Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival

A choral festival at the foot of the Sesto Dolomites

The Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival is one of the most prestigious choral gatherings in the entire European Alpine region. Established in 1998, this non-competitive event takes place every June in the heart of Alta Pusteria (Hochpustertal), the valley stretching along the border between Italy and Austria. The town of Sesto/Sexten, in the Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol), is one of the key venues, hosting performances in churches and village pavilions set against the stunning backdrop of the Sesto Dolomites and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Choirs from all over the world

The festival attracts choirs from dozens of countries; over its twenty-five-year history, it has hosted more than 1,400 choral groups from over 50 nations. Each edition brings together thousands of singers who perform across various locations in 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

The program includes around sixty events, ranging from formal concerts to open-air performances and social gatherings. The repertoires cover a wide array of styles:

• Sacred choral music and polyphonic singing
• Folk and alpine music
• Opera and spiritual music
• Gospel, jazz, and original compositions

Concerts are held in a variety of unique settings: churches and concert halls, as well as lakeside shores, medieval castles, music pavilions, and high-altitude mountain huts. In Sesto, performances primarily animate sacred buildings and town center spaces, offering the public the chance to enjoy choral music in the evocative setting of the Dolomites.

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 format has made the festival a beloved appointment for both choral music enthusiasts and visitors to Alta Pusteria.

Sesto and the Sesto Dolomites

Sesto/Sexten is a renowned resort town at the eastern end of the Puster Valley, serving as a starting point for excursions to the Tre Cime and the Sesto Sundial. Hosting the festival's voices in this natural environment makes for a particularly evocative experience, blending Central European musical tradition with a UNESCO World Heritage alpine landscape.