List of classical music festivals

The following is an incomplete list of classical music festivals – music festivals focused on classical music. Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music (both liturgical and secular), and has long been played at festival-like settings. It encompasses a broad span of time from roughly the 11th century to the present day. The major time divisions of classical music are as follows: the early music period, which includes the Medieval (500–1400) and the Renaissance (1400–1600) era, played at early music festivals; the common practice period, which includes the Baroque (1600–1750), Classical (1750–1830), and Romantic eras (1804–1910), which included opera festivals and choral festivals; and the 20th century (1901–2000) which includes the modern (1890–1930) that overlaps from the late 19th-century, the high modern (mid 20th-century), and contemporary classical music festivals or postmodern (1975–2000) eras, the last of which overlaps into the 21st-century. The term "classical music" did not appear until the early 19th century, in an attempt to distinctly canonize the period from Johann Sebastian Bach to Beethoven as a golden age.

Related lists, categories, and media

List Category Media
List of classical music festivals Classical music festivals
Classical music festivals by country
Classical music festivals
Classical music festivals by country
List of music festivals Music festivals Music festivals
List of early music festivals Early music festivals Early music festivals
List of chamber music festivals Chamber music festivals Chamber music festivals
List of choral festivals Choral festivals Choral festivals
List of Indian classical music festivals Indian classical music festivals
List of opera festivals Opera festivals Opera festivals
List of Bach festivals Bach festivals Bach festivals
List of Christian music festivals Christian music festivals Christian music festivals
Contemporary classical festivals Contemporary classical festivals
List of experimental music festivals Experimental music festivals Experimental music festivals
Electroacoustic festivals Electroacoustic festivals

Festivals

Africa

Festival name Location Years Notes
Festival international de musique symphonique d'El Jem Tunisia; El Djem 1985–present Held every summer
Greyton Genadendal Classics for All South Africa 2003–present Held third weekend in May each year
Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival South Africa 2003–present Held in July each year
Nosy Be Symphonies – Festival de Musique Classique de l'Océan Indien Madagascar 2014–present Held end of August each year
Klein Karoo Klassique South Africa 2009–present Held beginning of August each year

Asia

Festival name Location Years Notes
Kuthiramalika Festival India; Thiruvananthapuram ?–present At shrine built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha India; Chennai 1986–present Encouraging young talents
Parampara Series – Andhri India; Hyderabad 1997–present Asian classical music
Swathi Sangeethotsavam India; Trivandrum 2000–present Asian classical music
The Hindu Friday Review Music Festival India; Chennai 2005–present Asian classical music
All Pakistan Music Conference Pakistan; Lahore 1959–present Qawaali, classical, pop, rock, hamd, ghazel
Israel Festival Israel; Jerusalem 1961–present Arts festival with classical focus
Istanbul International Music Festival Turkey; Istanbul 1973–present Classical music, ballet, opera, traditional music
Mersin International Music Festival Turkey; Mersin 2002–present Classical, jazz, pop
Gümüşlük International Classical Music Festival Turkey; Gümüşlük 2004–present And Eklisia summer school
Tokyo Summer Festival Japan; Tokyo 1985–present Mixed genres
Pacific Music Festival Japan; Sapporo 1990–present Performers from major orchestras serve as faculty.
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Japan; Matsumoto 1992–present Held in August and September
Beijing Music Festival China; Beijing 1998–present Founded by the Chinese government
Great Wall International Music Academy China; Beijing 2005–present Month-long classical music institute
Tongyeong International Music Festival South Korea; Tongyeong 2002–present Large event with multiple genres
Isang Yun Competition South Korea; Tongyeong 2003–present Classical competition
Daegu International Opera Festival South Korea; Daegu 2003–present Multiple features beyond main opera
Music in PyeongChang South Korea; PyeongChang 2004–present Chamber music festival
Beigang International Music Festival Taiwan; Beigang 2006–present Beigang Philharmonic Association
Bengal Classical Music Festival Bangladesh; Dhaka 2012–present South Asian classical music

