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, 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 and the Renaissance era, played at early music festivals; the common practice period, which includes the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras, which included opera festivals and choral festivals; and the 20th century which includes the modern that overlaps from the late 19th-century, the high modern, and contemporary classical music festivals or postmodern 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 |
:Category:Classical music festivals|Classical music festivals :Category:Classical music festivals by country|Classical music festivals by country | | |
List of music festivals | :Category:Music festivals|Music festivals | |
List of early music festivals | :Category:Early music festivals|Early music festivals | |
List of chamber music festivals | :Category:Chamber music festivals|Chamber music festivals | |
List of choral festivals | :Category:Choral festivals|Choral festivals | |
List of Indian classical music festivals | ||
List of opera festivals | :Category:Opera festivals|Opera festivals | |
List of Bach festivals | :Category:Bach festivals|Bach festivals | |
List of Christian music festivals | :Category:Christian music festivals|Christian music festivals | |
:Category:Contemporary classical music festivals|Contemporary classical festivals | ||
List of experimental music festivals | :Category:Experimental music festivals|Experimental music festivals | |
:Category:Electroacoustic music 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 |
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 | 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 | |
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 | ||
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 |
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 | 1990–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 | |
InterHarmony International Music Festival | Italy | –present | |
Bergen International Festival | Norway | –present | |
Chopin Festival | Poland | –present | |
Chopin and his Europe | Poland | 2005–present | |
Cistermúsica | Portugal | 1993–present | In Alcobaça |
Organ Festival of Braga | Portugal Braga | 2014–present | |
EUROPAfest | Romania | –present | |
George Enescu Festival | Romania | –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 Internacional de Santander | Spain | –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 | |
North Wales International Music Festival | Wales | 1972–present |
North America
Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
Brott Music Festival | Canada | 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 | ||
Atlantic Music Festival | United States | ||
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 | 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 | ||
Oregon Bach Festival | United States | ||
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 |
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 |