SHMF at the Elbeforum Brunsbüttel

Brunsbüttel: Lock City on the Lower Elbe

Brunsbüttel is located in the Dithmarschen district of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, at the mouth of the Kiel Canal into the Lower Elbe. The town, with a population of around 12,000, is known for Europe's largest lock system, which is passed by thousands of ships every year, and for its industrial site on the Elbe. With the Elbeforum, Brunsbüttel has one of the most important cultural centers in the region — a showcase for concerts, theater, musicals, and cabaret in western Schleswig-Holstein.

The Elbeforum: A Concert Hall with its Own Signature

The Elbeforum was opened in 1992 as a crystallization point for art and culture in the center of Brunsbüttel. The Great Hall offers seating for around 800 people, and the spacious stage is suitable for both chamber music and large orchestras. Specially developed acoustic panels under the ceiling ensure excellent sound quality — a standard that has made the Elbeforum a sought-after venue for sophisticated classical events for years.

The SHMF in Western Schleswig-Holstein

The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival is one of the largest classical music festivals in Europe and was founded in 1986 by Justus Frantz. With around 200 concerts annually at more than 100 venues in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Denmark, the festival reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners each year. The Elbeforum has been a regular part of the SHMF circuit since 1994, ensuring that even the industrially shaped Brunsbüttel on the Lower Elbe regularly experiences top-class classical music.

Focus 2026: Stockholm

The 41st edition of the SHMF (July 4 – August 30, 2026) is dedicated to the music landscape of Stockholm. The portrait artist is the Latvian accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, who will guide the festival through numerous solo programs, chamber music performances, and crossover concerts.