Europe

Festival name Location Years Notes
Nordic Music Days (several) 1888–present Held in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway
Grafenegg Festival Austria 2007–present
KlangBogen Wien Austria 1995–2006
Salzburg Festival Austria 1920–present
Salzburg Easter Festival Austria 1967–present
Styriarte Austria 1985–present International festival, held in Graz and Styria
Vienna Spring Festival Austria 1992–present
Summa Cum Laude Festival Austria 2007–present
Gabala International Music Festival Azerbaijan 2009–present
Mstislav Rostropovich Baku International Festival Azerbaijan 2007–present
Uzeyir Hajibeyov International Music Festival Azerbaijan 2009–present
XXIV International Society for Contemporary Music Festival Belgium 1950
Bachfestival Antwerpen Belgium 2021-present
Laus Polyphoniae Belgium 1994-present
International Chamber Music Festival Plovdiv Bulgaria 1964–present
March Music Days Bulgaria –present
Music Biennale Zagreb Croatia 1961–present
The International Music Festival of F. L. Vek Czech Republic –present
Janáček Music Festival Czech Republic 1976–present
Prague Autumn International Music Festival Czech Republic 1991–2008
Prague Spring International Music Festival Czech Republic 1946–present
Aldeburgh Festival England
Bampton Classical Opera England
Bath International Music Festival England
Birmingham Triennial Music Festival England 1784–1912
Brighton Early Music Festival England
Dartington International Summer School England
English Music Festival England
Harrogate International Festivals England
Hastings Musical Festival England
Henley Festival England
Hoffnung Music Festival England
Investec International Music Festival England 2010–present
Leeds Festival England
Leeds Lieder England
Oundle International Festival England
Oxford International Piano Festival England
Oxford Lieder Festival England
Prom on The Close England
The Proms England 1895–
Southern Cathedrals Festival England 1904–
Spitalfields Music England
St Albans International Organ Festival England
Swaledale Festival England
Three Choirs Festival England 1719–
Tilford Bach Festival England
Two Moors Festival England
York Early Music Festival England
Aix-en-Provence Festival France 1948–present
Besançon International Music Festival France 1948–present
Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges France 2018-present Held in Guadeloupe
Festival des Nuits Romantiques France
Forest Festival France
La Folle Journée France
Musica France
Musique-Cordiale France 2005-present
Opéra de Baugé France
Strasbourg Music Festival France
Bachfest Leipzig Germany 1904–present Early Bach festival
Bachwoche Ansbach Germany 1947–present Bonn
Bayreuth Festival Germany 1876–present Wagner opera festival
Bayreuther Osterfestival Germany 1994–present Easter festival
Beethovenfest Germany 1845–present Beethoven festival
Braunschweig Classix Festival Germany 1988–present
Dresden Music Festival Germany 1978–present
Göttingen International Handel Festival Germany 1919–present Devoted to Handel
Heidelberger Frühling Germany 1997-present International festival
InterHarmony International Music Festival Germany 1997–present International festival
Internationale Maifestspiele Wiesbaden Germany 1896–present International theatre festival
Kissinger Sommer Germany 1986–present
Klavier-Festival Ruhr Germany 1988–present Piano festival; classical music and jazz; lasts more than three months
Lower Rhenish Music Festival Germany 1818–1958 Early classical festival held on Pentecost
