Colmar International Festival

An internationally renowned festival since 1979

Founded in 1979 by German conductor Karl Münchinger, who was captivated by the medieval architecture and exceptional acoustics of Colmar's churches, the Colmar International Festival has established itself over four decades as one of the ten largest classical music festivals in Europe. Every summer, for twelve days, the city transforms into an exceptional musical stage where the greatest performers of the classical repertoire converge.

Three exceptional venues for three concert formats

The festival's strength lies in its three historic venues, each dedicated to a specific format. The Saint-Matthieu church, a Gothic jewel from the 13th century, hosts symphonic evenings at 8:30 PM with remarkable acoustics. The Municipal Theatre, an Italian-style gem, offers chamber music concerts at 6 PM. The Koïfhus, a former medieval customs house, provides an intimate setting for recitals by young talents at 12:30 PM, revealing the rising stars of the international classical scene.

Illustrious artistic directors

After Karl Münchinger (1979-1989), violinist Vladimir Spivakov led the festival for over thirty years, internationalizing it and attracting legends such as Jessye Norman and Mstislav Rostropovitch. Since 2023, the Franco-Armenian conductor Alain Altinoglu, music director of the Brussels Philharmonic, has brought a new dynamic by combining heritage with openness to new audiences.

A program balancing prestige and discovery

Each edition combines major piano figures — Grigory Sokolov, Yuja Wang, Bertrand Chamayou — with prestigious orchestral ensembles such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, or the Basel Chamber Orchestra. The festival also offers accessible formats: the Symphonic Mob© in the Champ de Mars park invites the public to play alongside musicians, while the '15 minutes to understand' sessions before each concert democratize the approach to classical music.

Colmar, a heritage and cultural gem

The festival benefits from the exceptional setting of Colmar, a city of art and history with remarkable architectural heritage. Between the Isenheim Altarpiece at the Unterlinden Museum, Little Venice, and the half-timbered houses, festival-goers discover a city where culture is experienced on every street corner. The mild July evenings add a magical dimension to the concerts held in these historic locations.