The 27th Magdeburg Telemann Festival will take place from March 13 to 22, 2026 under the motto "Music - Power - Telemann". Opera performances, festive music, passion oratorios, large-scale instrumental works, chamber music and cross-genre concert formats with excellent instrumentation can be experienced over ten festival days. The festival sheds light on the role of music as an expression of power, wealth and cultural representation in the 18th century and at the same time shows Telemann himself as a "musical power" who had a lasting influence on European musical life.

The festival presents, for example, the opening concert with the Il Gardellino Orchestra under Peter Van Heyghen, festive music for the birth of an imperial prince with the Cologne Academy, and Telemann's monumental late work Der Tag des Gerichts (Judgment Day) with the B'Rock Orchestra & Vocal Consort. Cross-genre formats also enrich the program: "Amour fou" at the "Factory" event location intertwines Telemann's vocal and instrumental works with contemporary dance and video art. For the first time, concerts will be held in Magdeburg's Hyparschale and in the "Basta" wine shop. For opera lovers, there are also three productions on the program, including Telemann's Otto, Steffani's Orlando generoso, and the serenata Don Quichotte at the wedding of Comacho with ensembles from the US and Europe.

B'Rock Orchestra © Mirjam Devriendt

The 27th festival also offers an extensive supporting program: open rehearsals, an international academic conference, a keynote lecture on the festival's theme, city tours, a junior master class, and lunch concerts almost every day. With over 500 artists from more than 30 countries, including renowned ensembles such as Vox Luminis, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, and B'Rock, the 2026 Magdeburg Telemann Festival promises to be a unique experience of music, history, and culture.
The festival honors Telemann as a musician and networker of his time and presents his works—from church music and chamber music to large-scale festive works—in historical and contemporary interpretations. Six compositions will also be performed again in 2026 for the first time since Telemann's death, a special gain for today's concert life.
March 13 to 22, 2026
www.telemann.de