Barletta Piano Festival
International piano festival in the city of Barletta
About Barletta Piano Festival
The Barletta Piano Festival
The Barletta Piano Festival is the premier piano event in the municipality of Barletta, located in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Puglia. Established in 2007, it has become one of the most authoritative piano festivals in Southern Italy, fostering a dialogue between great masters of the keyboard and the new generation of performers from across the globe.
An international lineup
Each summer, from June to August, the festival offers a rich calendar of piano recitals, chamber music concerts, and evenings dedicated to opera. The stage hosts both established international artists and emerging talents, with a program ranging from the great Romantic repertoire to Bohemian music, and from classical works to contemporary compositions. Concerts typically begin at 9:15 PM.
Festival venues
The heart of the festival is the Hotel La Terrazza hall, which hosts most of the recitals, while the opening concerts and most spectacular events take place in the evocative parade ground of the Swabian Castle of Barletta. The A*Stare event space hosts the prologues featuring young pianists, providing a platform for new talent before the official inauguration.
Training and young talents
Alongside the concert schedule, the festival places great emphasis on education through the Piano Festival Academy, an international masterclass led by artistic director Pasquale Iannone. The course concludes with public masterclasses and final student concerts, offering a chance to discover the piano stars of tomorrow.
Organization
The Barletta Piano Festival is organized by the Amici della Musica «Mauro Giuliani» association, chaired by Francesco Caporale, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Puglia Region, and the Municipality of Barletta. The event is a staple of the Apulian cultural summer and a key reference point for classical music enthusiasts throughout Southern Italy.
Barletta Piano Festival — edition 2026
The 20th edition
The twentieth Barletta Piano Festival runs from June 11 to August 10, 2026. The festival opens with three prologues at the A*Stare event space, featuring young pianists Flavio Domenico Tozzi (June 11), Filippo Alberto Rosso (June 13), and Gabriele Martino Di Cesare (June 16).
Inauguration at the Castle
The official inauguration is set for June 27 in the parade ground of the Swabian Castle, featuring a show inspired by Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" starring Pinuccio, tenor Francesco Zingariello, and the Orchestra di Puglia e Basilicata.
International guests
The program continues with recitals by Frenchman Olivier Gardon (July 3), Czech pianist Jitka Čechová (July 5), and German pianist Uta Weyand (July 7), a four-hand concert by Magdalena Hirsz and Brigitte Meyer (July 22), Russian pianist Natalia Trull (July 25), and Luca Rasca (August 1). From August 3 to 10, the Piano Festival Academy offers its international masterclass, a public masterclass on August 6, and final student concerts (August 8 and 10).
Programme Barletta Piano Festival 2026
- June 11, 13, 16 — Young Talent Prologues (A*Stare): Flavio Domenico Tozzi, Filippo Alberto Rosso, Gabriele Martino Di Cesare
- June 27 — Inauguration at the Swabian Castle: Pinuccio, tenor Francesco Zingariello, Orchestra di Puglia e Basilicata
- July 3 — Olivier Gardon (France)
- July 5 — Jitka Čechová (Czech Republic)
- July 7 — Uta Weyand (Germany)
- July 22 — Magdalena Hirsz and Brigitte Meyer, four-hand concert
- July 25 — Natalia Trull (Russia)
- August 1 — Luca Rasca
- August 3-10 — Piano Festival Academy: masterclass, public masterclass (August 6), student concerts (August 8 and 10)
Highlights Barletta Piano Festival 2026
- Twentieth edition of the festival
- Inauguration in the Swabian Castle parade ground with the Orchestra di Puglia e Basilicata
- International pianists from France, Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia
- Piano Festival Academy with masterclasses and student concerts
Prices Barletta Piano Festival 2026
Practical information — Barletta Piano Festival
Getting there
Barletta is served by the railway station on the Adriatic line (Bologna-Lecce) and the Ferrovie del Nord Barese. By car, it can be reached via the A14 motorway, taking the Canosa-Andria-Barletta exit. The nearest airport is Bari-Palese, about an hour away.
Tickets
Single concert tickets start at 15 euros; special concerts are 20 euros (reduced under 14: 10 euros). A full festival pass is 60 euros, with discounted rates for under 21s (40 euros) and under 14s. For information, call +39 347 6194215.
Tips
Events start at 9:15 PM; we recommend arriving early, especially for concerts at the Swabian Castle. Barletta offers numerous accommodation options in the historic center and along the coast.
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Where does it take place — Barletta Piano Festival
Hotel La Terrazza / Castello Svevo