Bolzano Festival Bozen
Bolzano's premier international classical music festival, featuring legendary pianists and Europe's finest youth orchestras.
About Bolzano Festival Bozen
A month of world-class music in the heart of South Tyrol
The Bolzano Festival Bozen is the premier classical music event in the South Tyrolean capital and one of the most authoritative festivals in the entire Alpine region. Organized by the Busoni-Mahler Foundation in collaboration with the Teatro Comunale and Auditorium Foundation, the festival transforms the city of Bolzano—in the autonomous province of Bolzano/Bozen and the Trentino-Alto Adige region—into a vibrant sound laboratory for over a month. Music fills theaters, churches, historic courtyards, and urban spaces, inviting residents and visitors alike to enjoy an immersive experience. Bolzano is officially recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City of Music, and this festival stands as its most significant cultural expression.
The soul of the festival
The Bolzano Festival Bozen is not a single program, but a tapestry of different sections that coexist throughout the month:
- Busoni Piano Festival: The pianistic heart of the event, linked to the prestigious Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition, featuring recitals by some of the greatest keyboard interpreters of our time.
- European Youth Orchestras: The "music and youth" theme unites the symphonic concerts of the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, two of Europe's most celebrated youth ensembles.
- Antiqua: A section dedicated to early, Renaissance, and Baroque music, with ensembles and period instruments hosted in the city's historic churches and palaces.
- Mahler Academy: A high-level orchestral training academy featuring the "originalklang" project, dedicated to performance on period instruments.
A festival open to the city
Alongside major ticketed concerts, the Bolzano Festival Bozen maintains a strong inclusive spirit. Numerous initiatives are free of charge, ranging from concerts in the courtyards of the Monteverdi Conservatory to activities for children and families, as well as workshops with young musicians from the European orchestras. The opening concert, traditionally held outdoors at Parco delle Semirurali, is a major popular event that marks the start of the festival.
Venues
The festival unfolds in some of Bolzano's most evocative locations: the Teatro Comunale in Piazza Verdi, the Claudio Monteverdi Conservatory, the Mercantile Palace, Maretsch Castle, the historic churches of the city center, and Parco delle Semirurali. It is an itinerary that allows you to discover, note by note, the bilingual and Central European soul of the South Tyrolean capital.
Bolzano Festival Bozen — edition 2026
Bolzano Festival Bozen 2026 — 22nd Edition
The twenty-second edition of the Bolzano Festival Bozen takes place from August 4th to September 4th, 2026. The inaugural concert on Tuesday, August 4th, at Parco delle Semirurali, features the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento conducted by Alessandro Bonato, with pianist Mariangela Vacatello, performing music by Verdi, Rossini, and Rachmaninov.
Great pianists
The Busoni Piano Festival brings some of the greatest piano interpreters to Bolzano: Grigory Sokolov, Arcadi Volodos, Martha Argerich in a duo with Lilya Zilberstein, and Igor Levit, joined by emerging young talents from the international scene.
Youth orchestras
- European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO): August 7th with Brahms' Violin Concerto (soloist María Dueñas, conductor Elim Chan) and August 13th with Dvořák's Cello Concerto (soloist Julia Hagen, conductor Gustavo Gimeno).
- Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester: August 19th–21st with works by Mahler, Bartók, and Bruckner, under the direction of Philippe Jordan.
Antiqua and Mahler Academy
The Antiqua section features ensembles and period instruments in the city's churches and palaces, while the Mahler Academy presents the "originalklang" project, performing Mahler's Fourth Symphony on period instruments.
Free events
Among the many free-entry initiatives are the music sessions in the courtyards of the Monteverdi Conservatory (August 24th, 31st, and September 3rd), chamber concerts, and activities for children and families.
Programme Bolzano Festival Bozen 2026
Highlights of the 2026 edition
- August 4th — Opening concert at Parco delle Semirurali: Haydn Orchestra, cond. Alessandro Bonato, piano Mariangela Vacatello (Verdi, Rossini, Rachmaninov).
- August 7th — European Union Youth Orchestra: Brahms Violin Concerto, María Dueñas violin, cond. Elim Chan.
- August 13th — European Union Youth Orchestra: Dvořák Cello Concerto, Julia Hagen cello, cond. Gustavo Gimeno.
- August 19th–21st — Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, cond. Philippe Jordan (Mahler, Bartók, Bruckner).
- Busoni Piano Festival recitals: Grigory Sokolov, Arcadi Volodos, Martha Argerich and Lilya Zilberstein, Igor Levit.
- Antiqua early music section and Mahler Academy "originalklang" project.
Highlights Bolzano Festival Bozen 2026
Prices Bolzano Festival Bozen 2026
Practical information — Bolzano Festival Bozen
Getting there
Bolzano is easily accessible by train (Bolzano station on the Brenner line, with direct connections to Verona, Trento, Innsbruck, and Munich) and by car via the A22 Brenner motorway, taking the Bolzano Sud or Bolzano Nord exits. The nearest airports are Verona, Innsbruck, and Venice.
Tickets
Tickets for paid concerts are available at the Teatro Comunale box office (Piazza Verdi 40) and online at www.ticket.bz.it. Numerous events, including the opening concert and music in the courtyards, are free to attend.
Contact
Fondazione Busoni-Mahler, Via dei Portici 19A, 39100 Bolzano. Tel. +39 0471 976568, e-mail [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Bolzano Festival Bozen
Teatro Comunale di Bolzano
Piazza Verdi 40, 39100 Bolzano/Bozen