Originally planned as the core element of the Beethoven 2020 anniversary celebration in 2020, the Beethovenfest 2021 now provides the grand finale to the prolonged celebration. The Beethovenfest has a special place in the anniversary celebration lineup. Nearly half of the 60 Beethovenfest performances and events are sponsored by the Beethoven Jubiläums company.
Back in December 2019, the celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday kicked off to the motto “Beethoven neu entdecken!” (Rediscover Beethoven). With generous support from the German Federal Government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhein-Sieg County and the City of Bonn, an extensive anniversary program was created that included nearly 200 projects by independent artists, clubs and initiatives as well as major cultural institutions, with nearly 20 events organized by Beethoven2020 itself. The joint decision by the federal government, state, county and city to extend the Beethoven anniversary year into September 2021 allowed the Beethovenfest to postpone its advance-stage projects by an entire year.