets are available through the platform Reservix (ion.reservix.de/events). Popular concerts often sell out early — booking in advance is recommended.

Organ Matinees

Daily organ matinees in the Frauenkirche (approx. 12:15 PM) during the festival days.

Organizer

Musikfest ION Foundation — Program details at musikfest-ion.de.

One of the Oldest Festivals of Sacred Music

The Musikfest ION — the abbreviation stands for International Organ Week Nuremberg — has been held annually since 1951, making it one of the most traditional festivals for sacred music in Europe. For about ten days in May or June/July, the historic churches of Nuremberg's Old Town are transformed into concert halls for organ music, choral music, sacred vocal, and instrumental music.

A Festival in the Spirit of Reconciliation

The festival arose from a special historical impulse: over 70 years ago, people in war-torn Nuremberg sought a new dialogue. From this desire for reconciliation and cultural plurality, Musikfest ION was born — an idea that continues to shape its programming to this day. The Musikfest ION Foundation is the organizer.

Venues in Nuremberg's Churches

The festival uses the most important sacral buildings in the Old Town: St. Sebald, St. Lorenz, St. Egidien, the Frauenkirche on Hauptmarkt, St. Martha, the Gustav-Adolf-Gedächtniskirche, the Kulturkirche Gostenhof (GoHo), the Historic City Hall, and the Aufseßsaal in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Daily organ matinees take place in the Frauenkirche.

Program Profile

The program includes classical concerts, chamber music, organ recitals, contemporary music, and participatory sing-along formats (SingBach, Sing-along concerts). Internationally renowned ensembles and soloists perform — from a cappella ensembles and organ virtuosos to singers from classical and jazz.

Significance in Nuremberg's Festival Calendar

Alongside the Bardentreffen, Stadtverführungen, and classical open-air events, Musikfest ION is one of Nuremberg's cultural constants. With its focus on sacred music in authentic church settings, it occupies a unique niche and attracts audiences from all over Franconia, the metropolitan region, and internationally.