November 19 – 22, 2026 | Smetana Hall | Prague
Celebrating Tradition, Diversity and Excellence of the International Choral Community
Be part of a unique choir experience in the heart of Europe’s musical capital: Prague!
Songs of Europe invites choirs and individual participants to bring the colorful European choral culture to three stages in Prague over three days, including the legendary Smetana Hall. In addition, under the artistic direction of Oliver Rudin and Daniel Raaflaub, a joint program is being created in which music, singing, and choreography merge into an impressive overall experience.
Solo showcases and an international festival choir –
right in the heart of Europe’s music capital!
Would you like to perform with us?
The festival is designed for choirs and ensembles as well as individual participants.
Whether you are a local community choir, an a cappella choir, a school or university choir, a gospel choir, a singing club or a barbershop choir – if you sing, you are welcome!
Registrations are now open.
Read more and join us today!
What do we sing?
The choirs bring their own repertoire and present it in various concerts and at the closing event in Smetana Hall. The artistic directors of the festival put together 4-5 pieces, which are rehearsed together by all participants in the Songs of Europe Festival and sung at the closing concert.
The program for the festival choir include: Human Heart (Jacob Collier/Coldplay), a choral arrangement of Ode to Joy (L. v. Beethoven), Baba Yetu (C. Tin), a Czech folk song, and another work to be announced.
The sheet music will be provided by us. The music will be sent out in advance.
All pieces are choreographed or staged in a simple manner so that they also have a visual impact. Choirs or equal voices are also expressly invited to participate in the Festival Choir.
Who will lead the project?
Oliver Rudin and Daniel Raaflaub are responsible for artistic direction. The two have been working together as a well-coordinated team for over 20 years, creating innovative musical and theatrical experiences.
Where will rehearsals and concerts take place?
The festival will be centered in Prague’s Old Town, so all venues are within walking distance. Rehearsals and the welcome concert between the choirs will take place in the Concert Hall of the Prague Conservatory. The public concert as part of the “Night of Choirs” is planned for St. Salvator Church. The dress rehearsal and public gala concert will take place in Smetana Hall.
What costs are involved?
The following Festival Packages for Performers and Accompanying Persons are available for purchase, which include the Participation Fee at the Festival, three overnights (November 19-22, 2026) including breakfast buffet in one of our Partner Hotels, and the Joint Dinner after the Gala Concert.
Festival Package in Double Room | 325 EUR
Festival Package in Single Room | 450 EUR
The Festival Packages are available at these hotels:
Hotel EMBASSY **** | Hotel RAMADA **** | Hotel ROYAL ESPRIT **** | Hotel JULIS ****
You can select your hotel with your registration.
If required, individual nights can be added or canceled for EUR 55 (double room) or EUR 100 (single room). The Joint Dinner with cost share of 40 EUR can also be canceled.
The Joint Dinner includes two drinks (beer/wine/coffee/tea/soft drink) and a three-course meal. Additional drink coupons can be purchased on site.
The participation fee for the three-day festival without accommodation and meals is EUR 110 per person. The optional Joint Dinner after the Gala Concert can be added for EUR 40.
Accompanying persons without accommodation and meals are offered a reduced participation fee of EUR 55 per person, which includes access to all workshops, rehearsals, and a ticket in the best ticket category for the concerts, including the concert in Smetana Hall Prague.
Accompanying persons, music enthusiasts, and fans who only wish to attend the concerts can purchase concert tickets on our ticket website.
Songs of Europe Festival Prague 2026
Celebrating Tradition, Diversity and Excellence of the International Choral Community
Perform with us!
The Schedule of the Project
November 19, 2026
Welcoming Concert
18:00 Concert Hall Conservatory
This is an informal concert organized by and for the festival participants. It is a wonderful opportunity for the choirs to introduce themselves and get to know the other ensembles.
