Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival

A choral festival at the foot of the Dolomites

The Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival is one of the most prestigious choral events in the entire European Alpine region. Founded in 1998, this non-competitive event takes place every June in the heart of the Alta Pusteria (Hochpustertal), the valley stretching at the foot of the Dolomites along the border between Italy and Austria. The Municipality of San Candido/Innichen, in the Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol), is one of the main locations hosting the event: it is here that numerous concerts are held, most notably the famous choir parade that brings color to the town center streets.

Choirs from all over the world

The festival attracts choirs from dozens of countries: over the years, it has hosted more than 1,400 choral groups from over 50 nations, totaling well over a thousand choirs. Each edition brings together thousands of singers who perform in numerous locations throughout the valley, creating a dialogue between diverse musical traditions. It is not a competition, but a grand, festive gathering where each choir is free to present its own repertoire.

Genres and venues in San Candido

The program includes about sixty events, including formal concerts, open-air performances, and social gatherings, spread across forty venues throughout the Alta Pusteria. The proposed repertoires span numerous styles:

• sacred choral music and polyphonic singing
• folk and alpine music
• operatic singing and spiritual music
• gospel, jazz, and original compositions

In San Candido, performances animate the Church of St. Michael, the Josef Resch Haus, the Franciscan Convent, the town's music pavilion, and, at higher altitudes, the Baranci/Haunold mountain hut. The Romanesque collegiate church of Saints Candido and Corbiniano and the village streets provide the backdrop for one of the most anticipated days: the choir parade.

The choir parade

The symbolic moment of the San Candido leg is the choir parade, which winds through the town center on Saturday afternoon: hundreds of singers in traditional dress and costumes from all over the world walk through the streets of Innichen singing, in a colorful and engaging procession that attracts numerous spectators.

A free-admission event

One of the festival's hallmarks is its accessibility: all performances are free of charge. Residents, hikers, and tourists can simply stop and listen, without a ticket, discovering choirs in the squares and churches of the valley. This formula has made the festival a beloved event for both choral music enthusiasts and visitors to the Alta Pusteria.

San Candido and the Dolomites

San Candido/Innichen is one of the most characteristic villages at the eastern end of the Puster Valley, known for its medieval collegiate church and as a gateway to the Sesto Dolomites and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hosting the festival's voices in this natural and historical setting makes the experience particularly evocative, blending Central European musical tradition with the alpine landscape.