The Altmark Music Festival is kicking off its 31st season: From August 16 to November 15, 2026, it invites locals and visitors alike to embark on a musical journey through the Altmark. Numerous locations throughout the region will serve as stages—with concerts for every taste, every age, and every budget. The Altmarkkreis Salzwedel and the Stendal district have jointly organized this special series of events. In close collaboration with local municipalities, heritage and cultural associations, and church congregations, a diverse program featuring a wide variety of musical genres has been created.
“Where there’s singing, make yourself at home—that could be the motto of our 31st Altmark Music Festival this year. Choirs, vocal ensembles, and a cappella groups will be performing high-quality music at various locations throughout the Altmark,” says Steve Kanitz. “In addition, visitors can look forward to pop, jazz, folk, classical music, and much more. Among this year’s unique events is, for example, a ‘Musiklandpartie.’ During this guided walking tour, guests can discover the musical side of the city of Salzwedel and enjoy a concert at the end of the tour,” says the district administrator of the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, looking ahead.
Submissions for "Heimatlieder" are being accepted through August 31
“The Altmark Music Festival has become an integral part of the Altmark’s cultural landscape. For many years, it has offered music lovers a wide range of opportunities to enjoy art and culture at reasonable prices,” adds Patrick Puhlmann. “Contrary to some preconceptions, the people of the Altmark are extremely musical and, above all, love to sing. This is also evident at the Altmark Music Festival in the many events featuring choirs and vocal ensembles. In addition, this year we are inviting musicians from our region to the ‘Stage of Home Songs’ to present fresh musical inspiration from our beautiful Altmark,” the Stendal District Administrator continued.
We are looking for folk songs about cities, towns, neighborhoods, and landscapes in the Stendal district—regardless of whether they are traditional or newly composed. The focus is on the connection to the place or region, the story behind the song, and its significance for community life. Entries can be submitted online at www.landkreis-stendal.de/de/heimatlieder.html through August 31. The winners will be honored on Saturday, November 7, during a concert in Iden.
The 31st Altmark Music Festival features a total of 39 events. Museums, libraries, churches, community centers, concert halls, and open-air venues will open their doors for the occasion. Solo artists and ensembles from the Altmark region and all over Germany will present a diverse lineup of high-quality cultural events. For the youngest audience members, there are special children’s and family concerts. The series kicks off on August 16 with “Tafiti – Crocodile Alert at the Waterhole” at the Diesdorf Open-Air Museum. Parents and grandparents are also warmly welcome to join the young guests.
The entire program is available online
For many years now, “Music Lessons with a Difference” has been an integral part of the Altmark Music Festival. It takes place at several schools in the two Altmark districts. This year, children at the elementary schools in Arneburg, Groß Garz, “Dr. Albert Steinert” in Seehausen, and the Goldbeck-Iden Elementary School Consortium, as well as the elementary schools in Diesdorf, Jübar, Brunau, and Kalbe (Milde) can look forward to the “Für Elise” program with the Ensemble Deliciae Theatrales. A “Musical German Lesson” with Rose & Georgi is being offered to students at the “G. E. Lessing” all-day and comprehensive school “G. E. Lessing” in Salzwedel, the “Karl Marx” Secondary School in Gardelegen, the Winkelmann Gymnasium in Stendal, and the Stendal District Vocational School Center. There will be a total of 16 school concerts.
The complete program for the Altmark Music Festival can be found on the website at www.musikfest-altmark.de; program flyers and posters are being distributed throughout the region.
The 2026 Altmark Music Festival is sponsored by the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The event series also receives additional financial support from Sparkasse Altmark West and Kreissparkasse Stendal. The festival is organized by the Stendal District and the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel.