The "Donaueschinger Musiktage" is the oldest and most traditional festival for new music in the world. Founded in 1921 under princely protection, it remains a platform for all types of new experimental music and sound art. Every year, some 10,000 visitors from more than 15 countries come to Donaueschingen to experience a richly varied programme of premieres, sound installations, discussions, workshops and talks. Internationally renowned ensembles such as the Klangforum Wien, the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and the SWR Experimentalstudio are among the regular performers.

The Donaueschinger Musiktage are organised by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Donaueschingen in cooperation with the city of Donaueschingen, Südwestrundfunk and the SWR Experimentalstudio. It is funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation, supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg and the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung