2026 GUIDE TO FESTIVALS

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The Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
At the Santa Fe Opera, tailgate picnics, mountain views, and brilliant sunsets set the stage for world-class opera in a breathtaking open-air theater—an unforgettable evening for newcomers and opera lovers alike.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Santa Fe Opera's 69th Festival Season features 38 performances of two new productions, two celebrated revivals, and an American premiere. Opening weekend begins July 3 with Lee Blakeley's acclaimed production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, followed on July 4 by a new international co-production with Garsington Opera of Mozart's The Magic Flute, directed by Christopher Luscombe. The season continues July 18 with Alessandro Talevi's striking production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. On July 25, Handel's Rodelinda is presented for the first time at the Santa Fe Opera, led by Music Director Harry Bicket and directed by R.B. Schlather. Opening August 1 is the American premiere of Lili Elbe, a new opera by Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman, starring former Apprentice singer Lucia Lucas.
LOCATION
Santa Fe, New Mexica
WEBSITE
DATES
July 3 - August 29, 2026
HEALTH & SAFETY
DIRECTORS
Robert K. Meya, general director; Harry Bicket, music director
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$37 to $409
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 505-986-5900 or 800-280-4654
SOCIAL LINKS
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is located in historic Saratoga Springs in upstate New York. Its exquisite setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws thousands each year for immersive experiences of performances throughout the summer.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Saratoga Performing Arts Center welcomes its resident companies—New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center—to Saratoga Springs, NY, as part of its celebratory 60th anniversary season. New York City Ballet returns from July 8-11. The Philadelphia Orchestra returns from August 5-22 with Music & Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) will bring five programs July 12-26 that traverse a remarkable spectrum of chamber music —from Mozart to Marsalis, with works by Dvořák, Beethoven, Barber, Villa-Lobos, and more.
LOCATION
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, New York
WEBSITE
DATES
June 11 - August 22, 2026
DIRECTORS
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Philadelphia Orchestra; Jonathan Stafford & Wendy Whelan, NYC Ballet; David Finckel & Wu Han, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Christopher Shiley, President
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz • World/Ethnic • Dance
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$35.75 to $255
Additional ticket information: Ticket prices are subject to change based on demand.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 518-584-9330
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Schubertiade Festival, Schwarzenberg/Hohenems
Schubertiade Festival, Schwarzenberg/Hohenems
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Despite its international fame, the Schubertiade retains an intimate atmosphere and high musical standards. Featuring top lieder, piano, and chamber artists, it also fosters young talent by presenting them to knowledgeable audiences. Key venues in Austria, the Angelika Kauffmann Hall (Schwarzenberg) and Markus Sittikus Hall (Hohenems), are celebrated for their exceptional acoustics.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
To mark its 50th anniversary, the Schubertiade will launch the celebrations with a special opening: a reconstruction of the program of the very first Schubertiade in 1976. From April 29 to May 3, 2026, Markus Sittikus Hall will host five lieder recitals, two chamber concerts, one piano recital, and one choral concert, presenting precisely that "bouquet of famous and well-known works by Schubert" with which festival founder Hermann Prey introduced the Schubertiade Hohenems to the public for the first time since 1976.
LOCATION
Schwarzenberg and Hohenems, Austria
WEBSITE
DATES
April 29 - October 4, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Gerd Nachbauer
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
€35 to €89
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +43 (0)5576 72091
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Two years in advance
SOCIAL LINKS
Seagle Festival
Seagle Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Seagle Festival is the premiere opera and musical theater producing organization in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, and the oldest summer vocal training program in the U.S.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 111th annual 2026 Seagle Festival Season will include productions of H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan, Cosi fan tutte by Mozart, Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie, and The Sound of Music by Rodgers & Hammerstein, plus several other concerts and events. Some will be live-streamed, see here for performance and schedule details. All performances feature the 32 Seagle Festival 2026 emerging artists accompanied by piano.
LOCATION
Schroon Lake, New York
WEBSITE
DATES
June 27 - August 22, 2026
DIRECTORS
Tony Kostecki, general director; Darren K. Woods, artistic director
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$40 to $55
Additional ticket information: Discounted tickets for children 12 and younger, and groups over 10 booked together
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 518-532-7875
SOCIAL LINKS
Seattle Chamber Music Society 2026 Summer Festival
Seattle Chamber Music Society 2026 Summer Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Top artists come together in extraordinary musical collaborations to create the world's largest chamber music party. There will be concerts in traditional venues including Benaroya Hall, on stages on Vashon Island and Bainbridge Island, and across Seattle parks and other public areas via The Concert Truck.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Renowned artists gather in Seattle for an America250 themed festival in which every program has a piece connected to the U.S. Artists appearing include violinists James Ehnes, Erin Keefe, Alex Kerr, and Tessa Lark; pianists Inon Barnatan, Alessio Bax, and Orion Weiss, cellists Ani Aznavoorian, Efe Baltacigil, and Mark Kosower, violists Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt and Jonathan Vinocour. Highlights include new works by Juhi Bansal and Kian Ravaei, John Adams's Shaker Loops for String Septet, Amy Beach's Piano Trio, the Barber String Quartet, Copland's Appalachian Spring ("Ballet for Martha"), George Walker's String Quartet No. 1, and masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Schumann.

Free festival events include recitals, open rehearsals, and sight reading parties. Performances can be streamed through SCMS's Virtual Concert Hall.
LOCATION
Locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Vashon, and Bainbridge Island, Washington
WEBSITE
DATES
June 18 - July 26, 2026
DIRECTORS
James Ehnes, Seattle Chamber Music Society; Gilbert Omenn; Martha Darling, artistic director
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$0 to $75
Additional ticket information: SCMS Summer Festival offers a range of free concerts, concert hall performances, and virtual concert hall access. More information, including subscriptions and tickets, is available here.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 206-283-8808
BOOKING CONTACTS
Andrew Collins , artistic operations director
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027 or 2028
SOCIAL LINKS
Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival
Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
At the intersection of harmony, humanity, and nature, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival gathers internationally-recognized artists and inquisitive audiences to celebrate the life and joy of great music.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The festival theme, "Creative Inventions," draws inspiration from Bach's keyboard Inventions and from the boundless imagination that shaped his music; the phrase "creative inventions of the mind" fits him perfectly. Bach continually reimagined sound-transforming sacred choral movements into dazzling instrumental concertos, reshaping a concerto for four violins into one for four harpsichords, each version alive with new brilliance. His artistry was invention in motion.

The theme also embraces human ingenuity beyond music. In Bach's era, the Newtonian telescope expanded the heavens and clockmaking refined the measure of time. Centuries later, Voyager I carried The Golden Record into space, featuring more music by Bach than any other composer. Now traveling beyond our solar system, it bears witness to a genius that is, quite literally, out of this world.
LOCATION
Locations in Harrisonburg, Virginia
WEBSITE
DATES
June 8-14, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
David Berry
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$10 to $50
Additional ticket information: Tickets are all listed as "pay as you're able" with a suggested price of $10 per ticket.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 540-246-6020
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Sitka Music Festival
Sitka Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The Sitka Music Festival fuses world-class chamber music with Alaska's breathtaking scenery. For 55 years, it has drawn leading artists each summer to this remote island community. Concerts at Harrigan Centennial Hall overlook Crescent Harbor—where bald eagles soar mid-performance—amid fresh salmon, deep Tlingit traditions, and untamed wilderness.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 55th Sitka Music Festival features evening subscription concerts at Harrigan Centennial Hall with stunning Crescent Harbor views on Fridays and Saturdays in June. Enjoy community events like Bach's Lunch (Thursdays), Mean Queen Café Concerts, and Midweek at Miner Music Center (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, dates to be announced).

Special events: Sea Mart Family Concert, June 7; Allen Marine Classical Music Cruise, June 14; and Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal Community Crab Feed, June 21.

This anniversary season highlights the Balourdet Quartet, pianist Awadagin Pratt, Grammy-winning cellist and Artistic Director Zuill Bailey, and more world-class artists. Check website for full lineup and repertoire.
LOCATION
Various locations in Sitka, Alaska
WEBSITE
DATES
June 1-28, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Zuill Bailey
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$10 to $130
Additional ticket information: Most evening concerts are priced between $27 and $32. Bach's Lunch concerts are free, and Mean Queen Café Concerts are $10. Special events often have the highest ticket prices due to included food and beverage.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 907-747-6774
BOOKING CONTACTS
Alexander Serio , executive director
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Skaneateles Festival
Dedicated page for
Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Spoleto Festival USA is an an innovative, multidisciplinary performing arts festival that has a rich legacy of drawing inventive artists eager to explore new expressions through collaboration and experimentation. The works produced and presented at the Festival electrify the status quo, defying both convention and classification.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 2026 season brings the America250 theme into focus through programs reflecting the nation's history, artistic voices, and enduring spirit of expression. Highlights include Renée Fleming and Béla Fleck, The Fiddle and the Drum; "An Evening with Ken Burns"; George + George, a world-premiere comedy; Martha Graham Dance Company's "Graham 100"; Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring; "Storytelling Through American Composers" by the Festival Chorus; and a robust slate of jazz performances honoring jazz as a defining American art form rooted in freedom, innovation, and cultural exchange.
LOCATION
Charleston, South Carolina
WEBSITE
DATES
May 22 - June 7, 2026
GENERAL DIRECTOR & CEO
Mena Mark Hanna
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz • Opera
TICKET PRICE RANGE
Check website for information about ticket availability and prices.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 843-579-3100
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Summer 2026 for spring 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Stockholm Early Music Festival
Stockholm Early Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Stockholm Early Music Festival is the largest and most established early music event in the Nordic region, set in the historic venues of Stockholm's Old Town. With an international profile, it presents concerts and seminars featuring renowned artists, celebrating 1,000 years of musical heritage at the highest level.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Stockholm Early Music Festival 2026 celebrates its 25th anniversary and opens on June 3 with French ensemble Il Caravaggio, an operatic concert performing rediscovered Les Génies by Mlle Duval and excerpts of Les Indes Galantes by Rameau. On June 4, The Sixteen (London) appear with Flemish polyphony, followed by Cappella Neapolitana (Italy) on June 5. On June 6, world premiere of Swedish troubadour C. M. Bellman's song-play Bacchi Tempel. The festival closes on June 7 with Spanish ensemble Opera Omnia. Further highlights include vocal ensemble Ordo Virtutum (Germany), countertenor Leandro Marziotte and Gracia Barroca (Uruguay/Spain), AnonymA/Sollazzo (France), and Hamburger Ratsmusik (Germany), presenting programs from medieval polyphony to Italian baroque arias and French baroque salon music, performed on period instruments.
LOCATION
Locations in Stockholm, Sweden
WEBSITE
DATES
June 3-7, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Peter Pontvik
GENRES
Classical • Early Music
TICKET PRICE RANGE
€11 to €50
Additional ticket information: The SEMFestivalpass, valid for almost all performances, costs 2,690 SEK (approximately €245).
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +46 7 072-224 42 42 (Tuesday 10 am-12 pm CET, Thursday 1 pm-3 pm CET)
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Six months to two years in advance.
SOCIAL LINKS
Stresa Festival
Stresa Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Stresa Festival stands out for the high artistic level of the soloists and orchestras who perform on its stages and for gorgeous concert locations overlooking the Lake Maggiore, which are part of the national artistic heritage. The Festival has distinguished itself in recent years for innovative multidisciplinary performances.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 2026 edition of Stresa Festival, in its 65th year of activity, consists of 27 events divided as usual into a first part in July and a second in August and September. The availability of exclusive spaces on the islands of the Borromean Gulf is a privilege that characterizes the Stresa Festival evenings: concerts are scheduled at the Loggia del Cashmere on Isola Madre, Isola Bella (Piazzale delle Armi and Salone Nuovo of Palazzo Borromeo), and Isola dei Pescatori. A major new development this year will be the closing concert, which will be held exceptionally on September 9 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
LOCATION
Locations in Italy: Stresa, Verbania, Arona, Angera, Leggiuno
WEBSITE
DATES
July 16 - September 9, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Mario Brunello
GENRES
Classical • Jazz • World/Ethnic • Electronic
TICKET PRICE RANGE
€10 to €100
Additional ticket information: The ticket office will open in April; see Ticket Purchase Link below for more information.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +39 0323 31095
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Strings Music Festival
Strings Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
For 39 years, Strings Music Festival has presented world-class music in Northwestern Colorado. Musicians from all 25 top US orchestras and more than 100 Grammy Award-winning artists have performed at the Strings Pavilion—an iconic architectural gem known for its elegant, intimate setting and exceptional acoustics.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The year 2026 marks the 39th annual Strings Music Festival and the 12-year anniversary of Music Director Michael Sachs. For nearly four decades, the Festival has welcomed musicians from 25 of the top orchestras across the United States. Alongside its classical roots, Strings continues a long-standing commitment to contemporary programming—presenting everything from national touring acts and beloved legacy artists to forward-thinking new voices. More than 100 Grammy-winning artists have taken the stage at the Strings Pavilion, the Festival's 569-seat concert hall and the centerpiece of a summer season that extends into more than 80 performances year-round.
LOCATION
Strings Pavilion, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
WEBSITE
DATES
June 27 - August 18, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Michael Sachs
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz • World/Ethnic • Country • Bluegrass • Americana • Family • Comedy • Theatre • More
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$25 to $150
Additional ticket information: Ticket prices will be finalized April 2026
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 970-879-5056 x105
BOOKING CONTACTS
Katie Carroll , director of programs
Elissa Greene , executive director
Booking cycle date range
Six to 12 months in advance; summer 2026 for fall/winter 2026/27
SOCIAL LINKS
Styriarte - Die steirischen Festspiele
Styriarte - Die steirischen Festspiele
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Graz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and far more than that. One can wander seemlessly from a glorious past into an exciting future. Each summer, Styriarte transforms the architectural jewel that is Graz into a celebration of sound accompanied by exclusive service for our guests.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
  • Joseph Haydn: The Creation with Tetiana Miyus, Mario Lerchenberger, Philipp Schöllhorn, baritone, Styriarte Festspiel-Orchester and Patrick Hahn
  • Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, with Miriam Kutrowatz, Maria Hegele, chor pro musica graz; mondo musicale, Styriarte Youth Orchestra and Mei-Ann Chen
  • Mozart Requiem with Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Styriarte Festspiel-Orchester & Michael Hofstetter
  • Hymn to Freedom (Oscar Peterson) with Kristina Miller Trio
  • Zauberflöte with Ensemble Zefiro
  • Schubertiade with Daniel Johannsen and Florian Birsak
  • Beethoven Moonlight Sonata and Symphony No. 5 with Bernd Glemser
  • A Symphonic Tribute to The Beatles with Monika Ballwein, Styriarte Festspiel-Orchester and Elisabeth Fuchs
  • De Profundis with La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall
  • Le Nuove Musiche, Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall
  • Di goldene Medine with Styrian Klezmore Orchestra, Moritz Weiß and Clara Montocchio
LOCATION
Locations in Austria: Graz, Stainz, Poellau
WEBSITE
DATES
June 6 - July 26, 2026
HEALTH & SAFETY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Mathis Huber
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz
TICKET PRICE RANGE
€6 to €156
Additional ticket information: 50 percent discounted tickets for young persons up to 27 years old
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +43 316 825000
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Summer for the City
Summer for the City
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Lincoln Center's Summer for the City welcomes artists and audiences from across the globe for a range of performances that span genres, all for free or Choose-What-You-Pay.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Summer for the City will return in 2026 from June through August, with hundreds of free or choose-what-you-pay events. The festival features a multitude of offerings and citywide collaborations.
LOCATION
Lincoln Center, New York, New York
WEBSITE
DATES
June 10 - August 8, 2026
HEALTH & SAFETY
CHIEF ARTISTIC OFFICER
Shanta Thake
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz • World/Ethnic • Family Programs • Dance • More
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$0 to $5
Additional ticket information: The majority of performances are free, with select events being "Choose-What-You-Pay," starting at $5.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 212-721-6500
SOCIAL LINKS
Summit Music Festival
Dedicated page for
Sun Valley Music Festival
Sun Valley Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The largest privately funded, admission-free classical music festival in the United States presents four weeks of world-class performances this summer in a beautiful outdoor alpine setting, featuring the Festival's all-star orchestra and exquisite chamber concerts.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Admission-free performances by world-class musicians led by Music Director Alasdair Neale and Associate Conductor Euan Shields at Idaho's Sun Valley Pavilion. Highlights include Orion Weiss performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Alexander Malofeev playing Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, Gil Shaham as soloist for Barber's Violin Concerto, and Brahms's A German Requiem with Christina Pier, Benjamin Appl, and the American Festival Chorus. The 2026 Gala Concert, the only event that is not free, will be announced in the spring.

Orchestra performances include Beethoven's Symphony No. 1, Mahler's Symphony No. 1, Anna Clyne's Woman of the Mountain, a festival co-commission, and Elgar's Enigma Variations. Both Orion Weiss and Gil Shaham will also join Festival Orchestra musicians in chamber concerts.
LOCATION
Sun Valley Pavilion, Sun Valley, Idaho
WEBSITE
DATES
July 27 - August 20, 2026
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Alasdair Neale
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE
Free admission
Additional ticket information: All tickets are free with the exception of the Gala Concert.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 208-622-5607
BOOKING CONTACTS
Deanna Harned , artistic planning director
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027 or 2028
SOCIAL LINKS
Sunriver Music Festival
Dedicated page for
Tanglewood
Tanglewood
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
One of the most popular and acclaimed music festivals in the world, Tanglewood has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. Tanglewood has drawn an annual attendance of approximately 340,000 people and brings more than $100 million in economic activity annually to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 2026 Tanglewood season will feature more than 100 performances, including 11 weeks of concerts and other events by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), Boston Pops, Tanglewood Music Center, and Tanglewood Learning Institute; chamber music, recital, and concert opera presentations in Ozawa Hall; and a series of Popular Artist concerts. The BSO and Music Director Andris Nelsons open their 89th summer season with an all-Tchaikovsky program featuring pianist Seong-Jin Cho and dancers from the Boston Ballet. Esa-Pekka Salonen directs the annual Festival of Contemporary Music (July 23-27), and Yo-Yo Ma curates a weeklong residency "We the People" (August 4-9). "E Pluribus Unum" programs throughout the summer celebrate American music.
LOCATION
Lenox, Massachusetts
WEBSITE
DATES
June 21 - September 2, 2026
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Andris Nelsons
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$17 to $225
Additional ticket information: Ticket prices are subject to change; see here for current pricing.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 888-266-1200
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
The booking cycle is the preceding summer or earlier
SOCIAL LINKS
Teatro Nuovo
Teatro Nuovo
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Teatro Nuovo's cutting-edge revivals—featuring projections of 19th-century scenery, an acclaimed period-instrument orchestra, reconstruction of Bel Canto musical style, and lively staging without directorial gimmicks—have been called "transformative" (The Wall Street Journal) and "the most consistently satisfying live opera in New York" (Opera Today).
