The German Conference of State Music Councils has officially designated the accordion as the Instrument of the Year 2026 – and rightly so. This sonic chameleon shapes countless genres and musical traditions around the world, from tango and musette to folk music, Oberkrainer styles and rock. But see for yourself with 10 more than good reasons why the accordion deserves its place.
1. How the accordion came into being
So-called hand-bellows instruments existed long before. But when the Viennese organ and piano maker Cyrill Demian added chord buttons on the left-hand side to such an instrument – which until then had only ever been played with the right hand – and had the whole thing patented in 1829 under the name “Accordion”, the first accordion was born.
Startone
Piano Accordion 96 Black MKII
At that time, it was still a purely diatonic instrument, meaning that pushing or pulling the bellows produced different notes. The first version had five chord buttons, which allowed a total of ten chords to be played. But the accordion developed rapidly and within just a few years became a fully fledged instrument.
Accordion fact file
- Year of birth: 1829, patented by Cyrill Demian in Vienna
- Unique feature: instrumental revolution thanks to the ability to produce chords using bass buttons
- Tonal range: depends on design and size
- Construction: two-part with treble and bass sections
- Variants: piano accordions, button accordions, Styrian harmonica, chromatic accordion, diatonic accordion, special models
- Instrument family: hand-drawn instrument, self-sounding interruptive aerophones
2. Simply everything is playable across genres
Even if outsiders sometimes perceive it differently, you can genuinely play anything on the accordion. It is by no means limited to folk music, shanties, French musette waltzes or Argentine tango. For example, accordionist Martynas Levickis plays Beethoven and Bach on his instrument just as convincingly as covers of Lady Gaga or Katy Perry.
The band “The Pogues”, founded back in 1981 and the most popular folk-punk band of the 1980s, also demonstrated how powerfully and drivingly you can really rock out with the accordion.
3. What makes the accordion so versatile
Thanks to its variable playing techniques, the accordion offers numerous ways to shape and change its sound – for example by engaging different reed banks and registers or through specific use of the bellows. In this respect, it is streets ahead of many instruments, especially monophonic ones.
Roland
FR-4 X BK
And it is hardly news anymore that Roland’s V-Accordions exist. These electrified accordions offer just as many sound possibilities via MIDI interfaces, expanders and the like as highly complex keyboards. So if you want to play synthesiser sounds or orchestral textures on them, you absolutely can.
Because of the many different designs and sizes available, the accordion is very much an instrument for all generations. Children and students can discover their joy in music with smaller models, while adult and experienced musicians can really push themselves to virtuosity on the larger and heavier instruments. In fact, there is an exceptionally large number of accordion players worldwide – from music students and accordion orchestras to professional accordionists performing solo or in bands.
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Kids Accordion Red MKII
4. How the accordion works
On the accordion, sound is produced through the interaction of the bellows – which directs air through metal reeds – and the keys or buttons that control the airflow. By pulling apart or compressing the two sections, air is channelled through the reed blocks into the side sections. Admittedly, this is a rather bare-bones description of the process.
In reality, the accordion has a highly complex construction featuring reed blocks, reeds, corresponding bass, harmony and treble keys, the bellows and much more besides. There are extensive treatises on this subject that would, without blinking, go far beyond the scope of this article.
5. The difference between chromatic and diatonic accordions
For the sake of clarity, let’s focus on the main difference between chromatic and diatonic accordions. With the chromatic version, operating the bellows produces the same note whether you push or pull. The diatonic design works differently.
Here the rule is: “one button, two notes”. Depending on whether you push or pull the bellows, a different pitch is produced. The result is that a large tonal range is packed into a compact design. Not bad at all! Ultimately, which one you choose comes down to your personal musical taste.
Strasser
Professional G/C/F/Bb Cherry
6. The different size options
The number of bass buttons and the range of notes on the treble side indicate the size of an accordion. Common configurations include 48, 72, 96 or 120 basses. When searching for the right instrument, you will also come across special versions in which diminished seventh chords are omitted. Without doubt, an accordion can be quite heavy.
Typical 120-bass models weigh around 10 kg or more. Instruments with 48 basses still tip the scales at between 4.8 and 6.1 kg. But no problem: for music-loving kids for whom this is still too heavy and too large, there are child-friendly accordions with just 21 piano keys and a low weight of under 3 kg, such as those from the XS series by market leader Hohner.
