Festival Musica
International festival of contemporary music and creation
2026
About Musica
Musica — edition 2026
The 44th edition of the Musica Festival takes place from September 18th to October 4th, 2026, in Strasbourg, with an additional three days in Colmar from October 1st to 3rd. The program features three key highlights: "Prospective Irlande" from September 25th to 27th, a Georges Aperghis day on September 30th, and "Punk im Elsass" from October 1st to 3rd. The opening event is at Le Maillon on September 18th, featuring The Alonetimes by Jennifer Walshe and Philip Venables, followed by Book of Travelers by Gabriel Kahane with the Roomful of Teeth choir.
2026 Edition
Musica kicks off its 44th edition on Friday, September 18th, at Le Maillon: speeches and a cocktail reception at 6:00 PM with the artists, followed by The Alonetimes at 7:00 PM and Book of Travelers / Elevator Songs at 9:00 PM. The schedule runs until Sunday, October 4th, across twenty venues in Strasbourg and Colmar, featuring recitals, opera, musical theater, dance, sound installations, performances, screenings, and club nights.
Prospective Irlande, September 25th to 27th
This segment coincides with the Irish presidency of the Council of Europe. It brings together the vocal quartet Landless, the Irish Rising evening hosted by the Crash Ensemble, the Stitch ’n’ Bitch night at Karmen Camina, the opera The Curing Line by Michael Gallen, the duo Martin Hayes and Brian Donnellan, Land of Winter by Donnacha Dennehy, BlackGate by Caimin Gilmore, and two sessions with Kevin Fowley.
Georges Aperghis day, September 30th
Four events on the same day: the film Un mot d’après l’autre by Éric Darmon at 2:00 PM, Zig Bang by Zone expérimentale at 4:00 PM, the Double Recital by Marco Blaauw and Florentin Ginot at 7:00 PM, and Tell Tales by the vocal ensemble EXAUDI and violist Tabea Zimmermann at 8:30 PM.
Punk im Elsass, October 1st to 3rd
Organized in collaboration with the Archives d’Alsace, this cycle traces the Alsatian punk scene from the 1970s to the present: Sonic Temple vol.9 at Saint-Paul Church, the Punk à l’Est meetings at Karmen Camina, the film À nos nuits punk, the Zone autonome temporaire evening at La Grenze, the participatory exhibition Archives immédiates du punk assembled in one day, and the MUSICA x HEAR carte blanche.
Three days in Colmar
Under the title "mini musica à colmar," La Boutique des rêves will be performed at the Théâtre municipal de Colmar on October 1st and 2nd, and Nébula at the Comédie de Colmar on October 3rd.
Exhibitions and installations
Three works remain on view for several days: L’Allumette qui cache la forêt by Yann Leguay at the HEAR Chaufferie, Crabe Chorus by Violaine Lochu at the CEAAC, and Après la mémoire by Nadia Ratsimandresy and Rangalanga Tsilaitry Mboangy at the Manufacture. All three are free to access.
