Name: SHMF St. Nicholas Church Kappeln 2026
Start: 2026-07-04T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-30T00:00:00+00:00
Location: St.-Nikolai-Kirche Kappeln

SHMF Kappeln

About SHMF Kappeln

For years, the St. Nicholas Church in Kappeln on the Schlei estuary has been one of the most distinctive venues of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF). In July and August 2026, several concerts will take place here – including Xavier de Maistre (harp), Sidorova & Avital (accordion & mandolin, July 16), the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and Daniel Hope with the vocal ensemble amarcord. Built between 1789–1793, the church is the last late-Baroque hall church in Northern Germany and, with its palace-like arrangement of altar, pulpit, and organ, as well as its horseshoe-shaped galleries, offers an extraordinary acoustic and visual backdrop for classical concerts. The SHMF 2026 runs from July 4 to August 30 and celebrates Stockholm as its country focus.

Dates 04 Jul — 30 Aug 2026

Venue Kappeln (01059)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

SHMF Kappeln — edition 2026

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As part of SHMF 2026 (July 4 – August 30, 2026, country focus Stockholm/Sweden), several concerts will take place at St. Nicholas Church Kappeln. Confirmed acts include Sidorova & Avital (July 16, 7:30 PM), Xavier de Maistre (harp), the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and Daniel Hope with the vocal ensemble amarcord. Concert tickets are available via shmf.de.

St. Nicholas Church Kappeln has been one of the most popular SHMF venues in the northern fjord region for years. The 2026 edition enhances the mix of international stars and chamber music highlights: Xavier de Maistre as one of the most distinguished harpists of our time, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields as a historically established British chamber orchestra, Daniel Hope with the Leipzig vocal ensemble amarcord, and the duo Sidorova & Avital with their characteristic accordion-mandolin programming.

With around 1,100 seats, the church offers an intimate yet acoustically rich atmosphere. Programs and dates will be published on shmf.de.

Highlights SHMF Kappeln 2026

Xavier de Maistre as the harp headliner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Daniel Hope & amarcord, the crossover duo Sidorova & Avital. Venue: late-Baroque hall church at the mouth of the Schlei.

Programme SHMF Kappeln 2026

Confirmed Concerts 2026

Thursday, July 16, 2026, 7:30 PM — Sidorova & Avital
Ksenija Sidorova (accordion) and Avi Avital (mandolin) — Crossover program between folklore, classical, and original compositions
Xavier de Maistre (harp)
Solo evening by the Austrian-French harp virtuoso, featuring works from the Baroque and Romantic periods
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Concert by the renowned British chamber orchestra, part of the SHMF's "nordseite" series
Daniel Hope & amarcord
Violinist Daniel Hope with the Leipzig vocal ensemble amarcord — Program connecting vocal and string music

The exact dates for the other concerts will be published on shmf.de/de/spielort/st-nikolai-kirche-168. Tickets are available via the SHMF website and ticket outlets.

Prices SHMF Kappeln 2026

Tickets via shmf.de and SHMF ticket outlets. Prices vary depending on the concert (typically €25 – €80).

Practical information

Practical information — SHMF Kappeln

Getting There

By car: B201 from Schleswig or Flensburg to Kappeln, parking in the town center. By train: nearest station Süderbrarup, then bus.

Admission

Concert tickets via shmf.de and at SHMF ticket outlets. Prices vary depending on the artist and seating category. Early booking recommended, especially for headliner programs.

Accessibility

The church offers wheelchair access and space for visitors with mobility impairments.

Tip

Before the concert, take a walk at the mouth of the Schlei — the view from the church over the water is part of the concert experience.

A Sound Space from the Late 18th Century

St. Nicholas Church Kappeln is the last late-Baroque hall church in Northern Germany — built between 1789 and 1793 by architect Johann Adam Richter on an exposed steep slope above the Schlei. A chapel, and later a church, once stood here in the 12th century, where seafarers made their last stopover before the open Baltic Sea. Instead of a rooster, a Saint Christopher has served as the weather vane ever since — the patron saint of travelers.

An Extraordinary Interior Architecture

Inside, late Baroque and Classicism merge. Characteristic is the palace-like stacked arrangement of altar, pulpit, and organ — a solution rarely found in North German sacred architecture. The horseshoe-shaped galleries originally accommodated 1,400 people; after renovation in 1968, there are now around 1,100 seats. The acoustics are warm and transparent, ideal for chamber music and vocal ensembles.

SHMF 2026 in Kappeln

For years, St. Nicholas Church has been a regular venue in the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) repertoire. Several concerts are scheduled here in 2026, including:

Xavier de Maistre — the Austrian-French harpist, one of the most influential soloists of his generation
Sidorova & Avital — Ksenija Sidorova (accordion) and Avi Avital (mandolin) on July 16, 2026, 7:30 PM
Academy of St Martin in the Fields — the renowned British chamber orchestra
Daniel Hope & amarcord — violinist Daniel Hope with the Leipzig vocal ensemble amarcord

The exact programs for individual concerts will be published on shmf.de.

Kappeln and the SHMF

The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival was founded in 1986 and is one of the largest classical music festivals in Europe. Every summer, it uses around 100 venues throughout the state — churches, castles, riding halls, shipyards. The country focus for the 2026 edition is Stockholm/Sweden. Kappeln, in the Schleswig-Flensburg district at the mouth of the Schlei into the Baltic Sea, is one of the most beautiful venues — the church towers over the fjord waters, and after the concerts, the harbor and old town can be explored.