Musikfest Speyer – German State Philharmonic Orchestra Rheinland-Pfalz

The Musikfest Speyer is a top-class classical music festival, organized by the German State Philharmonic Orchestra Rheinland-Pfalz in collaboration with the City of Speyer. Since 2014, the festival has transformed the most beautiful concert halls of the cathedral city into stages for top-tier music every year in early July – symphonic works, chamber music, family programmes, and experimental formats.

13th Edition 2026

The 13th edition in 2026 runs from Wednesday, July 1st to Sunday, July 5th, 2026, and comprises seven concerts at three different venues in Speyer.

2026 Programme

The seven concerts are themed around concise keywords:

• SKATRUNDE (Skate Round) – Opening concert on Wednesday, July 1st, 2026, 7:30 PM in the Gedächtniskirche.
• LEICHTIGKEIT (Lightness) – Serenade 1 on Friday, July 3rd, 2026, 7:30 PM in the Alter Stadtsaal.
• TREMOLO – Family concert on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, 3:00 PM and Sunday, July 5th, 2026, 3:00 PM, both in the Alter Stadtsaal. A concert programme specifically designed for children and families.
• SOMMERFRISCHE (Summer Refreshment) – Serenade 2 on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, 7:30 PM in the Alter Stadtsaal.
• HAYDNSPASS (Haydn Fun) – Musical reading on Sunday, July 5th, 2026, 11:00 AM in the Historischer Ratssaal. A combination of text and music centred around the composer Joseph Haydn.
• GÄNSEHAUT (Goosebumps) – Closing concert on Sunday, July 5th, 2026, 6:00 PM in the Gedächtniskirche.

Three Magnificent Venues

The festival utilizes three of Speyer's most beautiful spaces:

• Gedächtniskirche (Memorial Church): Speyer's main Protestant church, a Neo-Gothic building with impressive acoustics for symphonic works.
• Alter Stadtsaal (Old Town Hall): A historic hall with chamber music acoustics, ideal for serenades and family concerts.
• Historischer Ratssaal (Historic Council Chamber): The representative hall of Speyer's town hall, suitable for intimate concerts and musical readings.

Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

The German State Philharmonic Orchestra Rheinland-Pfalz, based in Ludwigshafen, is one of Germany's most renowned orchestras. Founded in 1919, it is currently the only orchestra in Rhineland-Palatinate with the status of a "State Orchestra". The Musikfest Speyer is one of its most important external formats, offering the Speyer audience an intensive experience of the orchestra over a concert week.

Classical Music in the Heart of Speyer

Speyer, a UNESCO World Heritage city (Imperial Cathedral), provides the ideal backdrop for a classical music festival. The combination of the Romanesque architecture of the cathedral, the historic city centre, and contemporary top-tier music creates a special festival atmosphere that attracts classical music fans from the entire Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.