From June 13 to September 12, 2026, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival will once again transform the land between the Baltic Sea coast, lake district, and tree-lined avenues into a large, breathing stage. Hardly any other classical music festival in Germany combines musical excellence so naturally with space, light, and landscape. Here, music is not performed in closed halls, but in manor houses, churches, barns, factory halls, castle parks, and under the open sky—places where history is tangible and the present is open.

The 2026 festival summer will be dominated by the Armida Quartet, which, as prize winner in residence, will span the dramaturgical arc of the program with around 20 performances. The opening on June 13, 2026, in the Neubrandenburg Concert Church already sends a powerful signal: with the world premiere of a specially commissioned festival overture and Louis Spohr's rarely performed Concerto in A minor for string quartet and orchestra, the Armida Quartet will join forces with the NDR Radiophilharmonie under Stanislav Kochanovsky. It is a prelude that encapsulates the festival's self-image: curiosity, the courage to be extraordinary, and the highest musical quality.

Armida Quartet © Armida Quartet

Artistic director Ursula Haselböck is once again focusing on strong artistic personalities in 2026. Hilary Hahn returns to the "World Stars in Redefin" series, whose clear, intense musicality has been a fixture of the festival for years. Another highlight: the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden with its new principal conductor Daniele Gatti and pianist Beatrice Rana – a meeting of tradition, elegance, and confident modernity.
The open-air concerts in the castle parks promise magical summer evenings. Kent Nagano conducts the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in the park of Bothmer Castle, accompanied by the young pianist Mao Fujita. Here, music becomes a landscape experience, classical music becomes open space – a sound that blends with the rustling of the trees and the long light of the evening.

The "Not Quite Classical" series shows that the festival also sets standards beyond the classical repertoire : the SWR Big Band, together with the Queens of Soul, brings great voices and groove to Fleesensee, while Götz Alsmann provides swinging lightness and intelligent entertainment in Wismar and Torgelow.
There is a special emphasis on reflection and closeness: during the themed weekend "Mythos Orchester" (Myth of the Orchestra) on August 15 and 16, 2026, at Ulrichshusen Castle, the NDR Radiophilharmonie will open its rehearsals, discuss artistic processes, and invite visitors to experience orchestral work firsthand.
The grand finale on September 12, 2026, in Wismar will feature Janine Jansen, who will perform Szymanowski's soaring Violin Concerto No. 1 with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under Alan Gilbert – a finale of luminous intensity.
Once again, the 2026 festival summer will be what it has been for decades: a festival that not only presents music, but also brings it to life – sensually, openly, passionately, and deeply rooted in the space from which it sounds.
June 13 to September 12, 2026
https://festspiele-mv.de