Baltic Sea Festival

World stars, inspiring conversations and shared faith in the future

This year's edition of the Baltic Sea Festival takes its starting point in the theme of "waves" - a symbol for everything from sound and light to the movements of history and emotions. In line with the theme, the festival invites you to magnificent concerts and exciting conversations with a focus on nature, creativity, cooperation and music.
The highlights are many: The festival will be grandly inaugurated on Baltic Sea Day on August 28 with Grammy-winning conductor Alan Gilbert, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the shooting star Maria Dueñas in Bruch's violin concerto. The world premiere of Mikael Karlsson's and Anna von Hausswolff's Grand Guignol, with both the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Radio Choir, promises an evening of darkness and ecstasy, and it will be the Swedish premiere of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under the direction of Manfred Honeck.
World-renowned pianist Piotr Anderszewski will perform a recital with music by Bartók and Brahms, and violinist Janine Jansen will begin her season as Artist in Residence with Franz Schubert's enchanting Octet in F major. Jazz will make its debut at the Baltic Sea Festival when Sofia Jernberg and Per Texas Johansson take their places at Fasching, and for the youngest visitors to the Berwaldhallen, a full day of musical activities, instrument testing and an exciting performance at sea created by Emmy Lindström and Henrik Ståhl awaits.
Final concert under the direction of Salonen
Festival co-founder Esa-Pekka Salonen, also Artist in Residence in 2025/2026, together with the acclaimed soprano Asmik Grigorian and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, promises a magnificent finale with Strauss's farewell songs Vier letzte Lieder and Bruckner's romantic Fourth Symphony.
Welcome to the Baltic Sea Festival 2025 - a musical wave that carries us towards new horizons!