Accordion World Championships in San Vigilio

The Accordion World Championships return to the Ladin Dolomites

From June 4 to 7, 2026, San Vigilio di Marebbe (known as San Martin in Ladin, in the Municipality of Marebbe/Enneberg, Province of Bolzano) served as the world capital of the accordion. After an absence of nearly twenty years, the prestigious event organized by the Harmonikaverband Österreichs (HVÖ) returned to South Tyrol/Südtirol, bringing hundreds of musicians from all over the world to the Val Badia valley, all vying for the title of best accordionist of 2026.

An international competition in the heart of the Dolomites

The competition brought together performers of the accordion, the diatonic button accordion (Steirische Harmonika), and the harmonica, with solo, duo, and ensemble performances scheduled throughout the event. Alongside the World Championships, the Italian National Championships were also held, showcasing the country's finest accordion talent. The competition venues were the San Vigilio Middle School on Strada Plan de Corones and the village Pavilion, both easily accessible on foot from the town center.

Free evening concerts

In addition to the competition rounds, the program featured free evening concerts and events on June 4, 5, and 6 at the San Vigilio Pavilion, open to all enthusiasts and the local community. The event concluded on Saturday, June 6, with the solemn awards ceremony, an emotional highlight that crowned the new champions; the final competition rounds took place on the morning of Sunday, June 7.

Marebbe, between Ladin tradition and folk music

Located in the Plan de Corones area of Val Badia, the Municipality of Marebbe is one of the Ladin localities of South Tyrol, where the Ladin language and culture coexist with Alpine musical traditions. Hosting the Accordion World Championships was an extraordinary event for the village: the accordion and the diatonic button accordion are instruments deeply rooted in the folk music of the Alpine arc, from Tyrol to the Dolomites.

An extraordinary return

The Accordion World Championships are a biennial traveling event: the return to South Tyrol after nearly twenty years of absence made the 2026 edition in San Vigilio a highly anticipated appointment for both musicians and the public. Admission to all competition rounds and concerts was free and open to everyone.