Reflektor Rhiannon Giddens

Reflektor — The Annual Artist Residency

The "Reflektor" concert series is one of the Elbphilharmonie's most distinctive formats. A defining voice in contemporary music is given several days for free programming — concerts, lecture-recitals, and special formats are developed together with the house's musical direction. In previous years, guests have included Jordi Savall, Brad Mehldau, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Bryce Dessner, and others. In 2026, Rhiannon Giddens will headline the series from November 25th to 29th.

Rhiannon Giddens — Pulitzer Prize Winner, Banjo Player, Composer

Rhiannon Giddens, born in Greensboro, North Carolina, is one of the most distinctive voices in American music of the last two decades. After gaining fame with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, she has since found ways as a solo artist and composer to systematically explore the African roots of American folk, bluegrass, and country music. In 2023, she received the Pulitzer Prize for Music for her opera "Omar."

Program: African Roots, American Music

The 2026 festival explores — as the Elbphilharmonie announces — "the global roots of American musical culture." Giddens curates as a composer, performer, and musical researcher. The exact concert titles and participating artists will be announced in November 2026. The festival is embedded in the larger "USA 250" focus, with which the Elbphilharmonie reflects on the musical legacies of the USA for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

HafenCity, Hamburg-Mitte District

The venues are the halls of the Elbphilharmonie in HafenCity. The Grand Hall with its 2,100 seats and the Chamber Hall with 550 seats offer different atmospheres — the Grand Hall for orchestral concerts, the Chamber Hall for more intimate formats. With the Reflektor series, the Elbphilharmonie transforms the concert hall into a stage where artists can not only perform but also engage in programmatic thinking.