Culture is one of the most important instruments for the valorization of territories, the promotion of knowledge, and the bringing together of people and communities. It is in this spirit that Bragança welcomes the 6th edition of Bragança ClassicFest, a project that has established itself as a landmark on the classical music stage in Portugal and contributes decisively to the cultural projection of our city. The Festival brings together artists, ensembles, and orchestras of recognized international prestige, reinforcing the link between artistic excellence, heritage, and the territory's identity.
The 2026 edition represents another step forward in the consolidation of this event, expanding its international scope through cultural cooperation with Zamora and cementing Bragança's presence in Iberian and European cultural circuits. At the same time, the creation of Bragança ClassicLab opens new perspectives for training, artistic creation, research, and cultural mediation, broadening the reach and legacy of the Festival.
The Municipality of Bragança is proud to support an initiative that promotes access to culture, encourages the development of new audiences, and contributes to establishing Bragança as a cultural destination of excellence. Throughout these weeks, music will be a catalyst for encounter, sharing, and inspiration, enriching the cultural life of our community and of all those who visit us.
To all the artists, partners, organizers, and audience members, I extend a word of recognition and gratitude for being part of this celebration of art, creativity, and dialogue between cultures.
Following five editions marked by artistic excellence and growing recognition, the Bragança ClassicFest – International Music Festival returns in 2026.
Understanding Culture as a transformative force capable of inspiring new perspectives, bringing people together, and contributing to more participatory and conscious communities, Bragança ClassicFest projects itself toward new international horizons and deepens its educational mission, promoting discovery, enjoyment, learning, and sharing. Every moment aims to awaken curiosity, democratize and enrich the cultural experience, and contribute to the training and loyalty of audiences.
Under the Artistic Direction of Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro, the program is an invitation to encounter and celebrate the richness of musical heritage. Works spanning centuries come to life, revealing their timeless relevance and their unique ability to move, inspire, and connect people. The presence of soloists, ensembles, and orchestras of recognized national and international merit reflects the artistic standard that has characterized the festival since its inception.
The program is enriched by the Bragança ClassicLab, dedicated to creation, training, and cultural mediation — through artistic residencies, masterclasses, open rehearsals, educational initiatives, and interdisciplinary projects —, providing meaningful, shared cultural experiences.
Bragança ClassicFest involves institutions and partners who recognize Culture as a major purpose. The Teatro Municipal de Bragança expresses its deepest recognition and gratitude to all who contribute to making this celebration possible, extending a very special thank you to His Excellency the President of the Republic for the honor of renewing the High Patronage.
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.
