The Leipzig Bach Festival came to a close on Sunday with a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor at the sold-out Thomaskirche. The organizers are calling it a “dream outcome.” According to artistic director Michael Maul, a new attendance record was set: Over the past eleven days, nearly 96,000 guests attended more than 200 events at over 30 venues—including concerts, open-air events, and organ tours to locations in the surrounding area.
According to the organizers, ticket sales were 35 percent higher than in previous years. About 40 percent of the tickets were sold to visitors from abroad. According to the organizers, guests came from at least 56 countries. Artistic Director Maul said the success was proof of “the timelessness of Bach’s music.”
The 2026 Bach Festival was held under the theme “In Dialogue.” At its heart was a “Top 50” hit parade of Bach cantatas, which was performed in twelve sold-out concerts in Leipzig’s Bach churches.
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