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Teatro Nuovo presents innovative, period-style Bel Canto opera in New York City and New Jersey. This summer brings a tribute to Italian opera's arrival in America 200 years ago. Two titles brought by Manuel García in 1826 are revived: Rossini's Il Turco in Italia and Mozart's Il Don Giovanni in the edition supervised by librettist Lorenzo da Ponte. Baritone Ricardo José Rivera returns as the Don; other artists include Elizabeth Novella, Simona Genga, Sedona Libero, Kresley Figueroa, Martin Luther Clark, Max Alexander Cook, Vincent Graña, Mattia Venni, Daniel Mobbs. Musical directors are Elisa Citterio, Derrick Goff, Geoffrey Loff.

The operas are preceded, on performance days and during the weeks before, by entertaining mini-recitals, talk events, public master classes and concerts devoted to the music of the García family.
LOCATION
Lincoln Center, New York, New York; Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersety
WEBSITE
DATES
July 11-16, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Will Crutchfield
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$30 to $200
Additional ticket information: New Jersey tickets range from $30 to $175 (fees may apply, senior discount available); New York tickets range from $30 to $200 (fees may apply). Student discounts are available at both venues.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 929-888-7158
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
TIME:SPANS Festival 2026
Dedicated page for
Tippet Rise Art Center
Dedicated page for
Trondheim Chamber Music Festival
Trondheim Chamber Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Trondheim Chamber Music Festival was founded in 1996 and is internationally recognized for an innovative programme of high quality and with a young profile, always with outstanding musicians from home and abroad. The festival also hosts the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The festival program will be presented mid-June 2026; check here for details.
LOCATION
Various venues in Trondheim, Norway
WEBSITE
DATES
September 20-27, 2026
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Sigmund Tvete Vik
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
€0 to €40
Additional ticket information: All tickets are sold in Norwegian Kroner (NOK).
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: Telephone: +47 4004 1120
SOCIAL LINKS
Tsinandali Festival
Tsinandali Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Tsinandali Festival draws some of the greatest performers, conductors, composers, music scholars, and artists from around the globe to Tsinandali, Georgia. Festival is designed to create rare opportunities for young musicians from the Caucasus and the neighboring countries to explore the world of music and advance their musical education.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Tsinandali Festival takes place at the historic Tsinandali Estate located in the heart of the Georgian region of Kakheti, known for its internationally awarded wines. The Festival draws some of the greatest performers, conductors, composers, music scholars, and artists from around the globe to Tsinandali. The Festival is designed to create rare opportunities for young musicians from the Caucasus and the neighboring countries to explore the world of music and advance their musical education through professional seminars and master classes taught by some of the brightest names in today's classical music.
LOCATION
Tsinandali Estate, Kakheti, Georgia
WEBSITE
DATES
September 3-13, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Gianandrea Noseda
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +995 322 25 35 81
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Autumn 2026 for autumn 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Vancouver USA Arts & Music Festival
Vancouver USA Arts & Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Presented by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA and the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Arts & Music Festival (VAMF) is a multi-disciplinary signature cultural event celebrating community and the joy of experiencing the arts together. Each day of the festival culminates with epic VSO-USA performances in the park.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, led by Gerard Schwarz and Salvador Brotons, performs free evening concerts in the park during this all-ages, multi-disciplinary festival from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA (VSO-USA) and the City of Vancouver.

VAMF celebrates film music with a program featuring John Williams's Star Wars Suite, and selections from Disney's Fantasia (1940). Pinchas Zukerman performs Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, paired with Beethoven's Egmont Overture, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, and a performance by VSO Youth Virtuosi. VAMF closes by honoring America250 and American musical voices; pianist Shelly Berg solos Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, cellist Julian Schwarz presents Arthur Foote's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in G minor, and VSO-USA performs Valerie Coleman's Umoja: Anthem of Unity and Gershwin's An American in Paris.
LOCATION
Vancouver, Washington
WEBSITE
DATES
August 7-9, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dr. Igor Shakhman
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE
Free admission
Additional ticket information: The entire festival is free and open to the public.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 360-735-7278
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Verbier Festival
Verbier Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The Verbier Festival is a classical music festival which encourages encounters between the world's great musicians and young aspiring artists from around the world, through unique collaborations and the Fesitval's Academy. The Verbier Festival strives towards excellence, its beautiful setting in the Swiss Alps creating a completely unique musical experience.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Another summer of extraordinary classical music in the heart of the Swiss Alps with a program featuring some of the world's greatest musicians. From July 16 to August 2, 2026, the Festival offers more than 60 concerts, 100 master classes, and 80 free events.

This year's lineup features leading international soloists such as Yunchan Lim, Evgeny Kissin, Martha Argerich, Khatia Buniatishvili, András Schiff, Alexandre Kantorow, Nikolaï Lugansky, Mao Fujita, Lucas Debargue, Bruce Liu, Minsoo Sohn, Nonuyuki Tsujii. The 33rd edition also features conductors Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Lahav Shani, Gianandrea Noseda, Daniel Harding, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Mikhaïl Pletnev, Gábor Takács-Nagy, James Gaffigan, and Vasily Petrenko.

Other soloists include Janine Jansen, Joshua Bell, Leonidas Kavakos, Daniel Lozakovich, Mischa Maisky, Steven Isserlis, as well as singers Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Gerald Finley, Magdalena Kozena, Peter Mattei, and many more.
LOCATION
Locations in Verbier, Switzerland
WEBSITE
DATES
July 16 - August 2, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Martin T:son Engstroem
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
CHF₣30 to CHF₣220
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: +41 (0)848 771 882 (M-F, 13:00-17:00)
SOCIAL LINKS
Virginia Arts Festival
Virginia Arts Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Since 1997, Virginia Arts Festival has brought world-class performing arts to our citizens and visitors, impacting the lives of students through outstanding educational programs. VAF makes a tangible difference through regional partnerships and positive economic impact through the generation of cultural tourism.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
VAF's 29th season features stunning dance from BalletX, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dorrance Dance. Classical music: violinist Joshua Bell and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, pianist Olga Kern, Orava Quartet, and cellist Alisa Weilerstein. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will be featured in several curated programs: a salute to composer Adolphus Hailstork with Performance Today radio host Valerie Kahler as emcee. Other highlights include: live orchestra with screening of Top Gun: Maverick, Music of Queen - A Rock Symphony, Christian McBride, Adrienne Warren, Meow Meow. Rob Fisher's "Love, George & Ira: The Gershwins on Broadway." The Virginia International Tattoo will salute 250 years of American Independence. Also, there will be the four-day weekend finale at Williamsburg Live, featuring singer-songwriter Alison Krauss with Union Station.
LOCATION
Locations in southeastern coastal Virginia: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Newport News, Williamsburg
WEBSITE
DATES
March 5 - June 28, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Robert W. Cross
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz • World/Ethnic • Chamber • Dance • Vocal • Broadway
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$25 to $145
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 757-282-2822
SOCIAL LINKS
West Edge Summer Opera Festival
West Edge Summer Opera Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
The West Edge Opera Summer Festival explores the breadth of the operatic repertoire, presenting a baroque opera, an early 20th century opera, and a contemporary opera in repertory over three weekends in downtown Oakland.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
  • The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten—artists include: Laura Bohn, Alex Boyer, Erin Neff, Alexa Sessler, James Ramm, Siena Ramm, Roya Agarwal; conducted by Jonathan Khuner, directed by Mark Streshinsky
  • Rinaldo by Handel—artists include Kyle Tingzon, Shawnette Sulker, Nikki Einfeld, Efrain Solis, Gabi Esquenazi; conducted by Emily Senturia; directed by Keturah Stickann
  • American Apollo by Damien Geter and Lil Palmer—artists include Markel Reed, John Bellemer, Marnie Breckenridge, Alexandra Armantrading, Matt Hidalgo, Leberta Lorál, Phillip Harris, Wilford Kelly, Michael Belle, Alex Taite, Jason Sarten; conducted by Kedrick Armstrong; directed by Nataki Garret
