Heinrich Schütz Musikfest 2026 to feature 40 events across five cities

The 28th Heinrich Schütz Musikfest is scheduled to take place from October 2 to October 11, 2026. Organized by the Verein Mitteldeutsche Barockmusik, the festival will span five cities: Dresden, Bad Köstritz, Gera, Weißenfels, and Zeitz.

Under the theme ‘Spurensuche. Anstoß und Aufbruch’ (Search for Traces. Impulse and Departure), the event aims to present the music of Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz not merely as a museum piece, but as a living art form. The program includes approximately 40 events, such as concerts, lectures, exhibitions, guided tours, and musical services.

Interim artistic director Gerd Amelung has organized the festival around four focal points: ‘Traces’ (Schütz as a teacher and colleague), ‘Export’ (the spread of his music through Europe), ‘Renaissance’ (his rediscovery in the 19th and 20th centuries), and ‘Experiment’ (modern interpretations of his work). The festival will feature two world premieres, one at the opening concert in Dresden and another at the finale in Bad Köstritz. The Berlin-based soloist ensemble ‘The Present’ will serve as the artists in residence.