On the evening of June 28, 2025, the European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Aarhus 2025 (ECG & GPoN) will officially open in a spectacular celebration of music, community, and international harmony. Over 130 choirs and up to 6,000 participants from 35 countries and regions are expected to arrive in Denmark’s vibrant cultural capital for this week-long musical celebration, running from June 28 to July 6.

The Opening Ceremony is a heartfelt welcome by the host city of Aarhus to international guests, featuring as its centerpiece a unique musical experience: The Call of the Earth. This collaborative choral composition, created by local Aarhus choirs and conducted by renowned Danish conductors Carsten Seyer-Hansen, Jim Daus Hjernøe, and Jens Johansen, serves as a powerful musical gesture of connection and solidarity.

Aarhus Mayor Anders Winnerskjold emphasized the city’s role in making this event a success: “The people of Aarhus support the city's events – both as audience and active participants. That is why I am also looking forward to Aarhus experiencing the ECG & GPoN Aarhus 2025 – and for the choir festival, its participants and its audience to experience Aarhus.”

“There is something special about singing together with others,” said Rabih Azad-Ahmad, Cultural Mayor of Aarhus. “Aarhus itself has some outstanding choirs that have brought prestigious awards home to the city. That is why I’m incredibly pleased that our city is hosting the European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Aarhus 2025.” 

INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch says: “In a world often marked by division, music remains a powerful force for unity. The European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Aarhus 2025 offer choirs a platform to bring joy, peace and understanding to the world – and to one another. We are honored to bring this celebration to Aarhus this year.”

In this spirit, one of the emotional highlights of the European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Aarhus 2025 will be the PEACE Concert on July 1 in Aarhus Cathedral. More than 500 singers from Denmark and around the world will come together to send a visible and audible message of hope, solidarity, and mutual respect, bringing INTERKULTUR’s long-standing motto “Singing Together Brings Nations Together” to life for all to experience.

Immediately following the concert, the audience will be guided outside the cathedral to a large open-air HOPE Concert. Here, outstanding youth choirs from a wide range of genres will spread hope, light, and confidence through their music, offering a powerful statement on the urgency of listening to the voices of the next generation.

In the days to come, the European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Aarhus 2025 will turn the city into a vibrant hub of international choral music. Choirs of all levels will compete in various categories, including the Open Competition, the European Champions Competition, and the Grand Prix of Nations. The focus is not only on musical excellence, but also on intercultural exchange and the celebration of shared experiences.

Throughout the city, participants and visitors alike can look forward to a diverse festival program with numerous free events, including competition performances, Friendship Concerts, workshops, and Open Singing sessions.

For more information about the event, the full program, and all participating choirs, please visit www.ecg2025.eu and follow the hashtag #EuropeanChoirGames across social media platforms.