LOCATION
Oakland Scottish Rite Center and Lake Merit, California
WEBSITE
DATES
August 1-16, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Mark Streshinsky
GENRE
Opera
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$10 to $170
Additional ticket information: Series tickets for set dates are offered for three shows—make your own series. Single tickets are also offered, as are $10 rush tickets.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 510-841-1903
BOOKING CONTACTS
Kenneth Kellogg , director of marketing and engagement
Booking cycle date range
One year in advance
SOCIAL LINKS
Wintergreen Music Festival
Wintergreen Music Festival
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Audiences can enjoy the 2026 Wintergreen Music Festival for a unique blend of world-class artistry and deep community connection, set in the breathtaking Blue Ridge mountains. Discover music being brought to life atop majestic peaks, offering a fusion of nature and sound that will leave you feeling inspired.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
From a bluesy opening night to a thrilling patriotic concert and intimate in-home concerts, the 2026 Wintergreen Music Festival offers daily opportunities to experience extraordinary music in an unforgettable mountain setting. From July 2-26, enjoy performances spanning orchestral masterworks, chamber music, jazz, blues, Gospel, and bluegrass. Weekend programs are anchored by the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra in four MountainTop Masterworks concerts featuring music by Mozart, Beethoven, Florence Price, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Copland, and more. Saturday night Pops bring laid-back American sounds, while weeknights offer chamber music in unique venues. Coffee Talks, Sing with Us!, trail performances, LEAD student showcases, and other special events invite audiences to connect deeply with the music, the artists, and one another—where mountains and music meet.
LOCATION
Wintergreen Resort and partner locations, Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia
WEBSITE
DATES
July 2-26, 2026
HEALTH & SAFETY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Erin Freeman
GENRE
Classical
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$42 to $95
Additional ticket information: Tickets go on sale in April; save the dates now and visit the Ticket Purchase Link below to check out season highlights.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 434-361-0541
SOCIAL LINKS
Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Located in Vienna, Virginia, Wolf Trap is a premier performing arts venue dedicated to inspiring and connecting our community through exceptional performances.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Wolf Trap combines music and nature to offer an unforgettable summer lineup in a majestic setting. Visitors can enjoy Wolf Trap's many stages, including the stunning Filene Center and charming Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods. Conveniently located just outside of Washington D.C., Wolf Trap offers free parking and picnic overlooks. Plan to spend summer with your favorite artists at Virginia's beloved outdoor music venue.
LOCATION
Vienna, Virginia
WEBSITE
DATES
May 21 - September 19, 2026
GENRES
Classical • Pop/Folk • Jazz • World/Ethnic
TICKET PRICE RANGE
$30 to $350
Additional ticket information: Ticket prices vary per show; check website for details.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: 703-255-1868
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
Young Euro Classic
Young Euro Classic
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FESTIVAL
Young Euro Classic is where youth and excellence belong together, where the audience doesn't applaud but cheer, and where more than 1,500 outstanding young musicians enthrall more than 25,000 audience members at Berlin's enchanting musical summer highlight. It is the festival of the world's best youth orchestras—tomorrows musicians today.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
the Young Euro Classic features 17 of the world's finest youth orchestras, five outstanding ensembles showcasing their musical traditions alongside the orchestral tradition—and a special Kid's Day packed with concerts and workshops for families and children. The complete program for the Young Euro Classic festival will be announced April 16, when ticket sales officially begin.
LOCATION
Konzerthaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
WEBSITE
DATES
July 31 - August 15, 2026
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Alban Gerhardt and Mathias Hinke
GENRES
Classical • Jazz • World/Ethnic
TICKET PRICE RANGE
€16 to €39
Additional ticket information: Ticket sale start on April 16, 2026.
TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
Telephone: + 49 30 841 089 09
BOOKING CONTACTS
Booking cycle date range
Summer/fall 2026 for summer 2027
SOCIAL LINKS
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