Hohner
XS Accordion Piano blue
7. Endless sounds between nature and electronics
The accordion is truly a sonic marvel. First of all, you have the ability to lead melodies via the treble notes, then there is the bass section with its playable harmonies and switchable reed banks. And last but not least, you can also influence dynamics and rhythm through the bellows.
But the sound spectrum doesn’t end there by any means. Electric V-Accordions have long since conquered the market, allowing you to draw on the full breadth of sounds via MIDI and sound modules.
Roland
FR-1XB BK
8. Why Germany is so strong when it comes to the accordion
Germany can even be described as an accordion stronghold. After all, there are renowned universities of music in Trossingen and Karlsruhe where the accordion can be studied as a dedicated subject. Trossingen is also home to the world market leader Hohner. In Klingenthal, meanwhile, you’ll find the brand Weltmeister, Germany’s oldest accordion manufacturer.
Along the coast, the accordion has carved out a special niche and is an essential part of shanties and sea songs, where it is known as the “Schifferklavier”. In Cologne, it is called the “Quetschebüggel” and is often used during carnival season. In the Alpine regions it is extremely widespread, as it is in neighbouring countries such as Austria and Switzerland, which is linked to traditional folk music there.
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Accordion B-Handle Black
In France, we are particularly familiar with accordions featuring musette tuning, where two or three reeds are slightly detuned against each other to create the characteristic shimmering sound. And in Italy, too, the accordion holds a special place in music. In Castelfidardo near the Adriatic Sea, many world-famous manufacturers are based, whose instruments are highly valued all over the globe.
9. A long-term companion and loyal friend
The accordion is an instrument that will usually accompany you for many years, if not for a lifetime. If well cared for, it lasts what feels like forever, and repairs are always possible. The only thing it really doesn’t like is moisture. Naturally, high-quality components are essential for this long-lasting partnership – as is the visual appeal.
And that is often stunningly beautiful on many models. The “Quetsche” is therefore your musical friend, a statement of your personality, a companion on your journey and a piece of interior décor all at once.
What the accordion can do
- Play melody, chords and bass simultaneously
- Enable a wide variety of musical facets
- Cover a broad range of styles from folk music to jazz and pop
- Offer immense tonal diversity as an acoustic or MIDI instrument
- Support an easy introduction to the world of music
- Create social communities, such as in accordion orchestras
- Accompany vocals as a “band in a box”
- Provide enormous joy in making music
- Train physical stamina and coordination skills
- Connect people and cultures
10. Finally, a few curious facts about the accordion
The largest playable accordion is located in Castelfidardo, Italy. It is five times larger than a regular instrument and stands an impressive 2.53 metres tall – yet it still has “only” 120 basses.
One of the smallest accordions measures just a few centimetres and is not playable. Nevertheless, this souvenir from the Isle of Man has something special to offer: you can pull the bellows apart and reveal tiny landscape scenes of the island.
The popularity of the accordion in Europe has led to numerous accordion festivals, from Finland in the far north to Portugal in the south. Well worth a visit!
World Accordion Day has been celebrated every year on 6 May since 2009. It was initiated by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). Let’s hope the abbreviation is purely coincidental. Incidentally, 6 May was the day on which Cyrill Demian submitted his patent.
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Piano Accordion 48 Blue MKII
🪗 Accordions at Thomann
If you’re looking to buy an accordion, feel free to get in touch with us. We have a large accordion department and many instruments available to try out directly in our showroom – from children’s models to Styrian harmonicas. Our experts look forward to meeting you and answering your questions.
You’re also very welcome to browse online here.
Hohner
Amica Forte IV 96 BK silent
You can contact us by clicking on “Advice” on any product page in our online shop. Alternatively, you’ll find the option to get in touch with us by phone on this page (please click). We’re also happy to call you back at your preferred time. And of course, you’re very welcome to visit us in Treppendorf and try out accordions in person. We look forward to your visit!
Accordion – Instrument of the Year 2026: your feedback
So the accordion can really do a lot. What about you? What are your experiences with the accordion? Let us know in the comments!
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