About
The Colmar International Festival 2026 invites audiences to experience classical music in the heart of Alsace, where historic architecture, intimate venues, and outstanding artistry come together to create one of France’s most elegant musical celebrations. From 5 to 14 July 2026, the city of Colmar becomes a meeting place for internationally acclaimed musicians, rising talents, and passionate listeners, offering a programme filled with emotion, discovery, and unforgettable performances.
Since its creation, the festival has built a reputation for artistic excellence and for bringing together major names of the classical music world with promising young performers. The 2026 edition continues this tradition under the artistic direction of Alain Altinoglu, presenting a programme that combines orchestral concerts, chamber music, piano recitals, and vocal performances.
The festival opens with a grand symphonic evening on 5 July 2026, featuring soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, conductor Alain Altinoglu, and the Orchestre Symphonique de La Monnaie. This opening concert sets the tone for the season: a celebration of powerful voices, refined orchestral colours, and the timeless beauty of the classical repertoire.
A major highlight of the programme is the appearance of the renowned cellist Edgar Moreau, who performs with soprano Sofia Nesje Enger, conductor Alain Altinoglu, and the Orchestre Symphonique de La Monnaie. This concert brings together French musical elegance and Nordic inspiration, creating a rich dialogue between different European traditions.
The 2026 edition also welcomes exceptional instrumentalists including pianist Grigory Sokolov, one of the most admired interpreters of the classical repertoire, whose recital promises an evening of extraordinary musical depth and concentration. Violinist Renaud Capuçon, conductor Christoph Koncz, and pianist Alexandra Dariescu are also among the confirmed artists contributing to the festival’s outstanding artistic landscape.
The programme places special emphasis on musical discovery and the next generation of performers. The Young Talents series introduces emerging artists such as pianist Anastasiya Magamedova, while ensembles including Duo Argos, formed by Julien Beautemps and Sotiris Athanasiou, bring fresh energy and creativity to the festival stage.
Performances unfold throughout a city famous for its colourful streets, historic buildings, and Alsatian character. Each concert becomes a unique encounter — a moment where music, heritage, and human connection meet.
About the Colmar International Festival
As an authentic forum for classical music in all its infinite variety, the Colmar International Festival is remarkable for its enthusiasm, its originality and its absolute insistence on artistic integrity.The hallmark of this Festival, situated in the heart of Alsace and Europe, is its refusal to place music into neat categories or to succumb to routine, and its willingness to diversify and take risks.
Based on a well-defined, coherent idea, the Colmar Festival adheres to demanding standards to attain veritable international renown - attracting musicians and ensembles of the highest level and organizing a well thought-out and well-planned schedule of events
An original concept for a festival unlike any other
The choice of a central theme is a particularly original concept that has ensured the perpetuity of the Festival of Colmar; the annual tribute to a great musician has become its main theme.
This concept enables the festival to approach all repertoires and opens new horizons: tribute to an instrument, a country, a culture, etc.
This unusual approach gives unity and special coherence to the festival's entire musical program.
Thus, since 1989 Colmar has focused on several artists.
The artists who have been honoured by the International Festival of Colmar have not only been exceptional performers, for their absolute devotion to classical music and art, in addition to their humanism and feeling of duty to others, has often led them to a more global commitment.
The Colmar International Festival
As an authentic forum for classical music in all its infinite variety, the Colmar International Festival is, as always, remarkable for its enthusiasm, its originality and its absolute insistence on artistic integrity.The hallmark of this Festival, situated in the heart of Alsace and Europe, is its refusal to place music into neat categories or to succumb to routine, and its willingness to diversify and take risks.
Throw caution to the winds, astonish yourself, yield to curiosity and the pleasure of embarking on a rich and singular musical journey represented by this festival unlike any other. The pleasure and happiness of a shared musical experience await you! Ever striving for overall coherence, the carefully devised programmes focus on the particular theme to which tribute is to be paid, spurning the usual programming philosophy of the summer festival circuit.
The Festival includes symphonic music, choral works and chamber music. Here, masterpieces of the classical repertoire rub shoulders with rare works and first performances, and well-loved favourites are featured alongside pages of adventure, discovery and emotion Thanks to the talent, conviction and warmth of the musicians and their commitment to the concept of tribute, not to mention the enthusiasm and loyalty of the increasingly numerous public, the reputation of the Colmar Festival now stretches beyond the borders of Alsace and France.
Throughout the Festival's existence, artists and audiences have never ceased to believe in the open-minded approach which has helped to create a special, friendly atmosphere mercifully immune from the slightest trace of snobbery.
