Name: Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival — Concerts Schleswig 2026
Start: 2026-07-04T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-30T00:00:00+00:00
Location: St.-Petri-Dom Schleswig

SHMF Schleswig

About SHMF Schleswig

The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) is one of Europe's major classical music festivals. In the summer of 2026, it celebrates its 41st festival summer with 205 concerts at 120 venues in 73 locations. In the Viking city of Schleswig, two concerts are scheduled in St. Petri Cathedral: The King's Singers will perform on July 20th, followed by an extensive ABBA program titled "Dancing Queen!" on August 13th. Both concerts start at 7:30 PM.

Dates 04 Jul — 30 Aug 2026

Venue Schleswig (01059)

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Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

SHMF Schleswig — edition 2026

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The 41st festival summer of the SHMF runs from July 4 to August 30, 2026, with 205 concerts at 120 venues in 73 locations. In Schleswig, The King's Singers will perform on July 20th, and the ABBA program "Dancing Queen!" on August 13th in St. Petri Cathedral — both at 7:30 PM.

The 2026 SHMF marks the 41st festival summer. With a budget of around 14 million euros and performances by Yo-Yo Ma, Hilary Hahn, Daniil Trifonov, Grigory Sokolov, Nina Stemme, the Swedish pop duo Roxette (July 18th, MERKUR Ostseehalle Kiel), Michael Wollny, and Martin Fröst, the festival in 2026 is exceptionally strong in both breadth and quality.

Guest orchestras include the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. The 100-member Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, composed of young international musicians, will be conducted by artists such as Andrew Manze and Katharina Wincor.

In Schleswig Cathedral, The King's Singers (July 20th, 7:30 PM) and the ABBA concert program "Dancing Queen!" (August 13th, 7:30 PM) are scheduled. The 2026 Hindemith Prize goes to Birke Bertelsmeier, and the Leonard Bernstein Award to the French trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary.

Highlights SHMF Schleswig 2026

The King's Singers (July 20th) and the "Dancing Queen!" ABBA program (August 13th) in St. Petri Cathedral Schleswig; 2026 Hindemith Prize awarded to Birke Bertelsmeier; Leonard Bernstein Award to Lucienne Renaudin Vary; opening of Glücksburg Castle Park as a new venue.

Programme SHMF Schleswig 2026

Monday, July 20, 2026 — St. Petri Cathedral Schleswig

7:30 PM — The King's Singers. Renowned British a cappella ensemble with a characteristic program spanning Renaissance, Pop, Jazz, and Folk.

Thursday, August 13, 2026 — St. Petri Cathedral Schleswig

7:30 PM — Dancing Queen! The Great ABBA Concert. Orchestral arrangements of ABBA's global hits.

Other SHMF Concerts 2026 (Selection)

July 18 — Roxette live at MERKUR Ostseehalle Kiel
Soloists 2026: Yo-Yo Ma, Hilary Hahn, Daniil Trifonov, Grigory Sokolov, Nina Stemme, Michael Wollny, Martin Fröst
Five "Music Festivals in the Countryside"
Masterclasses with The King's Singers and cellist Frans Helmerson
Educational project "Singstars!" for primary schools
Opening of new venues in Geesthacht and Glücksburg Castle Park, among others

The full program at all 120 venues can be viewed on shmf.de.

Prices SHMF Schleswig 2026

Tickets available at various price levels via shmf.de or by phone at 0431 237070. Festival passes and last-minute tickets are available.

Practical information

Practical information — SHMF Schleswig

Getting There

Train: RE 7 to Schleswig, approx. 15 minutes walk to the Cathedral. Car: A7 exit Schleswig-Schuby or Schleswig-Jagel, then B201. Parking available around the Cathedral and at the Wikingturm.

Tickets

Advance booking via shmf.de or by phone at 0431 237070. SHMF tickets are popular — early booking is recommended, especially for the ABBA program and The King's Singers.

Accessibility Note

Schleswig Cathedral has disabled parking spaces, wheelchair-accessible entrance, and accessible restrooms. Inquiries to [email protected].

41st Festival Summer in Schleswig-Holstein

The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) was founded in 1986 by Leonard Bernstein and Justus Frantz and has since been one of Europe's defining classical music festivals. With a budget of around 14 million euros, 205 concerts at 120 venues in 73 locations, a 100-member young festival orchestra, and soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Hilary Hahn, Daniil Trifonov, Grigory Sokolov, or Nina Stemme, the SHMF 2026 is a top-class festival.

Schleswig as a Historic Venue

Within the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and particularly in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg, Schleswig is one of the festival's oldest venues. St. Petri Cathedral, with its 112-meter-high Neo-Gothic west tower — a landmark of the city and one of Northern Germany's most important churches — offers acoustics that create a unique soundscape between sacred space and concert hall.

Two Festival Concerts 2026

For the 2026 edition, two concerts are confirmed for Schleswig Cathedral:

The King's Singers — on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The legendary British vocal ensemble with its characteristic repertoire spanning Renaissance, Pop, Jazz, and Folk.
Dancing Queen! The Great ABBA Concert — on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7:30 PM. A festival-typical program that combines a classical orchestral arrangement with the global hits of the Swedish pop legends.

More SHMF in Schleswig

In addition to the Cathedral, Gottorf Castle and the A. P. Møller School are also used as venues in Schleswig — the exact program for these locations will be published in the SHMF program book and on shmf.de.