From May 22–25, Eastern Styria will host the Friling Festival 2026 — an international festival dedicated to klezmer music, Yiddish culture, and intercultural dialogue.

The festival programme includes:
▪️ concerts by international musicians,
▪️ workshops in singing, dancing, and instrumental music,
▪️ community jam sessions and sing-alongs,
▪️ the Yiddish dance evening Tantshoyz,
▪️ the musical nature walk KlezWalk.

The festival creates a space for dialogue, encounters, and shared musical experiences, highlighting culture as a way to overcome borders and polarization.

The Styrian Klezmore cultural association was founded in Graz in 2018 as a non-profit organization to promote Klezmer, Yiddish, and Eastern and Southeastern European music and culture by a collective of musicians led by the Styrian clarinetist Moritz Weiß. Constantly seeking innovative ways to express this music through transcultural dialogue, the Styrian Klezmore Orchestra emerged in 2021 – a collective of over 20 musicians from the local scene. Its organization, programming, artistic work, and public promotion became central to Styrian Klezmore, transforming the cultural association into an orchestra. These developments led to Styrian Klezmore establishing a permanent home at the socio-cultural center “Die Brücke” in Graz in the fall of 2023. More recently, this has also given rise to a concept for further subgroups of the larger ensemble, such as the Styrian Klezmore Pocket Band and the Styrian Klezmore Strings.

Among the featured guests and artists are international performers and the Ukrainian DRUZI Yiddish Ukrainian Orchestra as Artists in Residence.

DRUZI
Yiddish-Ukrainian Orchestra
DRUZI unites musical traditions that have been intertwined for centuries – and are now powerfully reuniting. The ensemble blends Jewish-Eastern European melodies, Ukrainian folk music, and a modern soundscape into a vibrant, emotionally charged sound that captivates audiences in concert halls and at festivals alike. The name “Druzi” – Ukrainian for “friends” – is programmatic: The orchestra’s musicians come from diverse cultural backgrounds and share a common vision. With virtuosic arrangements, improvisational flair, and a charismatic stage presence, they create a musical experience that is both historically rooted and contemporary.

DRUZI sees itself not only as a musical project but also as a cultural bridge. The ensemble tells stories of encounter, migration, resilience, and hope – themes that are more relevant than ever in a time of global tension. With their music, the artists make a statement for dialogue, respect, and the unifying power of shared traditions. Whether in intimate club settings or on large open-air stages, DRUZI manages to touch the audience directly – with energy, warmth, and a distinctive sound that transcends genres and national boundaries.