Leipzig Bach Festival

What the Bachfest is

The Bachfest Leipzig is an annual festival devoted to Johann Sebastian Bach, held in the city where he worked as Thomaskantor from 1723 until his death in 1750. The festival is organised under the Bach-Archiv Leipzig and stages concerts in the churches, halls and other historic places linked to him. For lovers of baroque and classical music it is one of the most focused events in Germany.

Each year has a motto. The 2027 edition is titled Passion, and the programme runs to more than 200 events over eleven days.

Dates in 2027 and what is confirmed

This edition is marked confirmed in the planner: Thursday 10 June to Sunday 20 June 2027, eleven days. The tourism office has already published a travel package for it, and advance ticket sales start on 24 November 2026. That is the useful practical date: popular concerts, especially in the Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche, sell out first, so set a reminder for the opening day of sales.

As always, programme details such as individual concert times and venues can still change, so check the official festival site before you buy.

History and character

Bach composed and directed music in Leipzig for twenty-seven years, and the city has kept his memory alive with the Thomanerchor, the Thomaskirche where he is buried, and the Bach Museum. The Bachfest is the annual high point of that culture. Concerts range from large choral and orchestral works to chamber evenings and organ recitals, and many are performed in historic rooms with the right acoustics.

The motto Passion points to his Passion music, and you can expect the programme to centre on the sacred works that give the theme its weight.

What to see, do and eat

Beyond the concerts, plan visits to the Bach Museum, the Thomaskirche and the Nikolaikirche. Leipzig's old town and the covered passages are pleasant in June weather, and the Auensee and the Elster canals make for easy outdoor breaks between concerts. Try Leipziger Allerlei, Eierschecke and the local Gose beer, a sour specialty historically tied to Leipzig, in a beer garden or cafe.

Open-air events often accompany the festival, but the details are in the programme, so check which ones are free.

Getting there and where to stay

Leipzig Hauptbahnhof offers direct trains from Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt and more, and everything in the old town is reachable on foot or by tram. Hotels fill quickly during the festival days, so reserve rooms once you have your concert tickets. A stay in a district just outside the centre with a tram stop is often easier to find.

If you are driving, avoid the city centre and use a park-and-ride, as venue streets can be restricted.

Holidays and bridge days in Saxony, 2027

The festival starts on a Thursday and ends on a Sunday. In Saxony there is no public holiday between 10 and 20 June 2027, because the late-spring ones have passed: Ascension is Thursday 6 May and Whit Monday is 17 May. Corpus Christi, Thursday 27 May, is a holiday only in certain Saxon communities, not in Leipzig, and in any case falls before the festival.

A four-day trip from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 June costs two vacation days (Thursday and Friday). The full eleven days, Thursday 10 to Sunday 20 June, cost seven vacation days: Thursday 10, Friday 11 and Monday 14 to Friday 18. The second weekend, Friday 18 to Sunday 20 June, costs one.

Tips and who it suits

The festival suits listeners who want depth: choir lovers, organ fans, and people planning a music-focused city break. Pick two or three anchor concerts and fill the rest with museum and church visits. Dress is smart casual. Book rail and a room early, but ideally after you have secured tickets, so nothing is wasted.