The Flanders Festival Ghent has decided to cancel the concert by the Munich Philharmonic on Sept. 18, 2025 due to chief conductor, Lahav Shani being the Israel Philharmonic’s music director.

The company said, “The decision has been made on the basis of our deepest conviction that music should be a source of connection and reconciliation. First and foremost, Flanders Festival Ghent aspires to be a place where artists, audiences and staff can experience music in a context of respect and safety. Lahav Shani has spoken out in favor of peace and reconciliation several times in the past, but in the light of his role as the chief conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, we are unable to provide sufficient clarity about his attitude to the genocidal regime in Tel Aviv. In line with the call from the Minister of Culture, the city council of Ghent and the cultural sector in Ghent, we have chosen to refrain from collaboration with partners who have not distanced themselves unequivocally from that regime.”

The festival added, “Given the inhumanity of the current situation, which is also leading to emotional reactions in our own society, we believe it is undesirable to allow this concert to go ahead. We have chosen to maintain the serenity of our festival and safeguard the concert experience for our visitors and musicians.   The rest of the Flanders Festival Ghent programme, which runs from Sept. 12 until Oct. 2, will proceed as planned. Flanders Festival Ghent remains committed to the universal power of music.”

In response to the cancelation the Munich Philharmonic with the city of Munich released a statement noting, “Today, the Flanders Festival Ghent, under pressure from activist groups and Belgian political authorities, uninvited the Munich Philharmonic from the planned concert on Sept. 18th. The reason given for the cancellation was that Lahav Shani, who was born in Tel Aviv, also serves as the music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The authorities of the City of Munich and the Munich Philharmonic are appalled by this decision. In both his artistic work and personal conduct, Lahav Shani stands for dialogue, humanism, and mutual understanding. We firmly reject the practice of placing Israeli artists under general suspicion and subjecting them to collective punishment. Excluding individuals from the stage, the concert hall, or other public venues based on their ethnic origin or religious affiliation constitutes an attack on fundamental European and democratic values.”