Classical:NEXT Katowice 2027

Katowice, Polish Capital of Culture 2027, to Host the World’s Leading International Gathering of the Classical Music Industry

Katowice has been announced as the host city of Classical:NEXT 2027 — the largest international gathering of the classical music sector and its innovative forms. The event will take place from 11 to 14 May 2027 as part of the Polish Capital of Culture 2027 programme.

“Classical:NEXT brings together music professionals from over 50 countries each year. Previous editions have been held in major European music centres such as Berlin, Budapest, Hannover, Rotterdam, Vienna and Munich. After 15 years of organising Classical:NEXT across Europe, we are delighted to host the event in Poland for the first time — a country that attracts growing international attention for its innovation and dynamic development — and in Katowice, a city with a well-established reputation as an important music hub,” explains Fabienne Krause, Director of Classical:NEXT.

“Katowice, the heart of the Upper Silesian–Zagłębie Metropolis of over two million inhabitants, has been a UNESCO Creative City of Music for more than a decade. Our city offers outstanding musical assets, with classical music playing a particularly distinctive role. We are home to excellent orchestras and ensembles and to one of the finest concert halls in this part of Europe — the home of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR). The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice is also a renowned centre for nurturing young musical talent. It is a great honour for Katowice and the Metropolis to host Classical:NEXT 2027. I am confident that this event will create new opportunities to further strengthen and internationalise the music sector in our region and across Poland,” says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice.

Global Gathering Shaping the Future of Music

The Classical:NEXT programme includes an interactive conference, project presentations, showcase concerts, film screenings, an international trade fair, the annual Innovation Award, and numerous networking events. Running alongside the programme is the Classical:NEXT Fellowship Programme, that welcomes outstanding early-career talents on their way to becoming the next generation of industry professionals.  

The event is open to professionals from all sectors of the music industry, including artists, managers, concert and festival organisers, orchestras, record labels, educators, journalists, publishers, and other industry specialists, as well as students and emerging professionals interested in developing careers in the classical music field. Evening showcase concerts within Classical:NEXT Katowice will also be open to the public.

Katowice — A City of Music

Katowice, recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, has long been one of the leading music centres in Poland and Central Europe. The wider Upper Silesian–Zagłębie Basin Metropolis (GZM).forms a vibrant musical ecosystem that includes more than 50 music clubs, over 20 festivals annually, 15 recording studios, more than 10 major concert halls, 8 record labels, 7 orchestras, an opera house, and leading higher education institutions in the arts.

“Classical:NEXT will invite guests from across the world to explore the city’s key musical spaces, where history and modernity combine to create a compelling narrative of transformation and creativity,” says Łukasz Kałębasiak, Director of Katowice City of Gardens, the institution hosting the event and serving as one of the main venues for the evening showcase concerts.

International Collaboration Bringing Classical:NEXT to Poland

The official coordinator of Classical:NEXT 2027 in Katowice is Sonora Music, an international music agency with over a decade of experience in developing cross-border music projects and fostering collaboration between cultural institutions across Europe.

“Classical:NEXT is an event of exceptional value to the international classical music community. Over the years, we have participated in many of its editions, gaining first-hand experience of its enormous potential for building international relationships and initiating new artistic projects. These experiences inspired us to work together with our partners in Katowice to bring Classical:NEXT to Poland,” emphasizes Mikołaj Bylka-Kanecki, co-founder of Sonora Music alongside Stanisław Suchora and Artur Malke.

Main Venues of Classical:NEXT 2027

The official opening of Classical:NEXT 2027 is planned at the headquarters of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, one of Europe’s most recognizable concert halls. The exhibition and conference programme will take place at the International Congress Centre in Katowice, while evening showcase concerts will be presented at Katowice City of Gardens, creating a multi-layered artistic programme across the city’s major cultural institutions.

Hosts of Classical:NEXT Katowice 2027:

Katowice City of Gardens – Krystyna Bochenek Institution of Culture
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice 
International Congress Centre in Katowice

in cooperation with Sonora Music
within the framework of the Polish Capital of Culture 2027 programme

More information at https://classicalnext.com.