Würzburg Bach Days

A Festival for Bach's Music Since 1969

The Würzburg Bach Days are among the oldest and most renowned Bach festivals in Bavaria. Since 1969, the Johann Sebastian Bach Society Würzburg has dedicated the festival to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Würzburg, the Residenz city on the Main in Lower Franconia, in the state of Bavaria, offers its churches a worthy setting for the performance of Bach's music.

Sacred Music at the Center

The focus is on Bach's sacred music – cantatas, oratorios, and church music – partly in a compelling juxtaposition with works by other masters. The program includes orchestral concerts, chamber concerts, and Bach cantatas performed during church services. The regular performance of major oratorios, including the Christmas Oratorio, is a firm highlight.

St. John's Church as the Heartpiece

The central venue is St. John's Church (St. Johanniskirche) in Hofstallstraße, supplemented by other locations in the city. The artistic director is Cantor Hae-Kyung Jung, who shapes the festival's musical direction. The program explicitly appeals to Bach connoisseurs as well as a broader audience of classical music.

A Fixed Date in the Franconian Musical Autumn

The Würzburg Bach Days traditionally take place in November and are a highlight of the Franconian concert calendar. With over five decades of history, they are among the defining cultural events in Würzburg and carry the city's reputation as a center of sacred music far beyond Lower Franconia.