Annual Report 2025: growth in audience reach and specialist programming

Read the Annual Report 2025

Following the metamorphosis in 2024, during which the corporate identity and website were completely renewed, 2025 was once again a record year for Muziekgebouw Eindhoven. We are working on an improved visitor experience, presented three new Steinway grand pianos, organized the first edition of the Moroccan Bladi Festival, Jack Pisters was appointed as the new General Director, and in 2025 we were able to welcome even more visitors than the previous year.

Top, Talent, and Accessibility in balance

With over 246,000 visitors and 530 activities, a broad and diverse audience was once again reached through concerts, festivals, education, social programming, and rental activities. In 2025, the top (inter)national concerts remained of undiminished importance for audience reach and MgE’s positioning. We welcomed a wide range of artists and ensembles, varying from top international musicians to leading names, including Robert Plant presents Saving Grace, the Gewandhausorchester, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Evgeny Kissin, and Sertab Erener. In addition, we organized numerous concerts at external venues such as the Klokgebouw and DOMUSDELA. In doing so, we reached new audiences, strengthened collaborations within the city, and continue to contribute to the broader musical offering in Eindhoven.

In 2025, talent development was given a clear and broader place within the programming: with the restructuring of Podium M, aimed at making the space more accessible and flexible, we are further developing ourselves as an accessible place for meeting, experimentation, and growth, where we offer space to emerging musicians, students, and young creators. During the lunchtime concerts, young creators, students, and talent development groups are also given the opportunity to perform in a professional setting.

Through a combination of various formats, targeted collaborations, and an active pricing policy, financial, cultural, and social barriers are lowered as much as possible. Our community festivals Merhaba Eindhoven!, Witaj Eindhoven!, and Bladi Festival remain an important part of this. We actively collaborate with various communities in the city in this regard. We also work on accessibility beyond this, for example through collaborations with social partners and initiatives that focus on people for whom cultural activities are not a matter of course. In this way, by 2025, we made culture accessible to approximately 35,000 young people, communities, and amateur groups.

Sustainability

In 2025, significant steps were taken in the area of ​​sustainability. As a cultural meeting place, we aim to present a diverse music program, but we also consider it important to actively contribute to a future-proof society. For instance, we have switched to sustainable reusable wine bottles that can be refilled up to 50 times. This results in 51% less CO2 emissions, we consume 70% less water, and generate significantly less packaging waste. We have also started the process towards Green Key certification, an internationally recognized sustainability label for companies in the hospitality industry. Within the organization, a strong commitment has been made to making the building and event organization more sustainable, in both operational management and daily practice.

With the results from 2025, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven continues to build a future in which artistic quality, talent development, and social engagement go hand in hand. In 2026, we will also continue to invest in an inspiring and accessible music venue for everyone.