2026 GUIDE TO FESTIVALS
| ◀◀ summer festivals home page | next ▶ | last ▶▶ |
|
Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Aldeburgh Festival 2026: Created by the musicians and audiences who gather here, and the future they help reveal—:set by the beautiful Suffolk coast that Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears made their home.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Aldeburgh Festival brings together outstanding musicians from around the world. The Festival has special significance in 2026: it marks 50 years since Benjamin Britten's death and reflects the legacy he and Peter Pears built, especially their commitment to supporting and celebrating young artists. Featured artist Ryan Wigglesworth will collaborate with fellow artists such as James Baillieu, Nicolas Altstaedt, Vilde Frang, Steven Osborne, and Lise Davidsen, alongside the next generation of emerging talent, in the spirit that has shaped the Festival since 1948.
LOCATION
Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, United Kingdom
WEBSITE
DATES
June 12-28, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Britten Pears Arts
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE £7 to £10
Additional ticket information: Prices vary by performance, date, and venue; half price for under 25 years old; £10 tickets available at a later date
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +44 01728 687110
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Typically six to 18 months in advance
SOCIAL LINKS
   |
|
Arena di Verona Opera Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Hosted since its founding in the 10,000-seat, open-air Roman amphitheater at the heart of the Italian city of Verona, the Arena di Verona Opera Festival is the largest, oldest, and most international opera festival in the world.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The festival's 103rd season takes place over 50 nights this summer. Central to the 2026 offerings are six classic Italian operas by Verdi and Puccini: a new production of La traviata, two contrasting treatments of Aïda, and stagings of Nabucco, Turandot, and La bohème. These will be complemented by a performance of Orff's Carmina Burana, two evenings of ballet, and a pair of immersive multimedia concerts. Roberto Alagna, Erin Morley, Anna Netrebko, Lisette Oropesa, and Ludovic Tézier are among the host of returning stars, while those making festival debuts include Operalia winner Mihai Damian and LA Opera's James Conlon.
LOCATION
Arena di Verona, Verona, Italy
WEBSITE
DATES
June 12 - September 12, 2026
HEALTH & SAFETY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Stefano Trespidi
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE €28 to €365
Additional ticket information: A variety of flexible offers are available, see here for details.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: Official call centre +39 045 8005151
BOOKING CONTACTS
SOCIAL LINKS
|
|
Bergen International Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The Bergen International Festival is the largest curated festival of its kind in the Nordic countries. The festival presents music, theatre, dance, family events, exhibitions, and more in hundreds of events. Bergen is the hometown of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, and concerts in his home are magical festival happenings.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 2026 Festival opens on May 27 with Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie, conducted by artist-in-residence Esa-Pekka Salonen and performed by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists. On May 28, cultural icon Mari Boine brings her distinct voice to Håkonshallen. The following evening, May 29, soprano Lise Davidsen joins pianist James Baillieu exploring Schubert's most introspective and emotionally profound songs. On June 6, the Festival presents the world premiere of The Night People, an adventurous new Norwegian family opera. The Festival culminates on June 10 in a vibrant finale uniting rapper Lars Vaular, this year's concerto soloist Yulianna Avdeeva, and the Festival musicians of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason, artistic director of the BIT20 Ensemble.
LOCATION
Outdoor and indoor venues in Bergen, Norway
WEBSITE
DATES
May 27 - June 10, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Lars Petter Hagen
GENRES
Classical • Theater/Dance
TICKET PRICE RANGE €8 to €80
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +47 470 36 065 | billett@fib.no
BOOKING CONTACTS
Lars Petter Hagen , artistic director and chief executive
Tonje Elisabeth Storm Peersen , chief programming officer Booking cycle date range
One to five years in advance
SOCIAL LINKS
 |
|
Berkshire Choral International
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Berkshire Choral International expands the horizons of singers through participation in exhilarating performances, enriching travel and cultural exploration, lifelong music education, and connection to an inspiring community of choral artists.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Choral programs for amateur singers include a Tanglewood program of African-American music, Andre Thomas conducting; a cappella workshop with Deke Sharon at Endicott College; choral orchestral works of Smyth and Britten with Beth Willer at UMass Amherst; Mozart, Martines, and Nunez-Garcia under the baton of Anthony Trecek-King at University of Denver; Brahms Requiem and music of Eriks Esenvalds at Alexela Concert Hall, Tallinn, Estonia.
LOCATION
Lenox and Amherst, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Tallinn, Estonia
WEBSITE
DATES
May 21 - August 2, 2026
HEALTH & SAFETY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Anthony Trecek-King
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE $10 to $45
Additional ticket information: Most events are general admission. Reserved tickets in Tallinn must be purchased at the venue. Ticket links will be posted in spring 2026.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 413-229-8526
BOOKING CONTACTS
Steven Smith , president & CEO
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
|
|
Berkshire Opera Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Berkshire Opera Festival believes there is no substitute for the power of the live, unamplified human voice and it's ability to greatly enhance one's quality of life. The Festival's operas are fully staged, replete with talented cast of singers and dancers, and accompanied by a live orchestra of the highest caliber.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Berkshire Opera Festival's 2026 summer season is anchored by a new production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, starring Christine Lyons (Lucia), Terrence Chin-Loy (Edgardo), Dean Murphy (Enrico), and Stefan Egerstrom (Raimondo), conducted by Brian Garman and directed by Jonathon Loy. The season also launches the Resident Artist Program with a fully staged production of Grétry's Zémire et Azor, conducted by Garman and directed by Mo Zhou. Together, these projects highlight Berkshire Opera Festival's commitment to emerging artists and world-class opera.
LOCATION
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, Massachusetts
WEBSITE
DATES
July 31 - August 28, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Brian Garman
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE $20 to $135
Additional ticket information: Berkshire Opera Festival participates in Card to Culture (a Massachusetts Cultural Council program), which provides EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders free or steeply discounted admission to all ticketed events throughout the year. If you are eligible and would like to learn more about your discount options, contact events@berkshireoperafestival.org.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 413-528-0100 for Lucia di Lammermoor
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Booking cycle varies; typically booked one year in advance
SOCIAL LINKS
 |
|
Bowdoin International Music Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The Bowdoin International Music Festival offers an immersive solo and chamber music experience where students work closely with renowned faculty in an inspiring setting. The Festival's emphasis on mentorship, collaboration, community, and meaningful performance opportunities creates a uniquely supportive environment for musical growth.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Bowdoin International Music Festival is one of the world's premier music institutes, providing an intensive and in-depth exploration of chamber and solo music. Every summer, 275 students make life-long connections with peers, enhance musicianship through study and performance, and engage with world-renowned faculty. During the six-week Festival, audiences gather for nearly 100 performances, master classes, lectures, and more.
The 2026 season will include appearances by Frank Huang, Zlatomir Fung, Jon Nakamatsu, Brentano Quartet, Ensemble Dal Niente, Lysander Piano Trio, Jupiter String Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, Ying Quartet, among many other renowned artists. LOCATION
Brunswick, Maine
WEBSITE
DATES
June 27 - August 8, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
David Ying and Phillip Ying
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE $0 to $920
Additional ticket information: The Festival offers hundreds of free events. Ticketed event prices include: individual tickets ($55); six-concert flex pass ($306); 12-concert flex pass ($591); and full season passes, 20 Concerts ($920). See here for more details.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 207-373-1400
SOCIAL LINKS
|
|
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Against the majestic backdrop of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, four internationally acclaimed orchestras — the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields—as well as renowned chamber ensembles and guest artists perform more than 60 concerts.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Bravo! Vail celebrates Anne-Marie McDermott as she concludes her 16-year tenure as artistic director. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic, and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields headline the orchestral series led by conductors including Marin Alsop, Elim Chan, Stéphane Denève, Fabio Luisi, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
McDermott plays all five Beethoven Piano Concertos and premieres music by Aaron Jay Kernis. Illia Ovcharenko, Ilya Shmukler, Fei-Fei Dong, and Chaeyoung Park perform Beethoven's complete Piano Sonatas. Luisi conducts Puccini's Madama Butterfly in concert. Emanuel Ax, Marc-André Hamelin, Himari, Leonidas Kavakos, and Aristo Sham debut at Bravo! Vail; returning artists include Joshua Bell, Carter Brey, Yefim Bronfman, James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Nemanja Radulović, Conrad Tao, Yuja Wang, and Alisa Weilerstein. LOCATION
Locations in Colorado: Vail, Beaver Creek, Eagle, Avon, Edwards, Leadville, Gypsum
WEBSITE
DATES
June 25 - August 6, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Anne-Marie McDermott
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE $0 to $600
Additional ticket information: Youth Lawn Tickets start at $10 for the Orchestral Series season. Children four and younger are free on the lawn; Pavilion is paid for all ages and requires a ticket. Free events require a reservation, and free events will be available for reservations on March 10, 2026.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 877-812-5700
BOOKING CONTACTS
Parker Owens, vice president of marketing; or Info@BravoVail.org
Booking cycle date range
Fall/winter 2026 for summer 2027 & 2028
SOCIAL LINKS
|
|
Brevard Music Center Summer Festival
|
 |
|
Dedicated page for
|
|
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
BCMF's unparalleled artistry, gorgeous settings, and curated programming combine to make for a festival like no other. The world's finest chamber musicians come together to rehearse and present unique programs heard nowhere else in the world.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
BCM's 43rd season will present 12 concerts over five weeks, including a BCM commission by Steven Banks, a program featuring Copland's Appalachian Spring, and an outdoor concert celebrating folk music throughout the ages. Led by flutist and Artistic Director Marya Martin, Festival artists include pianists Michael Stephen Brown, Albert Cano Smit, Gilles Vonsattel, and Aristo Sham; violinists Ben Baker, Stella Chen, Paul Huang, Ani Kavafian, Erin Keefe, Kristin Lee, David McCarroll, Julian Rhee, Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, Josh Brown, and Chad Hoopes; violists Natalie Loughran, Matthew Lipman, Cindy Phelps, Masumi Per Rostad, Ettore Causa, and Cong Wu; cellists Carter Brey, Brannon Cho, Josh McClendon, James Baik, Paul Watkins, and Tommy Mesa; bassists Nina Bernat and Donald Palma; clarinetists Graeme Steele Johnson and Osmo Vänskä; bassoonist Gina Cuffari; percussionist Ian David Rosenbaum; and harpsichordist Leon Schelhase.
LOCATION
Locations in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack, New York
WEBSITE
DATES
July 19 - August 16, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Marya Martin
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE $10 to $175
Additional ticket information: Concert prices vary depending on venue; student tickets are $10.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 631-537-6368
BOOKING CONTACTS
Michael Lawrence , executive director
Booking cycle date range
Spring 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
|
|
Carmel Bach Festival
|
|
|
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The Carmel Bach Festival, founded in 1935, blends world-class music with the breathtaking beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The festival unites global musicians, showcase local artists and producers, and celebrate a rich history of musical excellence as well as creates an unforgettable cultural experience in one of the world's most stunning coastal settings.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Set in the stunning coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Carmel Bach Festival returns for its 88th season with a program themed "Dialogues," exploring musical conversations across time via works such as J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor and The Art of the Fugue, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Harmoniemesse, and works by Stravinsky and Jessie Montgomery.
LOCATION
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
WEBSITE
DATES
July 11-25, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
Grete Pedersen
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE $25 to $156
Additional ticket information: Some concerts and events are free; check website for details.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 831-624-1521
BOOKING CONTACTS
Nathan Lutz, executive director
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
|
| ◀◀ summer festivals home page | next ▶ | last ▶▶ |
RENT A PHOTO
