So klingt LU – 3rd Transcultural Music Festival
Edition 2026 Music Classical World music

So klingt LU – 3rd Transcultural Music Festival

A one-day transcultural music festival on Ludwigshafen's Kulturmeile featuring 21 music ensembles, 6 dance groups, and a closing concert in the Philharmonie.

Ludwigshafen am Rhein — Kreisfreie Stadt Ludwigshafen am Rhein (07314) Since 2024
Dates 16 May — 16 May 2026
Venue Ludwigshafen am Rhein (07314)
Prices Free
Status

About So klingt LU

So klingt LU is a transcultural music festival that makes Ludwigshafen's cultural diversity audible and visible. The festival is organized by the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz together with the city's Migration and Integration Council. On one day, the festival connects the three venues of Ludwigshafen's Kulturmeile – Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, dasHaus, and the Philharmonie – with 21 music ensembles from around the world, 6 dance groups, 4 workshops, and 18 information stands. The 3rd edition takes place on May 16, 2026; it concludes with a free concert by Ensemble Octans in the Philharmonie.

A Transcultural Sound Messe

Ludwigshafen is an exceptionally diverse city. Over half of its population has a migration background, and more than 150 nations live in its districts. So klingt LU makes this diversity its program, curating a festival that not only showcases music from around the world but also creates spaces for encounter and makes the collaboration between migrant music groups, classical high culture, and urban institutions visible.

Three Venues, One Kulturmeile

The venues are the three institutions of Ludwigshafen's Kulturmeile:

  • The Wilhelm-Hack-Museum with its iconic Joan Miró ceramic facade on Berliner Straße
  • The Kulturzentrum dasHaus, one of the most important stages for world and independent music in the Vorderpfalz region
  • The Philharmonie Ludwigshafen, home of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

The close proximity of these three venues allows the festival to offer an extremely dense program on a single day, without the audience having to travel long distances.

21 Music Ensembles, 6 Dance Groups

Throughout the day, 21 music ensembles from various cultural backgrounds will perform. The spectrum ranges from Turkish and Arabic folklore to Latin American, African, and Eastern European sound traditions, as well as crossover formats between migrant musicians and the Staatsphilharmonie. The musical program is complemented by 6 dance groups, 4 workshops for audience participation, and 18 information stands from associations, initiatives, and cultural institutions from the city.

Closing Concert: Ensemble Octans in the Philharmonie

The highlight of the festival is the closing concert by Ensemble Octans in the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The ensemble combines classical chamber music with contemporary and transcultural elements. Admission is free, with seating limited to 200. The entire festival program during the day is also freely accessible.

So klingt LU — edition 2026

The 3rd edition of So klingt LU takes place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, on Ludwigshafen's Kulturmeile. During the day, from 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM, 21 music ensembles, 6 dance groups, 4 workshops, and 18 information stands transform the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum and dasHaus cultural center into an open transcultural music mile. The event concludes from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM with a concert by Ensemble Octans at the Philharmonie Ludwigshafen – free admission, 200 seats available. Admission to the entire festival is free.

The organizers are the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and the City of Ludwigshafen's Migration and Integration Council. Detailed program information for all ensembles, dance groups, workshops, and the concert program by Ensemble Octans will be communicated via staatsphilharmonie.de and the city's channels.

Programme So klingt LU 2026

The following key points have been confirmed by the organizer:

  • 2:00 PM: Festival opening at the Kulturmeile
  • 2:00 PM–7:30 PM: Program at the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, dasHaus, and on the outdoor areas of the Kulturmeile
  • 21 Music Ensembles: Concerts with repertoire from Turkey, the Arab world, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and crossover formats
  • 6 Dance Groups: Dance performances with diverse cultural backgrounds, each with short introductions
  • 4 Workshops: Hands-on workshops for dance and music, depending on the program for different age groups
  • 18 Information Stands: Presentations by associations, initiatives, and cultural institutions of the city
  • Cuisine: Food from the represented cultures at the outdoor stands
  • 7:00 PM–8:30 PM: Closing concert by Ensemble Octans at the Philharmonie Ludwigshafen, free admission, 200 seats on a first-come, first-served basis

Highlights So klingt LU 2026

21 music ensembles, 6 dance groups, 4 workshops, 18 information stands. Three venues on the Kulturmeile. Closing concert in the Philharmonie. Free admission.

Prices So klingt LU 2026

Free admission to the entire program. Closing concert in the Philharmonie limited to 200 seats.

Practical information — So klingt LU

Getting There

Kulturmeile Ludwigshafen, around Berliner Straße and Heinigstraße. Tram stop Berliner Platz (lines 7, 8, 9, 10). Approximately a 10-minute walk from the main train station.

Date

May 16, 2026, daytime program 2:00 PM–7:30 PM; closing concert 7:00 PM–8:30 PM.

Admission

Daytime program free. Closing concert in the Philharmonie is free, 200 seats available.

Workshops

4 workshops for active participation in music and dance.

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So klingt LU at a glance

Music Classical World music African music Dance Inclusion Free Multidisciplinary International Kreisfreie Stadt Ludwigshafen am Rhein