Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival
The major international choral event at the foot of the Dolomites
About Alta Pusteria Choir Festival
A choral festival unique in the world
The Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival is one of Europe's most important international choral events. Established in 1998, it has hosted over 1,400 choirs from 52 different countries across more than twenty-five editions. This is not a competition; it is a grand celebration of the voice, where every choir takes the stage to share its music without rankings or juries. The heart of the event beats in Dobbiaco/Toblach, in the Province of Bolzano, but concerts spread throughout the Alta Pusteria region and neighboring valleys.
The extraordinary variety of venues
What makes this festival unrepeatable is the scenery: concerts are held in over forty different venues, distributed among the municipalities of the Tre Cime/3 Zinnen holiday area and the Plan de Corones region. Performances take place in the music pavilion in the center of Dobbiaco, the Gustav Mahler Hall of the Euregio Cultural Center, parish churches, panoramic viewpoints, parks, and even high-altitude mountain huts. Participating locations include San Candido, Sesto, Villabassa, Braies, the Casies Valley, Monguelfo, Tesido, Rasun, Anterselva, Valdaora, and Brunico, as well as Sillian in Austria: a tapestry of landscapes that accompanies choral music through the South Tyrolean Dolomites.
Five days of music
The program consists of approximately sixty appointments divided into three formats: formal concerts in halls and churches, Open Air Reviews (outdoor performances in squares and parks), and Meeting Days, where choirs gather to interact. The repertoire ranges from opera to spirituals, gospel to jazz, and sacred music. Iconic moments of the week include the opening concert in Dobbiaco, the choir parade in the center of San Candido, and the closing ceremony in Sesto.
Between Italy and Austria
The festival takes place in one of the most evocative areas of the entire Alpine range, on the border between Italy and Austria, involving both the Pusteria Valley in South Tyrol (Trentino-Alto Adige) and the Austrian East Tyrol. The combination of musical quality, international scope, and the natural setting of the Dolomites — a UNESCO World Heritage site — has made this June event a highly anticipated stop for thousands of singers and choral music enthusiasts.
Alta Pusteria Choir Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition — The 29th
The twenty-ninth edition of the Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival enlivened the valley from June 10th to 14th, 2026. As per tradition, the festival brought together about one hundred Italian and foreign choirs in a non-competitive event featuring sixty appointments, including concerts, Open Air Reviews, and meeting days. The detailed program, with times, venues, and choirs for each performance, was published at the beginning of June on the official website.
The week opened in Dobbiaco/Toblach with the inaugural concert in the Gustav Mahler Hall of the Euregio Cultural Center, continuing through the numerous venues of Alta Pusteria — from churches to mountain huts, squares to lakes — culminating in the choir parade in San Candido and the closing ceremony in Sesto.
Programme Alta Pusteria Choir Festival 2026
Weekly structure
The festival consisted of approximately 60 appointments over five days, divided into concerts, Open Air Reviews (outdoor performances), and Meeting Days (choir gatherings). The recurring schedule included:
- Wednesday, June 10th — Inaugural concert in Dobbiaco, Gustav Mahler Hall of the Euregio Cultural Center.
- Thursday–Saturday — Morning and afternoon concerts, outdoor reviews in squares and parks, performances in mountain huts, and concert-hikes (including Lake Braies) in the Tre Cime/3 Zinnen area.
- Saturday — Choir parade in the center of San Candido.
- Sunday, June 14th — Closing ceremony in Sesto with the presentation of certificates to participating choirs.
The repertoire ranged from opera to spirituals, gospel to jazz, and sacred music. The complete list of choirs and schedules by venue were released on the official website festivalpusteria.org.
Highlights Alta Pusteria Choir Festival 2026
Prices Alta Pusteria Choir Festival 2026
Practical information — Alta Pusteria Choir Festival
Getting there
Dobbiaco/Toblach is located in Alta Pusteria, in the Province of Bolzano. By train, Dobbiaco station is served by the Pusteria Valley line (Fortezza–San Candido); by car, it can be reached via the SS49 Pusteria road. The nearest airports are Bolzano, Innsbruck, and Venice.
Admission and program
Many of the open-air reviews and events are held in public spaces and are free to attend. The detailed program, including times, locations, and the choirs for each performance, is published every year at the beginning of June on the official website festivalpusteria.org, along with the complete list of participating choirs.
Accommodation
Alta Pusteria offers a wide range of hotel accommodations in Dobbiaco, San Candido, Sesto, and Villabassa. Early booking is recommended during the high season.
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Where does it take place — Alta Pusteria Choir Festival
Centro Culturale Euregio Gustav Mahler