30th Tübingen Organ Summer

30th Anniversary under the Motto 'Against the Current'

Founded in 1997 by collegiate organist Jens Wollenschläger, the Tübingen Organ Summer is now one of Southern Germany's most distinguished organ festivals. The 2026 anniversary edition runs from July 28 to September 5 under the motto 'Against the Current' — reflecting societal and musical attitudes against the mainstream.

Opening on Bach's Death Day

Traditionally, the Organ Summer begins on the death day of Johann Sebastian Bach on July 28. In 2026, the opening Tuesday falls exactly on this date — Wollenschläger presents his new composition 'Alles, was Odem hat…' for choir, percussion, and organ, together with the Ludwigsburg Motet Choir.

Seven Major Concerts on Saturdays at 8 PM

Seven international organ concerts form the heart of the festival (opening Tuesday plus six Saturdays). 2026 Program: July 28 Wollenschläger and Ludwigsburg Motet Choir; August 1 Christiane Lux (Staufen/Heidelberg); August 8 Melanie Jäger-Waldau (Überlingen); August 15 Irena Budryte-Kummer (Vilnius/Dresden); August 22 Frank Scheffler (Bad Nauheim); August 29 Gereon Krahforst (Maria Laach); September 5 Silent film with live organ improvisation to conclude the festival.

Organ.6 and Midday Music

In parallel, smaller concert formats run: 'Organ.6' on Wednesdays at 6 PM (approx. 35 minutes) from July 29 to September 2 — on August 12, there's a request concert (requests accepted until August 2). On September 2, there's a children's organ tour. The 'Midday Organ Music' at 12:15 PM takes place on weekdays in the Collegiate Church and on Saturdays in the nearby Johanneskirche.

Collegiate Church of St. George and its Organs

The late Gothic Collegiate Church of St. George in the heart of Tübingen's old town has been the spiritual center of the university city since the 15th century. It houses the famous Tübingen tombs of the Counts of Württemberg, as well as two valuable organs — the large Weigle organ in the west choir and a chamber organ in the chancel. This dual setup allows for an exceptionally wide range of programming from Baroque to contemporary avant-garde.

Tübingen — University City and Music Hub

The university city of 90,000 inhabitants on the Neckar uniquely combines academic culture and church music. The Stuttgart University of Music maintains a dedicated organ class in Tübingen, and many concertgoers come from academic circles. With its summer offerings between Bach's death day and the start of school, the Organ Summer perfectly aligns with Tübingen's tourist summer season.