International Festival of Sacred Music and Art
World-class orchestras and choirs in the papal basilicas of Rome
About Sacred Music and Art
A festival unique in the world
Since 2002, the International Festival of Sacred Music and Art has been one of the most prestigious events on the cultural calendar of Rome and the Lazio region. Every autumn, for five days, the papal basilicas of the Eternal City and Vatican City are transformed into exceptional concert halls: St. Peter's Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, along with the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius and the Palazzo della Cancelleria, host symphony orchestras, world-renowned choirs, and international soloists.
The Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra
The festival is promoted by the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, based in Rome on Via Paolo VI, just steps from St. Peter's Square. Its motto, «Art saves Art», perfectly encapsulates the initiative's philosophy: the concerts are not only a top-tier musical offering but also a tool to raise funds and public awareness for the restoration and conservation of sacred artistic heritage. Over the years, the Foundation has financed numerous restoration projects within Roman basilicas, returning works and spaces to the city that were at risk of decay.
Internationally renowned performers
The hallmark of the event is the absolute quality of its performers. The Vienna Philharmonic are historic guests of the festival and regularly return to perform in St. Peter's Basilica, often under the baton of world-class conductors. Alongside them, famous choirs and ensembles have performed over the years, such as the Regensburger Domspatzen, The Tallis Scholars, the Moscow Synodal Choir, the Orchestra and Choir of the Arena di Verona Foundation, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, and numerous early music ensembles. In total, each edition brings together over six hundred musicians from all over the world.
A repertoire spanning the centuries
The program ranges from the Renaissance polyphony of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina to the Baroque works of Monteverdi, Vivaldi, and Bach, through to the great sacred masterpieces of Mozart, Rossini, Mendelssohn, and Perosi, without forgetting Orthodox choral traditions and contemporary sacred music. Each edition is dedicated to a theme or anniversary: the 500th anniversary of Palestrina's birth in 2025, world peace, the 400th anniversary of the Dedication of St. Peter's Basilica, and the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi in 2026.
Music and liturgy
The festival is not just a concert series: alongside evening performances, there are solemn masses and moments of spiritual elevation, where music returns to its original function within the liturgy. The event traditionally concludes with the General Audience of the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square, reserved for the festival's musicians and supporters: a finale that gives the Roman week a truly unique character.
Why visit Rome in November
Attending a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic under Michelangelo's dome, or hearing Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin in the nave of St. Mary Major, is an experience that is hard to replicate anywhere else. The acoustics and solemnity of these venues add a dimension to the music that no concert hall can offer. All this, almost always with free admission subject to availability: a choice consistent with the Foundation's educational mission, making a musical heritage otherwise reserved for the few accessible to everyone. Furthermore, November is an ideal month to visit the capital: less crowded, with soft light and more affordable prices compared to the high season.
Sacred Music and Art — edition 2026
A 25th-anniversary edition
The 25th edition of the International Festival of Sacred Music and Art takes place in Rome and Vatican City from November 21 to 25, 2026. The central theme is world peace, intertwined with two significant anniversaries: the 400th anniversary of the Dedication of St. Peter's Basilica and the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
The week opens on Saturday, November 21, in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican with the Coronation Mass and the Ave Verum Corpus by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic and the Siena Cathedral Choir under the direction of Riccardo Muti. In the following days, the festival moves through the other great Roman venues: St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
As per tradition, the event concludes on Wednesday, November 25, with the General Audience of the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square. Admission to the concerts is free subject to availability, upon reservation of a voucher on the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra website.
Programme Sacred Music and Art 2026
Saturday, November 21 — Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican
- Coronation Mass and Ave Verum Corpus by W. A. Mozart
- Vienna Philharmonic and Siena Cathedral Choir, conductor Riccardo Muti
Sunday, November 22 — Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
- Celebrations and masses in honor of Pope Leo
- Requiem Mass by Lorenzo Perosi
Monday, November 23 — Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major
- Vespers of the Blessed Virgin by Claudio Monteverdi
Tuesday, November 24 — Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius
- Spiritual elevation for the 270th anniversary of Mozart's birth
Wednesday, November 25 — St. Peter's Square
- General Audience of the Holy Father
Announced ensembles also include the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir and numerous international soloists. The full program, with times and details of individual events, is published on the Foundation's official website in the weeks leading up to the festival.
Highlights Sacred Music and Art 2026
- The Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Riccardo Muti in St. Peter's Basilica, with Mozart's Coronation Mass
- Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin in the nave of St. Mary Major
- Lorenzo Perosi's Requiem Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls
- Over 600 musicians from all over the world
- The General Audience of the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square as the closing act
- An edition dedicated to world peace, the 400 years of the Dedication of St. Peter's, and the 800 years since the death of St. Francis
Prices Sacred Music and Art 2026
Practical information — Sacred Music and Art
Getting there
Rome is served by Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, connected to the city center by trains and shuttles. By train, Roma Termini station is the main high-speed rail hub. The festival venues are accessible by metro: Line A, Ottaviano stop for St. Peter's; Line B, Basilica San Paolo stop for St. Paul Outside the Walls; Line A, Vittorio Emanuele or Termini stops for St. Mary Major; Line A, San Giovanni stop for the Lateran Basilica. The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Palazzo della Cancelleria are located in the historic center and are easily reachable on foot.
Tickets and reservations
Admission to the concerts is generally free subject to availability, upon reservation of an entry voucher via the forms published on the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra website. Some events sell out well in advance: it is advisable to book as soon as the program is published.
Useful tips
Arrive at least 45-60 minutes early: security checks at the entrances to the papal basilicas can take time. Dress code appropriate for places of worship is required (shoulders and knees must be covered). The basilicas are not heated: in November, it is advisable to dress in layers.
Information
Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, Via Paolo VI 29, Rome — phone +39 06 6869187.
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Where does it take place — Sacred Music and Art
Basiliche papali di Roma e Città del Vaticano
Via Paolo VI 29, 00120 Roma