Introduction
Bragança ClassicFest 2026
6th edition
In its 6th edition, the Bragança ClassicFest reinforces its position as one of the most prominent classical music festivals in Portugal, presenting a program of international excellence that brings together some of the most prestigious European performers, ensembles, and orchestras, establishing itself as a privileged space for the encounter between heritage and artistic creation.
The 2026 edition marks a new stage in the history of the Festival, expanding its international scope through a cross-border partnership with Zamora, where a presentation concert of the program will take place at the Teatro Principal, featuring works by Haydn and Mozart performed by a quintet from the Juventus Ensemble composed of young talents with prominent rising careers, of Portuguese, Greek, and Spanish nationalities, thereby deepening cultural cooperation between Portugal and Spain and establishing Bragança ClassicFest within an increasingly broader artistic context.
Following the launch and program presentation concerts, Bragança ClassicFest opens at the Teatro Municipal de Bragança, the alma mater of the Festival, with the Portuguese debut of the excellent orchestra Virtuosi del Teatro alla Scala from Milan, led by the Austro-Bulgarian violinist Mario Hossen, in two programs dedicated to Italian virtuosity, celebrating Vivaldi and Paganini. On International Music Day, the Portuguese early music ensemble O Bando de Surunyo guides the audience on a journey through the splendor of the Music and Poetry of the Iberian Golden Age, while one of the most anticipated highlights of the program will bring together the comedienne Maria Rueff and the DSCH – Schostakovich Ensemble, comprising a constellation of internationally renowned musicians, in a new version of The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns, where music, humor, and theater meet in a show designed for audiences of all generations.
The program also includes an open-air concert by the brass quintet 100 Caminhos, a piano recital entirely dedicated to the extraordinary work of Franz Liszt, and a Closing Concert celebrating the rich musical legacy of Hungary by the acclaimed Budapest Chamber Orchestra, which, with over 200 recorded CDs, has been in the international musical elite for more than six decades.
2026 also marks the birth of Bragança ClassicLab, a new platform for artistic creation, training, research, and cultural mediation that will extend the Festival's activity throughout the year. Artistic residencies, masterclasses, open rehearsals, educational projects, and interdisciplinary intersections form the pillars of this new initiative, whose first edition will take place in December and culminate with the performance A Christmas Concert, bringing together internationally renowned musicians around the music of Schubert and Dvořák and Charles Dickens' timeless work A Christmas Carol.
More than a festival, the Bragança ClassicFest thus establishes itself as a cultural project with a European vocation that promotes artistic excellence, the development of new audiences, the valorization of heritage, and dialogue between different cultures. By reinforcing its presence on the national and international music stage, the ClassicFest consolidates its position as a privileged meeting point for great artists, young talents, and increasingly broader and more diverse audiences.
My sincere gratitude goes to the Municipality of Bragança, the Teatro Municipal de Bragança, and the DSCH Associação Musical, promoters and organizers of the Festival, as well as to our patron BPI / "la Caixa" Foundation, the Directorate-General for the Arts, RTP Antena 2, and, especially, to His Excellency the President of the Republic, for the High Patronage granted. I would also like to thank all the artists and collaborators who, with dedication and enthusiasm, contribute to making Bragança ClassicFest a landmark cultural initiative.
A very warm welcome to the 6th edition of Bragança ClassicFest – a Festival that celebrates music, heritage, creativity, excellence, and the meeting of cultures, establishing Bragança, more and more, as a prominent stage in international musical life.
