Name: Plauer Musiksommer 2026
Start: 2026-05-03T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-12-30T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Stadtkirche St. Marien Plau am See

Plauer Musiksommer

About Plauer Musiksommer

The Plauer Musiksommer is the annual concert series in St. Mary's Church in Plau am See. The focus is on the summer months of June to September with a mix of classical church music, choir concerts, chamber music, and folk-maritime music. It opens in 2026 on June 24th with performances by Plau ensembles (Shantychor Plauer See-Männer, Plauer Mandolinengruppe, church choirs). Admission is free, donations are requested.

Dates 03 May — 30 Dec 2026

Venue Plau am See (13076)

Prices Free

Status —

Edition 2026

Plauer Musiksommer — edition 2026

The Plauer Musiksommer 2026 starts with the YARO spring concert on May 3rd and officially opens on June 24th in St. Mary's Church. Several concert evenings with classical church music, choir, and chamber music will take place until September. A festive year-end concert on December 30th. Free admission, donations requested.

2026 Season

The 2026 season of the Plauer Musiksommer once again offers a broad spectrum of sacred and folk music in St. Mary's Church in Plau am See. The series opens on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 8:00 PM with a joint evening by Plau ensembles: the Shantychor Plauer See-Männer, the Plauer Mandolinengruppe, and several church choirs.

A pre-season spring concert with the Young Academy Rostock (YARO) will already kick off the season on May 3, 2026, followed by the actual summer series starting at the end of June. The season concludes with a festive year-end concert featuring brass music on December 30th.

Highlights Plauer Musiksommer 2026

Opening concert with Plau ensembles and shanty choir
Rostocker Motettenchor with works by Bach and Schütz
Junge Kammermusikensemble Berlin-Brandenburg
YARO (Young Academy Rostock) as the spring opener
Festive year-end concert with brass music

Programme Plauer Musiksommer 2026

Program Highlights 2026

May 3, 2026, 5:00 PM — YARO – Young Academy Rostock (Young Talents)
June 24, 2026, 8:00 PM — Opening Concert: Shantychor Plauer See-Männer, Plauer Mandolinengruppe, Church Choirs
July 1, 2026, 8:00 PM — Rostocker Motettenchor (Works by Bach, Schütz, etc.)
July 8, 2026, 8:00 PM — Junge Kammermusikensemble Berlin-Brandenburg (Mozart to Shostakovich)
July–September 2026 — further concerts (dates at plau-tourismus.de)
December 30, 2026, 8:00 PM — Year-End Concert with Festive Brass Music

Prices Plauer Musiksommer 2026

All concerts of the Plauer Musiksommer are free to attend. Donations for church music and the musicians are requested at the exit – recommended donation is €8–15 per concert.

Practical information

Practical information — Plauer Musiksommer

Getting There

By car: Take the A24 motorway, exit Suckow (24), then take the B191 to Plau am See. Parking is available in the old town within walking distance of St. Mary's Church. By train: Take the RB13 line to Plau am See, then walk approx. 8 minutes to St. Mary's Church (Steinstraße).

Admission

All concerts are free admission; donations are requested (collection at the exit). Recommended donation for church music is €8–15 per concert.

On Site

The church is heated in summer; a light jacket is recommended for evening concerts. Programs are available at the entrance; the current concert calendar can be found at plau-tourismus.de.

A Concert Series in the Shadow of Brick Gothic

The St. Mary's Church in Plau am See is one of the most important brick churches on the western edge of the Mecklenburg Lake District, built in the 13th/14th century, with a striking west tower and impressive acoustics. These acoustics form the stage for the Plauer Musiksommer – a concert series that has brought music to the church summer after summer for many years: classical church music, choir concerts, chamber music, and – as a Plau specialty – also shanty singing and folk programs.

What Makes the Plauer Musiksommer Special

The series is a mix of professional guest performances and local Plau contributions. Among the nationally recognized guests are choirs such as the Rostocker Motettenchor, the Junge Kammermusikensemble Berlin-Brandenburg, and the Young Academy Rostock (YARO). Local ensembles that perform regularly include the Shantychor Plauer See-Männer, the Plauer Mandolinengruppe, and the in-house church choirs. This mix makes the series vibrant and anchors it in Plau's community life.

Program Philosophy

Unlike the major Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which also perform in the region during the summer, the Plauer Musiksommer is explicitly free of charge: all concerts are freely accessible, and donations for the church and musicians are welcome. This accessibility is part of the program: summer vacationers, Plau residents, and commuters from the surrounding area should be able to find their way to the church without barriers. Concerts usually start at 8:00 PM, and many programs last around 60–75 minutes.

Opening 2026 and Season Progression

The 2026 opening will take place on Wednesday, June 24th at 8:00 PM, with a joint evening by Plau ensembles: the Shantychor Plauer See-Männer, the Plauer Mandolinengruppe, and several church choirs. Throughout the season, numerous concerts will follow until September, with an additional spring concert and a year-end concert (May 3rd and December 30th, respectively).

Plau am See — One Town, Three Summer Musicals

Anyone in Plau am See during the summer has a musical choice: the Burgfestspiele in the castle courtyard (theater, musical, revue), the Plauer Burghoffest by the local heritage association (Volksfest, Schützenzunft, shanty), and the Plauer Musiksommer in St. Mary's Church (classical, choir, chamber). The three offerings coexist, appeal to different audiences, and make the summer in this small town a surprisingly rich cultural season. Plau am See belongs to the Ludwigslust-Parchim district.