»Future« is the overarching theme of the upcoming edition of the Hamburg International Music Festival 2025. Guest performers at the renowned festival include not only top orchestras from Vienna, Munich, Rome, London, Budapest and Chicago, but many of the most celebrated artists of our time as well. Among the soloists taking to the stage are audience favourites such as Lisa Batiashvili, Janine Jansen, Camilla Nylund, Joshua Bell, Sol Gabetta, Igor Levit, Daniil Trifonov, Mitsuko Uchida, Seong-Jin Cho and Sir András Schiff. John Luther Adams is performing his award-winning orchestral work »Become Ocean«, while the ensemble of composer Philip Glass plays the live soundtrack to the classic film »Koyaanisqatsi«, a critique on civilization. One thread at the festival is the visionary music of the composer, conductor and influential cultural networker Pierre Boulez, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year. The legendary Art Ensemble of Chicago is coming to Hamburg with its programme »Great Black Music – Ancient to the Future« and the Australian pianist and composer Zubin Kanga is set to make a guest appearance as part of our inquiry into artificial intelligence. The future of classical music awaits too, with a performance at the Elbphilharmonie by the youth orchestra of the Brazilian organisation »Neojiba«. Iván Fischer conducts Gustav Mahler’s opulent »Resurrection Symphony« with his Budapest Festival Orchestra, while Alan Gilbert brings a brand new work to the Elbphilharmonie.
Most concerts take place in the Elbphilharmonie's Grand Hall and Recital Hall. Other venues in the city include the Grand Hall of the Laeiszhalle, Kampnagel and the Resonanzraum in St Pauli.
As part of the annual Hamburg International Music Festival, Hamburg's major orchestras and event organisers (HamburgMusik, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, ProArte, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg and others) jointly present a programme over more than four weeks that showcases the diversity of Hamburg as a city of music on an international scale.
In addition to the Elbphilharmonie as the main venue, the concerts also take place at other venues in Hamburg such as the Laeiszhalle.
Hamburg is very easy to reach both by plane and by train. Details on travelling within Hamburg can be found here.
Hamburg is a diverse and inspiring city that impresses with its maritime charm every time you visit.
Nature lovers will find the perfect getaway here between the Alster and Elbe rivers or on day trips into the surrounding countryside.
You can experience urban city flair on discovery tours through the numerous museums, exhibitions and shopping districts.
Hamburg has a large number of accommodation options in every price range.
There is no specific dress code. Due to the variety of events you might want to take some casual and some elegant clothing, if you plan to visit several events.
The Elbphilharmonie offers a variety of restaurants, cafés and bars for concert-goers and other guests to enjoy. There are numerous other restaurants and cafés in the immediate vicinity of the venues.
Programme highlights for the season finale: Hamburg's major orchestras and high-calibre guests dedicate more than five weeks to the motto ‘Future’ in this edition.
