The Mainz Music Summer is one of the musical highlights of the city's cultural life. International artists present a diverse program in historic churches and special venues, combining classical music, chamber music, and musical crossovers.
From July 11 to August 11, 2026, Mainz Music Summer will once again transform some of the city's most beautiful locations into concert stages. Organized by Konzertdirektion Mainz Klassik, the festival brings renowned soloists, ensembles, and orchestras to Mainz, combining top-class classical music with special atmospheric venues.
The concerts take place in venues including St. Stephen's Church, the Seminary Church, St. Ignatius Church, St. Martin's Cathedral, and the historic Fürst-von-Bismarck-Saal hall at the Kupferberg sparkling wine cellars. These extraordinary venues lend each concert its own unique acoustic and architectural atmosphere.
Apollo 5 will perform a concert on July 24 © Andy Staples
The music summer will open with a festive concert in St. Stephen's Cathedral. Works by Georg Muffat, Jan-Dismas Zelenka, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Joseph Haydn will be performed in front of the famous Chagall windows by the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra with clarinetist Lyuta Kobayashi.
The rest of the program covers a wide musical spectrum: early music with Dorothee Oberlinger's trio, cello ensembles and chamber music evenings, international vocal ensembles such as Apollo 5, solo Bach interpretations, and programs featuring Nordic music. Unusual sound encounters and crossover concerts are also part of the festival's profile.
The festival will conclude with a musically diverse finale on Kupferberg hill featuring jazz and world music. In 2026, Mainz Music Summer will once again combine tradition and modernity to create a diverse festival that brings music lovers together in a special atmosphere.
July 11 to August 11, 2026