Workshop & Festival Choir Rehearsal
19:30 – 21:30 Concert Hall Conservatory
All participants will work with Oliver Rudin and Daniel Raaflaub on the pieces that will be performed at the final concert in Smetana Hall.
November 20, 2026
Workshop & Festival Choir Rehearsal
15:30 – 17:30 St. Salvator Church
All participants will work with Oliver Rudin and Daniel Raaflaub on the joint pieces that will be performed at the final concert in Smetana Hall.
ncert by participating choirs and ensembles. This concert is open to the public.
Soundcheck
18:00 St. Salvator Church
Before the choirs can perform individually as part of the “Night of the Choirs,” they will have the opportunity to test the acoustics of the church during a rehearsal.
Concert “Night of the Choirs”
20:00 St. Salvator Church
The participating ensembles will have the opportunity to perform a 15-minute program of their choice in the beautiful St. Salvator Church. The concert is open to the public.
November 21, 2026
Final Rehearsal
12:00 – 14:00 Smetana Hall Prague
Preparatory rehearsal for the concert of the participating choirs with their solo showcases and the joint repertoire of the festival choir.
Gala Concert “Songs of Europe”
15:00 – 17:00 Smetana Hall Prague
The highlight of a fantastic weekend with solo showcases by the participating choirs and a joint repertoire by the festival choir in the legendary Smetana Hall.
Get-Together
Following the gala concert, there will be an informal gathering for participants at the Municipal House Brewery beneath Smetana Hall.
November 22, 2026
Departure
The choirs can use the last day to depart from Prague. We are also happy to arrange further performance opportunities if required.
Artistic directors
Oliver Rudin (Musical direction/concept)
Oliver Rudin began his musical career in the Knabenkantorei Basel.
He was co-founder and conductor of the Männerstimmen Basel for 14 years and has conducted the Knabenkantorei Basel and the OYENGA Gospel Choir at the Münster for many years. He has also worked with renowned orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the Basel Symphony Orchestra, conducted at Theater Basel and toured several continents with his choirs and the a cappella group The Glue.
His performances have taken him to renowned concert halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie, the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé, the National Concert Hall in Taipei, the Salón Dorado del Teatro Colón and the Harpa in Reykjavik. Rudin has won prizes at numerous international festivals.
Driven by his passion for contemporary music, Rudin has conducted numerous world premieres and commissioned works, collaborating with composers such as Ivo Antognini, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Eric Whitacre. In 2024, he was a member of the international jury at SING FOR GOLD – The World Choral Cup in Calella, Barcelona, alongside Salome Rebello and Bob Chilcott, and in 2025, he was artistic director of the Berlin Loves You festival at the Berlin Philharmonic alongside Daniel Raaflaub.
Daniel Raaflaub (Choreography/concept)
Daniel Raaflaub began his musical training at an early age in the choir school of the Knabenkantorei Basel, where he gained valuable experience as a choral singer and soloist.
In the artistic metropolis of Vienna, he studied singing, acting and dance at the renowned University of Music and Performing Arts and attended various master classes. Over the past 15 years, Daniel Raaflaub has performed in musicals, plays and concerts in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. With leading roles in productions such as Chess, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar and RENT, he has established himself as a versatile artist.
Today, Daniel Raaflaub is a sought-after singing teacher and guest lecturer and is engaged as a vocal coach in numerous projects and choirs in Switzerland and abroad. As a choir director and choreographer in Switzerland (including Knabenkantorei Basel and OYENGA Gospel Choir at Basel Cathedral) and internationally (including Vox Aurea in Finland and Kristina Academy Children’s Choir in Kenya), he successfully creates musical dramaturgy that inspires and enthuses. In 2025, he contributed the choreography for the opening show of the European Youth Choir Festival in Basel with 800 singers. In addition, as artistic director of “Berlin Loves You” together with Oliver Rudin, he was responsible for the design of the final concert in the Berlin Philharmonic.
Take the stage with us
Register today
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any question or comments.