Musikfestival Bern is collectively organized by independent musicians and ensembles, Bernese cultural presenters and institutions, under the artistic leadership of a curatorial team. It is the most important platform for music in the City and Canton of Bern, and has a growing reputation at both the national and international level. The Festival takes place annually over the course of five days and is devoted to a single theme each year. The stylistic range is wide, ranging from historical to contemporary music, and includes improvisation, experimental and electronic music.

Musikfestival Bern features surprising programming that bridges different musical styles and periods (composed programs), develops innovative concert forms (including nontraditional performance venues, scenographic elements and interdisciplinary concert forms) and serves as a laboratory for experiments in staging music.

Musikfestival Bern promotes cooperation between different members of the Bernese cultural landscape, especially independent groups and individuals. It supports international forms of collaboration which are based on exchange and diversity. Bernese musicians and international guests from the fields of composition, performance, performance art, improvisation, directing, philosophy, etc. develop and carry out collaborative projects, concerts, musical-theatrical concepts, workshops and other formats. The festival seeks sustainable forms of cooperation which can be developed over the course of multiple years, which enrich the festival, and which support artistic exchange and international networking.

Music education/outreach is an important component of the Festival and should be already taken into consideration during the planning phase of projects. Educational/outreach projects which involve diverse age groups and segments of the population are conceived as a significant and sustained facet of the overall program.

Musikfestival Bern strengthens the Bernese population’s active participation in culture. In the spirit of making culture accessible, the Festival’s events are designed to be as accessible as possible for people with handicaps.