The 34th MHL Brahms Festival, taking place from 2 to 10 May 2026, will be dedicated to the theme of freedom. What freedom can achieve: Lübeck knows a thing or two about that. Around 250 lecturers and students from the MHL will explore aspects of freedom in symphony concerts, themed concerts in the morning, at lunchtime, in the afternoon and in the evening, as well as in the Brahms Night Lounges.
Lübeck’s freedom began 800 years ago: self-determination and autonomy were the driving forces behind economic prosperity, stability and security – reason enough for us to choose »Freedom!« as the theme for the 2026 Brahms Festival.
Freedom is universal: it inspires creativity, unleashes potential, and brings dynamism to society, the economy, science and culture – the pursuit of freedom is part of human nature, and fighting for it is a recurring theme throughout human history. The hope for freedom never dies.
Our festival programme is dedicated to forms of expression in which the creative power of freedom can be experienced directly, such as improvisation, imagination, play, or contemporary music. We seek traces of the struggle for freedom in works by female composers, whose creative work was in some cases disregarded until the 20th century, or in works by those who were politically persecuted. Of course, the F.A.E.-Sonata is a must, as it musically celebrates the personal motto of Johannes Brahms and his circle of friends: »free, but lonely«.
Let us celebrate our love of freedom together at the Brahms Festival 2026! We look forward to seeing you!
- Prof. Dr Bernd Redmann
President of the MHL
Festival Programme
Morning Concerts
Lunchtime Concerts
Afternoon concerts
Themed evening concerts
Brahms Night Lounge
Details for 5th May — 05 p.m. — »Die Freiheit zu singen«
Tickets
Brahms Festival Ticket
- 80 euros (concessions 50 euros) for all evening concerts (symphony concerts and themed concerts in the Great Hall)
- 30 euros (Hansensaal) or 20 euros (Scharwenka Room and Vestibule) for all concerts at Villa Brahms
Evening concerts in the Great Hall of the MHL
- 15 / 20 euros (concessions 9 / 13 euros)
Afternoon concert at Villa Brahms
- 8 / 11 euros (no concessions)
Lunchtime Concerts at the Museum Behnhaus Drägerhaus
- 11 euros (concessions 8 euros)
Free admission to all other concerts.
Concessions apply to school pupils, students and members of the Alumni Association and the Friends of the Lübeck University of Music e.V.
All prices include all fees.
Tickets available at all Lübeck-Ticket outlets and online via www.luebeck-ticket.de.
Subject to change.
The Brahms Festival Magazine
History
Award-winning festival
In 2006, the Brahms Festival and the Brahms Institute at the MHL were awarded the Brahms Prize by the Brahms Society of Schleswig-Holstein. Endowed with 10,000 euros, the prize has been awarded since 1988 to individuals and institutions that have rendered outstanding services to the promotion of Johannes Brahms’ music and his artistic legacy.
The themes of past Brahms Festivals
- 2025: Aimez-vous Brahms?
- 2024: Intoxication
- 2023: Dialogues
- 2022: Fantastic
- 2021: Spring Awakening!
- 2020: All ears (cancelled)
- 2019: Abysses – rays of hope
- 2018: Strangers
- 2017: Home
- 2016: Transformations
- 2015: All'ungarese
- 2014: Longing
- 2013: Beethoven, the fixed star
- 2012: Brahmsiade
- 2011: Dedicated to Brahms
- 2010: Brahms – New Paths
- 2009: Brahms and the Music of the South
- 2008: Brahms and Bourgeois Music Culture
- 2007: Brahms and the Dialogue with History
- 2006: Inspiration – Fascination: Brahms, Mozart, Schumann
- 2005: Brahms and the traditions of the north
- 2004: Brahms – Landscapes: Bohemia and Moravia
- 2003: Brahms – Contrasts
- 2002: Brahms – Friends and kindred spirits
- 2001: Brahms and Vienna
- 2000: Homage to Bach
- 1997: Schubert – Mendelssohn – Brahms
- 1992: First Brahms Festival of the MHL
Contact
Brahms Festival at the University of Music Lübeck
- Große Petersgrube 21
23552 Lübeck - T: +49 (0)451-1505-0
- brahmsfestival@mh-luebeck.de