Festival Mind the Gap!
The Mind the Gap! Festival bridges the past, present and future
In June 2026, The Concertgebouw will open its doors to a brand-new festival that broadens horizons and sharpens the ear: Festival Mind the Gap! For six days, the venue will resound with music that, until recently, lay outside the mainstream of the classical tradition.
The first edition of Festival Mind the Gap! shines a spotlight on Black composers from Europe, America and Africa – composers past and present who have helped shape classical music, yet have been underrepresented in concert halls. Through this festival, we are giving these composers a platform and hope to strengthen and cement their place within the classical music landscape. A kaleidoscope of styles, stories and perspectives unfolds across six concerts.
The concerts
The Mind the Gap! Festival challenges the established canon of classical music and creates space for underrepresented Black composers, giving their music a voice and inviting everyone to help build a more inclusive musical future.