Beaune International Baroque and Romantic Opera Festival
Baroque opera in the setting of the Hospices de Beaune since 1983
About Beaune Festival
Over 40 years of baroque opera in Beaune
The Beaune International Baroque and Romantic Opera Festival is a classical music festival founded in 1983 by Anne Blanchard and Kader Hassissi, driven by the desire to rediscover the baroque operatic repertoire with the authenticity of period instruments. In over forty years, it has established itself as one of the most prestigious baroque music festivals in Europe.
The Hospices de Beaune and the Basilique Notre-Dame
The festival takes place in two exceptional locations in the heart of Beaune: the Hospices civils de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu) and the Basilique collégiale Notre-Dame. These historic buildings offer incomparable acoustics and atmosphere for the performance of baroque and romantic music. The courtyard of the Hospices, with its iconic polychrome roof, provides a unique setting for open-air opera performances.
An exceptional repertoire
Since its creation, the festival has programmed over a hundred baroque operas, oratorios, recitals, and symphonic concerts. Works by Handel, Rameau, Vivaldi, Cavalli, Porpora, Jommelli, Destouches, and Marin Marais are regularly performed here by the greatest early music ensembles and the most renowned soloists of the baroque repertoire.
A new chapter with Maximilien Hondermarck
In 2025, Maximilien Hondermarck takes over the direction of the festival, opening a new chapter in its history. The 2025 edition takes place every weekend in July, from Friday to Sunday, renewing the format while remaining true to the artistic excellence for which the festival is renowned.
Beaune Festival — edition 2026
44th edition of the Festival International d'Opéra Baroque et Romantique de Beaune, from July 3 to 26, 2026, spread over four weekends at the Hospices de Beaune, the Basilique Notre-Dame and, for the first time, at the Théâtre de Beaune. Under the theme of « the Beyond », this edition directed by Maximilien Hondermarck notably features Handel's Ariodante by Les Talens Lyriques, Bach's Mass in B minor by Vox Luminis, Rameau's Les Boréades by A nocte temporis, as well as the first staged opera in the festival's history, Gasparini's L'Avare by Le Poème Harmonique.
2026 Edition: « The Beyond »
The 2026 edition of the Festival International d'Opéra Baroque et Romantique de Beaune takes place from July 3 to 26, 2026, over four weekends, at the Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu), the Basilique Notre-Dame and, new for this 44th edition, at the Théâtre de Beaune. Under the direction of Maximilien Hondermarck, the festival unfolds a theme, « the Beyond », conceived as a philosophical thread connecting works, passages between eras and generations.
Masterpieces and Rediscoveries
The program brings together major repertoire pieces and rarities: Handel's Ariodante by Les Talens Lyriques, Bach's Mass in B minor by Vox Luminis, Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno by Le Banquet Céleste, Pergolesi's L'Olimpiade by Orchestra Ghislieri, the Stabat Mater by Le Concert d'Astrée, Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin by Les Traversées Baroques and Rameau's Les Boréades by A nocte temporis.
A First Staged Opera and a Tribute to Dowland
For the first time in 44 years, the festival presents a staged opera: L'Avare by Francesco Gasparini (1720), directed by Vincent Dumestre (Le Poème Harmonique) with stage direction by Théophile Gasselin, at the Théâtre de Beaune. The edition also features the creation of Lorenzani's Nicandro e Fileno by La Palatine, a family show (Donkey Skin) and three intimate concerts in tribute to John Dowland for the 400th anniversary of his death.
Programme Beaune Festival 2026
Weekend 1 — Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5, 2026
- Friday, July 3, 21:00 — Bomba Flamenca, La Tempête · Basilique Notre-Dame
- Saturday, July 4, 14:30 — Donkey Skin, family show · La Lanterne Magique
- Saturday, July 4, 21:00 — Ariodante (Handel), Les Talens Lyriques · Cour de l'Hôtel-Dieu
- Sunday, July 5, 17:30 — Mass in B minor (Bach), Vox Luminis · Basilique Notre-Dame
- Sunday, July 5, 21:30 — Farewell, Love, Zachary Wilder recital (Dowland tribute) · Salle des Pôvres
Weekend 2 — Saturday, July 11 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026
- Saturday, July 11, 21:00 — Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Handel), Le Banquet Céleste · Cour de l'Hôtel-Dieu
- Sunday, July 12, 17:30 — L'Avare (Gasparini), Le Poème Harmonique, dir. Vincent Dumestre, stage direction Théophile Gasselin · Théâtre de Beaune
- Monday, July 13, 21:00 — Nisi Dominus, Le Poème Harmonique · Basilique Notre-Dame
- Tuesday, July 14, 21:30 — Amidst the Shades, Ruby Hughes · Chapelle des Jacobins
Weekend 3 — Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Friday, July 17, 21:00 — Nicandro e Fileno (Lorenzani, premiere), La Palatine · Théâtre de Beaune
- Saturday, July 18, 21:00 — L'Olimpiade (Pergolesi), Orchestra Ghislieri · Cour de l'Hôtel-Dieu
- Sunday, July 19, 17:30 — Stabat Mater (Pergolesi), Le Concert d'Astrée · Basilique Notre-Dame
- Sunday, July 19, 21:30 — Mr Dowland's Dream, Bor Zuljan & Clara Brunet · Chapelle de la Charité
Weekend 4 — Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26, 2026
- Friday, July 24, 21:00 — Vespro della Beata Vergine (Monteverdi), Les Traversées Baroques · Basilique Notre-Dame
- Saturday, July 25, 17:30 — Festival Choir Concert · Hôtel-Dieu
- Saturday, July 25, 21:00 — Les Boréades (Rameau), A nocte temporis · Cour de l'Hôtel-Dieu
- Sunday, July 26, 17:30 — Trauerkantaten (Bach), A nocte temporis · Basilique Notre-Dame
- Sunday, July 26, 21:30 — The Sword and the Lily, Fount & Origin · Salle des Pôvres
Around the concerts: musical guided tours (Fridays), conversations at the Bibliothèque Monge, wine tastings (July 3 and 24) and dinners in the Hôtel-Dieu courtyard on Saturdays before the opera.
Highlights Beaune Festival 2026
- 44th edition on the theme of « The Beyond », four weekends of baroque and romantic music on period instruments
- First staged opera in the festival's history: Gasparini's L'Avare, by Le Poème Harmonique and Vincent Dumestre, at the Théâtre de Beaune
- Headliners: Ariodante (Les Talens Lyriques), Bach's Mass in B minor (Vox Luminis), Rameau's Les Boréades (A nocte temporis)
- Premiere of Lorenzani's Nicandro e Fileno and tribute to John Dowland (400th anniversary of his death)
- Exceptional setting of the Hospices de Beaune and the Basilique Notre-Dame
Prices Beaune Festival 2026
Practical information — Beaune Festival
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place at the Hospices de Beaune and the Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune.
- By car: Beaune is located 45 km south of Dijon, accessible via the A6 and A31 motorways. Parking in the city center.
- By train: Beaune station (TER from Dijon in 20 min).
Dates
- Throughout July (four weeks, Friday to Sunday).
Prices
- Prices vary depending on the performance (approximately 15 to 80 euros).
- Reduced prices for young people and subscribers.
- Tickets on sale on the festival website from April.
Contact
- Website: festivalbeaune.com
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Where does it take place — Beaune Festival
Hospices de Beaune et Basilique Notre-Dame
Hospices de Beaune, rue de l'Hôtel-Dieu, 21200 Beaune