Magdeburger Telemann-Festtage Germany 1962–present Devoted to the works of Telemann
Rheingau Musik Festival Germany 1987–present Concerts take place at a culturally important location.
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Germany 1986–present Summer festival
Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker Germany 1946–present Summer chamber music festival
Ardee Baroque Festival Ireland –present
Cork International Choral Festival Ireland –present
Lismore Opera Festival Ireland –present
New Ross Piano Festival Ireland –present
Wexford Festival Opera Ireland 1951–present
West Cork Chamber Music Festival Ireland 1995–present Bantry
Settimane Musicali al Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza Italy 1992-present
CIMA Festival Italy –present
Bologna Festival Italy 1982 –present
InterHarmony International Music Festival Italy –present
Riga Jurmala Music Festival Latvia 2019-present
Bergen International Festival Norway –present
Chopin Festival Poland –present
Chopin and his Europe Poland 2005–present
Oeiras International Piano Festival Portugal 2018 -present Piano summer festival
Cistermúsica Portugal 1993–present In Alcobaça
Organ Festival of Braga Portugal Braga 2014–present
EUROPAfest Romania –present
George Enescu Festival Romania –present
Festival Vara Magica Romania 2011–present
Radiro - International Radio Orchestras Festival Romania –present
Toamna Muzicală Clujeană Romania 1965–present
Edinburgh International Festival Scotland 1947–present
Belgrade Music Festival Serbia 1969–present
Košice Music Spring Festival Slovakia 1956–present
Festival Castell de Peralada Spain 1987–present
Festival de Música de Segovia Spain 1978–present
Festival de Música Española de Cádiz Spain 2003–present Devoted to Spanish music
Festival de Música Antigua de Aranjuez Spain 1993–present Devoted to early music
Festival de Música Antigua de Gijón Spain 1998–present Devoted to early music
Festival de Música Antigua de Sevilla Spain 1983–present Devoted to early music
Festival de Música Antigua de Úbeda y Baeza Spain 1997–present Devoted to early music
Festival de Música Renacentista y Barroca de Vélez Blanco Spain 2001–present Devoted to early music
Festival de Pollença Spain 1962–present
Festival de Torroella de Montgrí Spain 1982–present
Festival En el Camino de Santiago Spain 1992–present
Festival Ibérico de Música de Badajoz Spain 1984–present
Festival Internacional de Música de Canarias Spain 1985–present
Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada Spain 1952–present
Festival Internacional de Santander Spain 1952–present
Festival Otoño Musical Soriano Spain 1992–present
Musika-Música Spain 2000–present
Quincena Musical de San Sebastián Spain 1939–present
Semana de Música Religiosa de Cuenca Spain 1962–present Devoted to sacred music
Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy Switzerland 1957–present
Lucerne Festival Switzerland 1938–present
Festival Musikdorf Ernen Switzerland 1974–present
Nox Illuminata Switzerland 2004–present
Verbier Festival Switzerland 1956–present
Festival Oude Muziek Netherlands 1982–present
Holland Festival Netherlands 1947–present
Gümüşlük International Classical Music Festival Turkey –present
Istanbul International Music Festival Turkey –present
Mersin International Music Festival Turkey –present
Kyiv Music Fest Ukraine –present
LvivMozArt Ukraine 2017-present
North Wales International Music Festival Wales 1972–present

North America

Festival name Location Years Notes
Brott Music Festival Canada 1988–present Multiple genres
Bach Music Festival of Canada Canada 2011–present Bach festival
Domaine Forget Canada –present
Festival 500 Canada –present
Festival of the Sound Canada –present
Kiwanis Music Festival Canada –present
Mondial Choral Canada –present
Montreal Festivals Canada, Montreal –present
Music and Beyond Canada –present
New Brunswick Summer Music Festival Canada, New Brunswick –present
Ottawa Chamberfest Canada, Ottawa –present
Quebec City Summer Festival Canada, Quebec –present
Quebec Contemporary Music Society Canada, Quebec –present
Stratford Summer Music Festival Canada –present
Toronto Summer Music Festival Canada, Toronto –present
Tuckamore Festival Canada –present
American Festival for the Arts United States
Annual Avant Garde Festival of New York United States
Aspen Music Festival and School United States
ASME@WAU Music Festival United States, Washington D.C. -present
Bard Music Festival United States
Bellingham Festival of Music United States
Blossom Festival United States
Bowdoin International Music Festival United States
Bravo! Vail United States
Brevard Music Center United States
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival United States
Caramoor Summer Music Festival United States
Carmel Bach Festival United States
Chamber Music Northwest United States
Chestnut Hill Concerts United States
Cincinnati May Festival United States
Colorado MahlerFest United States
Colorado Music Festival United States
Festival Mozaic, San Luis Obispo United States, California 1971–present Multiple genres
Festival Napa Valley United States
Festival of Neglected Romantic Music United States
Festival of New Trumpet Music United States
Fine Arts Summer Academy (FASA) United States
Grand Teton Music Festival United States
Grant Park Music Festival United States
Hot Springs Music Festival United States
Kneisel Hall United States
La Musica United States
Laguna Beach Chamber Music Society United States
Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute United States
Mainly Mozart Festival United States
MasterWorks Festival United States
Mendocino Music Festival United States
Midsummer Mozart Festival United States
Mineral Point Chamber Music Festival United States 2017–present This annual June festival features advanced university-level ensembles
Missouri Chamber Music Festival United States
Mostly Modern Festival United States 2018– The focus of the festival is "mostly modern": music by living composers from around the world, with occasional works from the standard repertoire.
Mostly Mozart Festival United States
Music Academy of the West United States
Music@Menlo United States
Music from Angel Fire United States 1984–present Music from Angel Fire celebrates extraordinary chamber music in the Northern New Mexico communities of Angel Fire, Taos, Raton and Las Vegas.
Music House International United States 1997–present Study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Music in the Mountains United States, Colorado
Music Mountain United States 1930–present June through September annually; devoted to the string quartet and other chamber music; Twilight series of jazz, swing, etc. Education programs, master classes, etc.
National Music Festival United States, Chestertown, Maryland 2010–present First two weeks of June annually
Newport Music Festival United States
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival United States
Northern Lights Music Festival United States 2003–present The Northern Lights Music Festival is a three week classical music performance program and music school which is held each summer on the Minnesota Iron Range.
Ojai Music Festival United States
OK Mozart Festival United States
Olympic Music Festival United States
Omnipresent Music Festival United States 2021–present Omnipresent Music Festival - BIPOC Musicians Festival. This is a music festival that showcases the historical significance of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) professional musicians and composers while entertaining communities and inspiring youth with musical performances that span all genres of music.
Oregon Bach Festival United States
Other Minds Festival United States 1993-present Focus on contemporary classical and experimental music
Park City International Music Festival United States
Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival United States 1997–present Study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Piano Summer United States
Portland Chamber Music Festival United States
Rockport Music United States
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival United States
Sarasota Music Festival United States
Sitka Summer Music Festival United States
Strings Music Festival United States
Worcester Music Festival, Massachusetts United States, Massachusetts –present
West Side Orchestral Concerts United States –present
Vermont Mozart Festival United States, Vermont –present
Tanglewood Music Center United States –present
Classical/Pops Festival Barbados 2014–present Held yearly in December
Casals Festival Puerto Rico

Oceania

Festival name Location Years Notes
Intervarsity Choral Festival Australia 1950–present Choral festival
Melbourne International Arts Festival Australia 1986–present Held for 17 days each October
Canberra International Music Festival Australia 1994–present Held at the end of April annually
G-TARanaki Guitar Festival New Zealand 2008–present Guitar focus

South America

Festival name Location Years Notes
Semana Musical Llao Llao Argentina 1993–present Held yearly in October
Septiembre Musical Argentina 1960–present Arts festival
Ilumina Festival Brazil 2015–present Chamber music festival
Festival Amazonas de Ópera Brazil 1997–present Opera festival
Festival de Música Coral Renascentista Brazil 2017–present Reinassance music festival for 3 days
Natal Luz Brazil 1986–present Classical Christmas concert
Frutillar Musical Weeks Chile 1968–present Between January and February, 10 days
Boyacá International Cultural Festival Colombia 1973–present Cultural and arts festival with classical music
International Festival of Lyric Singing Peru 1996–present International vocalists
International Music Festival Alfredo de Saint Malo Panama 2006–present Platform for musical and cultural exchange

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