Colmar International Festival
The summer meeting point for classical music in the heart of Alsace
About Colmar 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.
Colmar Festival — edition 2026
2026 edition of the Colmar International Festival, from July 5 to 14, under the artistic direction of Alain Altinoglu. The program includes: 22 concerts spread across three series (prestige concerts at 8:30 PM, chamber music at 6:00 PM, Young Talents at 12:30 PM) and four venues in the historic center. Headliners: pianist Grigory Sokolov, violinist Renaud Capuçon, soprano Natalie Dessay, the Orchestre symphonique de la Monnaie, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, and the Basel Chamber Orchestra.
Ten days of classical music in Colmar
The 2026 edition of the Colmar International Festival takes place from July 5 to 14, with 22 concerts spread across three series and four venues. Alain Altinoglu, artistic director since 2023, places this edition under the sign of "sharing, escape, and dreams," blending large symphonic ensembles, chamber music, voices, baroque, and family formats.
Highlights
The festival opens on July 5 and 6 with the Orchestre symphonique de la Monnaie conducted by Alain Altinoglu (with soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, then cellist Edgar Moreau). On July 8, pianist Grigory Sokolov gives his highly anticipated recital at Saint-Matthieu Church. On July 10, the Trio Wanderer performs Beethoven's Triple Concerto with the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse. On July 11, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jakub Hrůša presents an all-Brahms program. On July 13, Renaud Capuçon and Guillaume Bellom give a film music recital at the Municipal Theater. The festival closes on July 14 with the "Broadway Family Show" bringing together the Naouri family around Natalie Dessay.
Venues and times
Prestige concerts are held at 8:30 PM at Saint-Matthieu Church, chamber music at 6:00 PM at the Municipal Theater, and the Young Talents series at 12:30 PM at the Koïfhus. Free or family-friendly events complete the edition ("Symphonic Mob©" at Parc du Champ de Mars on July 12, family concert "The Nutcracker and Me" on July 11).
Programme Colmar Festival 2026
Sunday, July 5
- 8:30 PM — Orchestre symphonique de la Monnaie, cond. Alain Altinoglu, with soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (Wagner, Strauss) · Église Saint-Matthieu
Monday, July 6
- 12:30 PM — Anastasia Magamedova, piano (Young Talents) · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — Duo Argos, chamber music · Théâtre municipal
- 8:30 PM — Orchestre symphonique de la Monnaie, cond. Alain Altinoglu, with Edgar Moreau (cello) and soprano Sofia Nesje Enger (Berlioz, Saint-Saëns, Grieg) · Église Saint-Matthieu
Tuesday, July 7
- 12:30 PM — Léontine Maridat-Zimmerlin (mezzo-soprano) and Louis Dechambre (piano) · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — Ensemble Ô'Celli, cinema-inspired program · Théâtre municipal
- 8:30 PM — Orchestre de chambre de Bâle, with Daniel Bard and Anastasia Kobekina · Église Saint-Matthieu
Wednesday, July 8
- 12:30 PM — Masaki Morishita, violin (Young Talents) · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — Trio Zeliha (Fauré, Ravel) · Théâtre municipal
- 8:30 PM — Grigory Sokolov, piano recital · Église Saint-Matthieu
Thursday, July 9
- 12:30 PM — Anchi Mai, piano (Scriabine, Liszt) · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — Quatuor Akilone · Théâtre municipal
- 8:30 PM — B'Rock Orchestra, with recorder player Lucie Horsch · Église Saint-Matthieu
Friday, July 10
- 12:30 PM — Trio Sofie Leifer (violin), Sicong Li (cello), Adrian Herpe · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — Duo Gambelin (Lucie Boulanger and Christian Elin) · Théâtre municipal
- 8:30 PM — Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, cond. Christophe Koncz, with the Trio Wanderer (Beethoven's Triple Concerto) · Église Saint-Matthieu
Saturday, July 11
- 4:00 PM — Public meeting with Alain Altinoglu on orchestral conducting · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — "The Nutcracker and Me," with pianist Alexandra Dariescu and dancer Désirée Ballantyne (family concert) · Théâtre municipal
- 8:30 PM — Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jakub Hrůša, with pianist Lukas Sternath (all-Brahms program) · Église Saint-Matthieu
Sunday, July 12
- 11:00 AM — "Symphonic Mob©," gathering of amateur musicians with the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, cond. Alain Altinoglu · Parc du Champ de Mars (free admission)
Monday, July 13
- 12:30 PM — Duo Elias David Moncada (violin) / Mirabelle Kanjejeri (piano), in partnership with the Gautier Capuçon Foundation · Koïfhus
- 6:00 PM — Renaud Capuçon (violin) and Guillaume Bellom (piano), film music recital (from Bach to John Williams) · Théâtre municipal
Tuesday, July 14
- 5:00 PM — "Broadway Family Show," with the Naouri family (Natalie Dessay, Laurent Naouri…), closing concert · Église Saint-Matthieu
Highlights Colmar Festival 2026
- Grigory Sokolov piano recital on July 8
- Renaud Capuçon and Guillaume Bellom on July 13 (film music)
- Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jakub Hrůša, all-Brahms program on July 11
- Beethoven's Triple Concerto with the Trio Wanderer on July 10
- "Broadway Family Show" by the Naouri family as closing event on July 14
- Free "Symphonic Mob©" at Parc du Champ de Mars on July 12
Prices Colmar Festival 2026
Practical information — Colmar Festival
Access
The festival takes place in the historic center of Colmar.
- By train: Colmar train station (TGV from Paris in 2h20, TER from Strasbourg in 30 min).
- By car: A35 exit Colmar-Centre. Rapp and Scheurer-Kestner underground car parks nearby.
- By bus: Trace network, Théâtre or Ancienne Douane stops.
Concert Venues
- Église Saint-Matthieu — symphonic concerts at 8:30 PM
- Théâtre municipal — chamber music at 6 PM
- Koïfhus — Young Talents at 12:30 PM
- Parc du Champ de Mars — Symphonic Mob© (free access)
Prices
From 25 € to 92 € depending on the venue and category. Reduced prices for students and young people. The Symphonic Mob© at Parc du Champ de Mars is free.
Tickets
Online at festival-colmar.com, at the Théâtre municipal, at Koïfhus and at the concert venues.
Contact
Tel.: 03 89 20 68 97
Address: 8 rue Kléber, 68000 Colmar
Practical advice
Book early for Grigory Sokolov's recital (July 8th), which sells out every year. The Young Talents concerts at Koïfhus at 12:30 PM are an excellent and affordable entry point. Enjoy the free or family-friendly events (Symphonic Mob©, family concert “The Nutcracker and Me”).
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Colmar Festival
Église Saint-Matthieu, Théâtre municipal et Koïfhus
8 rue Kléber, 68000 Colmar, 68000 Colmar