The internationally renowned festival will be officially opened in the Civic Hall with pop music from the Faroe Islands on 8 May. In the opening concert that follows, Gitte Hænning, a singer who is popular not only in Denmark and enjoys a legendary status in Germany, will present a repertoire of jazz, pop and schlager music with a Scandinavian touch that is rarely heard in Germany. GiddyGang from Norway and Inspector Spacetime from Iceland will be performing at the festival's finale on 16 May, bringing melodic and up-tempo sounds to the closing concert.
The ten-day festival will host around 40 events: from pop music to jazz and groove, to folk and Baroque music, everyone will find something to match their music taste at the afternoon and evening concerts. In addition, the festival invites visitors to enjoy films, slapstick theatre, readings, exhibitions and a children's programme. Panel discussions and other academic contributions in cooperation with the University of Greifswald complete the diverse programme.
The festival's Artistic Director, Dr. Frithjof Strauß, is already very excited: “Without Denmark, Greifswald would not even exist, because its roots go back to Eldena Abbey, which was founded in the Middle Ages by monks from Esrum on northern Zealand. This is the best prerequisite for reviving the Danish spirit at Nordischer Klang in 2026!”
With Denmark as the partner country, scientific and musical contributions will also make reference to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, as well as to the six focus countries. “I am particularly pleased,” says Festival Director Prof. Dr. Marko Pantermöller, "that our programme is able to devote so much attention to the North Atlantic facets of the cultural diversity of the Danish kingdom. In line with the Danish-Faroese presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Faroese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture, Sirið Stenberg, is also honouring us by taking on the patronage of the 35th edition of the festival together with Minister-President Manuela Schwesig.”
Advance ticket sales for particularly popular concerts have already begun and will be gradually expanded. The ‘Klangkarte’, which offers discounted admission as a festival pass, can be purchased again this year. In order to make the festival accessible to a wide audience, the pricing for Nordischer Klang is kept at a moderate level. In addition, many events are free of charge.
Exciting behind-the-scenes glimpses can be found on social media channels and the website. Further information on the festival programme can be found in the programme booklet, which will be available from April at tourist information offices, cultural centres, music schools and libraries in the region, online at www.nordischerklang.de, and on Facebook and Instagram.
NDR will once again accompany and support the festival as media partner.
Source
Press release from the Nordischer Klang Festival (Greifswald, 20 January 2026)
Contact
Pauline Hübner | Press & PR
presse-nokl@uni-greifswald.de
nordischerklang.de/presse [de]