The very brief summary of this retrospective would be: “PANGONIA 2026 not only impressed me, but actually touched me deep inside. And that doesn’t happen very often.”
And that’s exactly how it was!
Not only did the musical lineup offer one highlight after another every day for Handpan enthusiasts like me, but the atmosphere on the grounds was consistently friendly and respectful, which really impressed me. Apart from that, the so-called supporting program was wonderfully orchestrated, very varied, and diverse. And last but not least, the food on the grounds was so delicious that even when I wasn’t really hungry, I still had to treat myself to a small portion of one of the vegan/vegetarian delicacies on a regular basis 😉 .
I myself was a Handpan gathering and festival organizer for many years (GRIASDI Festival, Austria) and can therefore fully appreciate just how much work, dedication, and passion it takes to organize and deliver such a high-quality event. That’s why I have the utmost respect for Robert (Hörning) and the entire team behind the organization of PANGONIA 2026. Hats off to you – you did a fantastic job! Thank you so much for your dedication. It’s through events exactly like this that the spirit behind the Handpan can and should be carried forward and supported!
What gave me a very special feeling at PANGONIA 2026, on a personal level, was seeing so many familiar faces from the early days of the handpan. Musicians, artists, handpan makers, and “handpan geeks” from the international handpan scene of the very early “handpan era” (from 2016 and earlier) came together again. I hadn’t seen some of them in years, and it felt like a huge gift to come together again. And all of this in that wonderful atmosphere that somehow felt just like the old days.
In my opinion, we should definitely be careful about uncritically glorifying the “good old days.” For the most part, this so-called “good old days” weren’t as unconditionally good as we often remember them to be. But given the relatively short history of the handpan – and its rapid development, especially in the last few years – certain qualities have been pushed somewhat into the background, and we rightly miss them in one area or another.
Fortunately, though, there are these “fragrant handpan islands” – like the PANGONIA event – where “Planet Handpan” can shine unreservedly in all its beauty, and where, as a resident of this island, one can breathe in the scent of (Handpan) paradise to the fullest, at least for a few days.
I’m already looking forward to the next PANGONIA.
Long live the “true” handpan spirit!
LINK: https://pangonia.de
enjoy some VIDEOS from PANGONIA 2026: