Program

To kick off the Carinthian Summer 2026, the ensembles will lead into a diverse musical world of Christians from East and West.

Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, together with the Vienna Classical Players under the direction of Martin Kerschbaum, combines the sounds of his Syrian homeland with European music.

For the third time, the Ö1 Klassik-Treffpunkt (Ö1 Classical Music Meeting Point) is making a stop at the Carinthian Summer Festival as part of its summer tour.

Far & near, the motto of this year's festival, becomes a resounding reality in the opening concert with Charles Koechlin's "Persian Hours" (Les Heures Persanes).

A Mass, featuring Mozart's music, is always a celebration. For the Offertory, the Australian-Austrian composer Tamara Friebel composed a commissioned work for the Carinthian Summer Festival.

Led by journalist, Middle East expert and author Gudrun Harrer, the complex connections and current challenges between the Middle East and the Western world will be discussed.

Juergen Maurer and Maria Köstlinger bring to life the extraordinary correspondence between Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan.

Start your day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Tara Meister.

The Kuss Quartet will premiere a work by Johannes Maria Staud, in addition to string quartets by Haydn and Schubert.

Start the day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Tanja Maljartschuk.

Clarinetist Sharon Kam, who thrilled the audience at last year's opening concert, brings musical gems to life together with the Schumann Quartet.

Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations are performed in a captivating arrangement for saxophone, cello and accordion.

Schubert did not compose for the concert hall; his songs were intended for bedrooms, salons, a smaller circle of listeners. A square piano from Schubert's time changes one's perspective.

Georg Friedrich Handel's famous oratorio Messiah, which tells the story of the life of Jesus, promises to be an extraordinary sound event in the city parish church of St. Jakob Villach.

Immerse yourself in the landscape together – listening, breathing, singing.

Immerse yourself in the landscape together – listening, breathing, singing.

On his 80th birthday, which he is celebrating this year, Rudolf Buchbinder is on stage with unbroken passion and unmistakable spirit – especially when it comes to his “musical life partner” Ludwig van Beethoven.

Spaces are filled with music, literature and scientific impulses open up new perspectives, and a puzzle rally invites participation.

Start the day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Nava Ebrahimi.

The city is full of stories. Those who move through it discover traces, voices, and moods that often remain hidden in everyday life.

Discovering the world of music together – primary school children can do this for the third time in the Children's Music Lab of the Carinthian Summer Festival.

The city is full of stories. Those who move through it discover traces, voices, and moods that often remain hidden in everyday life.

Start the day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Ljuba Arnautović.

Little Sigmund the bird tumbled out of his nest – whoosh, boom! Since then, those have been his favorite words. The poetic story by Heinz Janisch inspired composer Elisabeth Naske to create a musical theatre piece for children.

Little Sigmund the bird tumbled out of his nest – whoosh, boom! Since then, those have been his favorite words. The poetic story by Heinz Janisch inspired composer Elisabeth Naske to create a musical theatre piece for children.

The young Russian soprano Julia Lezhneva, together with Giovanni Antonini and his orchestra Il Giardino Armonico, brings Vivaldi's music to life in a new light.

The Frenchmen Paul Changarnier, Nicolas Cousin and Alexandre Esperet span a range from Baroque music to contemporary music with their program for marimbas, vibraphones and other percussion instruments.

In this concert, we will travel together with the RSO Vienna, under the direction of Yi-Chen Lin, through the world of fairy tales and encounter one of the oldest instruments in the world, the Chinese mouth organ Sheng.

The Carinthian Summer transforms Villach into a vibrant soundscape. Music, literature, and city walks unfold between squares and alleyways, indoors, in shop windows, and under the open sky.

The award-winning stairwell orchestra from Hanover brings a fresh energy to the concert scene – dancing is encouraged!

American pianist Claire Huangci presents a sparkling and lively program.

Inspired by Ingeborg Bachmann, Jennifer Davison and Bea Robin invite you to a workshop on the shores of Lake Ossiach, where the focus is on shared experiences.

To mark the 100th anniversary of Ingeborg Bachmann's birth, Birgit Minichmayr approaches the great Carinthian poet with sensitivity and intensity. She is accompanied by Helene Glüxam, who creates a unique soundscape on stage with double bass and voice.

Start your day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Ana Marwan.

Start the day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Vladimir Vertlib.

Hilary Hahn interprets what is arguably Mozart's most beautiful violin concerto, building a musical bridge between cultures. In the world premiere of Aziza Sadikova's Double Concerto for Violin and Accordion, conductor Omer Meir Wellber himself takes up the solo instrument.

In musical dialogue with the percussion section, one can experience the organ anew – directly, powerfully and surprisingly differently. 

An atmospheric summer evening filled with humor and literary vision.

Aeolian wind objects that rest upside down or float lightly in the air, sound installations full of unknown colors and a subtle balance between nature and man characterize the hikes with the duo Siedl/Cao.

West African songwriter Senny Camara will be performing with her band in Carinthia for the first time.

The ancient tale of Siavash from the Book of Kings, the oldest Persian epic collection, is brought into the present day.

Start your day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Omar Khir Alanam.

A fascinating journey through the world of the mandolin, from Baroque music to modern chansons and jazz, all the way to world music.

Start your day together with music and literature. Featuring a new text by Susanne Gregor.

A journey through time, sound, and longing.

A summit meeting of FESTIVALARTISTS to celebrate Wolfgang Puschnig's 70th birthday.

Four soloists from the Vienna Philharmonic and a brilliant pianist unite to form an ensemble that travels through music history with wit, elegance and palpable passion.

A matinee with the great European writer Robert Menasse as the prelude to a special day of music and literature in and around Ossiach Abbey.

With boundless joy in playing, breathtaking virtuosity, and delicate poetic sensitivity, Adela Liculescu takes her listeners on a journey through the cosmos of Liszt's keyboard magic. She is accompanied by the recitations of Paul Sonderegger.

The Carinthian Summer Festival concludes with two of the great classics of music history.