Mendelssohn Festival
The 2026 Mendelssohn Festival will be held as part of the Year of Jewish Culture in Saxony and will explore a rich musical heritage that bridges tradition, identity and artistic renewal. The focus is on Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, one of the defining musicians of the 19th century, who set new standards as a composer, pianist and conductor and, during his time as Kapellmeister at the Gewandhaus from 1835 to 1847, left a lasting mark on Leipzig as a world-class city of music.
Mendelssohn’s work, created at the intersection of Jewish heritage and Christian influence, forms the core of the festival. At the same time, the festival offers a glimpse into the work of significant Jewish composers such as Władysław Szpilman, Mieczysław Weinberg, Hans Gál and Lera Auerbach. Piano and chamber music in a variety of ensembles reflect the stylistic breadth and historical depth of this musical cosmos.
A particular highlight is the opening concert, which includes the presentation of the International Mendelssohn Prize. Among the festival’s performers are Elena Bashkirova, the festival’s curator, Yulianna Avdeeva, Vadim Gluzman, Alexander Melnikov, the Quatuor Danel, Les Vents Français, the orchestra of the Barenboim-Said Academy, and the Gewandhausorchester under the baton of Andris Nelsons. Actor Ulrich Matthes lends a literary dimension to Mendelssohn’s ‘Concerto for the Hour of Death’.
Leipzig Opera is also taking part with a new ballet production by Juliano Nunes based on Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Concerts at the Mendelssohn House and the Gewandhaus make the festival a vibrant and authentic encounter with Mendelssohn’s legacy and the musical city of Leipzig.