40 years of SHMF: Music festival starts in Lübeck with a focus on Istanbul!

40 years of SHMF: Music festival starts in Lübeck with a focus on Istanbul!

On July 5, 2025 the time has finally come: This Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) opens its doors for the 40th edition and invites music lovers to an unforgettable experience. A total of 203 concerts are on the program until August 31st in over 125 venues and 71 locations, including Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg as well as the north of Lower Saxony and the south of Denmark.

This year the focus of the festival is on the vibrant music metropolis of Istanbul and the renowned pianist Fazıl Say. The opening events will take place next weekend in the Lübeck Music and Congress Hall. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach, will perform two rousing works: Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor and Bruckner's Symphony No. 7. With violinist Ray Chen standing in for the sick pianist Khatia Buniatishvili, the evening promises to be a highlight. Both concerts are already sold out, with the Sunday concert being broadcast live on NDR Kultur and 3sat from 8:15 p.m.

A diverse program

The SHMF 2025 includes not only classical concerts, but also a colorful variety of genres. In addition to international classical stars such as Lang Lang, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Grigory Sokolov, names such as Sting and the Fantastischen Vier are also represented. The musical palette ranges from Turkish folklore to jazz and global pop, rounded off with numerous family concerts and children's music festivals. A total of around five music festivals in the countryside, two children's music festivals and the shipyard summer are planned at the Kulturwerft Gollan in Lübeck, where a special program with Anatolian and Kurdish music, techno-jazz and orchestral disco will be offered from August 1st to 8th.

With a budget of around 14.5 million euros, of which around 1.2 million euros comes from state funds, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival offers a rich cultural offering for a wide audience. The festival’s motto, “Let’s make music as friends,” goes back to Leonard Bernstein and reflects the community spirit of this mega event.

A look back at 40 years of SHMF

The SHMF was founded in 1986 and over the years has developed into one of the largest area festivals in the world. In this anniversary year, many international stars who have shaped the history of the festival are returning. Visitors can look forward to special concerts in a variety of breathtaking locations, including estates, churches, parks and shipyards.

The festival not only brings music lovers together, but also offers opportunities for further education with master classes from, among others, Elisabeth Leonskaja and Brigitte Fassbaender. A special highlight is the Hindemith Prize 2025, which will be awarded to Benjamin Scheuer, and the Leonard Bernstein Award 2025 to Hayato Sumino.

With such an outstanding program and the participation of numerous artists and orchestras, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival will once again offer unforgettable music and cultural experiences this year. Anyone who has the chance should not miss the events and experience the musical diversity that the SHMF has to offer.