HISTORY
THE HISTORY OF THE MÜNSTERLAND FESTIVAL
The extensive range of events in the series, which began in 2005, is not to be found in the region's large event halls and museums, but in special, often somewhat smaller venues - in historic moated castles, former industrial wastelands, exhibition halls and art associations, selected concert halls or theaters. The Münsterland Festival was launched in 2005 by Christine Sörries, Head of the Coesfeld District Cultural Office. Since 2010, Münsterland e.V. has organized the event under the artistic direction of Christine Sörries.
ALL ISSUES AT A GLANCE
2026 | Münsterland Festival Meets BurgJazz 2026
Three days of jazz at one of Westphalia’s most beautiful moated castles: From June 19 to 21, 2026, the Münsterland Festival and the BurgJazz series once again brought a diverse lineup of jazz to Vischering Castle. The lineup included:
GANNA feat. Laura Robles | Afra Kane | Eric Vloeimans’ Pico Bello Extended | Amaro Freitas | Emil Brandqvist Trio
2025 | Part 13: SPAIN
Flamenco with Flamingos: With Spain as our guest country, we embarked on a cultural and musical journey of discovery across the Iberian Peninsula. Among the impressive musicians were:
Antonio Lizana | Daniel García | Lucia Fumero | Clara Peya | Marco Mezquida
2024 | Münsterland Festival meets BurgJazz
This special edition took place at Vischering Castle—featuring top-notch international jazz stars, exciting new discoveries, and picnic concerts. The lineup included, among others:
Sanem Kalfa | Peter Somuah Group | Renaud Garcia Fons and Claire Antonini | Emile Parisien Quartet
2023 | Part 12: FINLAND
From 1,000 lakes to 100 castles: Finland—the land of 1,000 lakes—was the guest of honor at Münsterland Festival Part 12. Numerous exciting and well-known artists performed at the festival, including:
Iiro Rantala | Verneri Pohjola | Timo Lassy | Iro Haarla | Kari Ikonen | Maija Kauhanen | Antti Paalanen | Ánnámáret | Laura Ryhänen
2021 | Part 11: AUSTRIA
Alpine sounds without the altitude: Austrian music and culture took center stage at the Münsterland Festival Part 11. Among those performing were:
Manu Delago | 5K HD | AVEC | Wolfgang Muthspiel and Thomas Gansch | OSKA | Shake Stew | Stefanie Sargnagel
2020 | A “No-Concert” of Superlatives
The “Superlative No-Concert” was a fundraiser for art and culture in the Münsterland region. We sold around 300 tickets worth nearly 4,500 euros, with all proceeds going directly to local artists.
2019 | Part 10: 10 from Europe
The 2019 edition of the festival featured, among others:
Adam Baldych | Binker Golding’s Band | Cristina Branco | Daniel Herskedal | Three Pianists (Rantala, Modzdzer, Sarabski | Eple Trio | Iriao | Julia Biel | Jungle by Night | Maciej Obara Quartet | Niggli Keita Brönnimann Trio | Nils Petter Molvaer | Ricardo Ribeiro | Münster Symphony Orchestra | Soley | Stelios Petrakis Duo | Theon Cross
2017 | Part 9: ICELAND, GREECE
At the 2017 edition of the festival, which featured Iceland and Greece as its country highlights, we were pleased to welcome, among others:
ADHD | Christian Ronig & Friends: Greece is mine | Dimitris Mystakidis | Iasis | JFDR | Monika | Petros Klampanis Group featuring Lantsias & Konstantinou & Strings | Savina Yannatou & Primavera Trio | Skúli Sverrisson and Ólöf Arnalds | Sokratis Sinopoulos Quartet | Sóley | Stelios Petrakis Duo | Sunna Gunlaugs Trio | Svavar Knutur | Tania Giannouli Ensemble
2015 | Part 8: BENELUX (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg)
The 2015 edition of the festival, which focused on Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, featured the following artists, among others:
Artemandoline | Cathy Krier | Didier Laloy & Kathy Adam | Eric Vloeimans’ Oliver’s Cinema | Francesco Tristano | Jef Neve | Kovacs | Pascal Schumacher & Friends | Sarah Ferri | Trio Reijseger Fraanje Sylla | Wende | Wispelwey & Giacometti | Zapp 4
2013 | Part 7: FRANCE, SWITZERLAND
At the 2013 edition of the festival, which featured France and Switzerland as its country focus, we were pleased to welcome, among others:
Anna Aaron | Bojan Z | Céline Bonacina | China Moses & Raphaël Lemonnier | Elina Duni Quartet | Emile Parisien | Fiona Daniel | Fredda | Guillaume de Chassy Trio | Hildegard Lernt Fliegen | Jean-Marc Foltz | Lucas Niggli | L | Luciano Biondini | Mélissa Laveaux | Michael Wollny | Michel Benita | Michel Godard | Michel Portal | Régis Huby | Rémi Panassian Trio | Riccardo Del Fra Quintet | Sébastian Texier & Claude Tchamitchian | Sophie Hunger | Stéphane Kerecki | Tobias Preisig Quartet | Tous Dehors Big Band | Vincent Peirani
2011 | Part 6: ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, WALES
The 2011 edition of the festival, which focused on England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, featured, among others:
Andy Sheppard | Arild Andersen Trio | Arun Ghosh | Camille O’Sullivan | Cleveland Watkiss | Geoffrey Keezer | Gwilym Simcock | Jason Yarde | Joe Locke | John Taylor | Julie Feeney | Kenny Wheeler | Laura Moody | Neil Cowley Trio | Phronesis | Polar Bear | Sebastian Rochford | Seth Lakeman | Tim Garland | Tommy Smith
2005 to 2009:
2009 part 5: SKANDINAVIA (Denmark, Sweden, Norway)
2008 part 4: ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND
2007 part 3: WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia)
2006 part 2: ADRIA (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania)
2005 part 1: BLACK SEA (Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine)
The following artists were among our guests in the first five editions of the festival:
Aga Zaryan l Akli D l Anna Maria Jopek l Bobo Stenson l Boris Kovač l Bugge Wesseltoft l Cæcile Norby l Dead Combo l Dhafer Youssef l Dikanda l Dusko Goykovich l Eda Zari l Enver Izmailov l Geoffrey Keezer l Gerardo Núñez & Carmen Cortés Ghalia Benali l Gianluigi Trovesi & Gianni Coscia l Helge Lien Trio l Ida Sand l Irina-Kalina Goudeva l Jan Lundgren l Javier Colina, Marc Miralta & Perico Sambeat l Joel Xavier l Ketil Bjørnstad l Kirstin Asbjørnsen l Klaus Doldinger l Klezzmates l Kristian Randalu l Lars Danielsson & Leszek Możdżer l Majid Bekkas l Marcin Wasilewski l Maria de Fátima l Maria João & Mário Laginha l Mircea Ardeleanu l Misha Alperin l Nenad Vasilić l New Tango Orquesta l Nils Petter Molvær l Rebekka Bakken l Riga Saxophone Quartet & Nic Gotham l Rigmor Gustafsson l Siiri Sisask l Sinne Eeg l Stefano Bollani l Terje Isungset l Terje Rydal l The Shin l Theodosii Spassov Trio l Villu Veski & Tiit Kalluste l Vitold Rek