Highlights Musica 2026
- The Alonetimes, contemporary madrigal by Jennifer Walshe and Philip Venables: opening night September 18th at Le Maillon, repeated September 19th and 20th
- Book of Travelers / Elevator Songs, Gabriel Kahane and the Roomful of Teeth choir, September 18th at Le Maillon
- Sonic Temple vol.8 "The Expanding Universe", tribute to Laurie Spiegel with Mica Levi, Aho Ssan, Claire Rousay, and ensemble 0, September 24th at Saint-Paul Church
- Irish Rising, three hours with Crash Ensemble, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Rachael Lavelle, and Michelle O’Rourke, September 25th
- The Curing Line, opera by Michael Gallen, September 26th and 27th at Cité de la musique et de la danse
- Éliane Radigue and Marina Rosenfeld: Occam XXV for two organs, September 29th at Sainte-Aurélie Church
- Georges Aperghis day, September 30th: film by Éric Darmon, Zig Bang, Double Recital, Tell Tales by EXAUDI and Tabea Zimmermann
- Walden by Heiner Goebbels performed by Ensemble Klang and Ensemble Kaleidoskop, October 2nd
- Le Mur, two pianos and twelve dancers by Mathilde Monnier and Ève Risser, October 3rd and 4th at Opéra national du Rhin
Programme Musica 2026
Ongoing — installations and exhibitions
- September 19th to October 3rd — L’Allumette qui cache la forêt, sound installation by Yann Leguay · HEAR - Chaufferie, 5 rue de la Manufacture des Tabacs · opening Saturday, September 19th at 3:00 PM · open Friday to Sunday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM · free access
- September 19th to October 4th — Crabe Chorus, exhibition by Violaine Lochu · CEAAC, 7 rue de l’Abreuvoir · opening and performance Saturday, September 19th at 4:00 PM · open Wednesday to Sunday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM · free entry · exhibition on view until February 7th, 2027
- September 19th and 20th — Après la mémoire, performance installation by Nadia Ratsimandresy and Rangalanga Tsilaitry Mboangy · HEAR - Manufacture, stage · open 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM · initiation ceremonies Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th at 2:00 PM · free access, ceremonies require reservation
Friday, September 18th, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Opening speeches and cocktail with the artists · Maillon, hall
- 7:00 PM — The Alonetimes, contemporary madrigal by Jennifer Walshe and Philip Venables · Maillon, small hall · 1h15 · in English with French subtitles
- 9:00 PM — Book of Travelers / Elevator Songs, concert by Gabriel Kahane with Roomful of Teeth · Maillon · 2h
Saturday, September 19th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Mors Osculi, concert by Alyssa Regent with Ensemble 2e2m · Salle de la Bourse · 1h
- 6:00 PM — Devenir|s Mutant·es, show by Sasha J. Blondeau · TnS Espace Grüber · 1h30
- 8:30 PM — The Alonetimes, Jennifer Walshe and Philip Venables · Maillon, small hall · 1h15
Sunday, September 20th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Ma pièce préférée, recital by Andreas Borregaard · Salle Ponnelle · 1h · in English with French subtitles
- 3:00 PM — Confluences, concert by Trio Abstrakt · Salle de la Bourse · 1h10
- 5:00 PM — Devenir|s Mutant·es, Sasha J. Blondeau · TnS Espace Grüber · 1h30
- 5:00 PM — The Alonetimes, Jennifer Walshe and Philip Venables · Maillon, small hall · 1h15
- 7:00 PM — Roomful of Teeth, with Alyssa Regent, Florent Ghys, and Caroline Shaw · Cité de la musique et de la danse, auditorium · 1h10
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Dada Digeste, show by Johana Beaussart · HEAR - Manufacture, stage · 1h
- 8:00 PM — Paradis plage / Une vie comme dans du miel, musical theater by Kenza Berrada · Théâtre national de Strasbourg, Koltès hall · 2h10
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Dada Digeste, Johana Beaussart · HEAR - Manufacture, stage · 1h
- 8:30 PM — Hunter, show by Liesa Van der Aa with Ensemble B O D I E S · Maillon, main hall · 1h20 · in English with French subtitles
- 8:30 PM — PRÉSENCES électronique, carte blanche to INA GRM · Saint-Paul Church · 2h30
Thursday, September 24th, 2026
- 8:30 AM — Open Symmetry, morning concert by Tristan Perich with ensemble 0 · Temple Neuf Church · 50 min
- 6:30 PM — Hyper Paxton, concert by Alex Paxton with HYPER DUO · Salle de la Bourse · 1h
- 8:30 PM — Sonic Temple vol.8 "The Expanding Universe", with Laurie Spiegel, Aho Ssan, Mica Levi, Claire Rousay, ensemble 0, and INA GRM · Saint-Paul Church · 2h30
- 8:30 PM — Hunter, Liesa Van der Aa and Ensemble B O D I E S · Maillon, main hall · 1h20
Friday, September 25th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — La Boutique des rêves, school session · TAPS - Scala
- 2:15 PM — La Boutique des rêves, school session · TAPS - Scala
- 7:00 PM — Landless, concert · Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church · 1h
- 8:30 PM — Irish Rising, with Crash Ensemble, Michael Gallen, Natalia Beylis, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Rachael Lavelle, and Michelle O’Rourke · Saint-Paul Church · 3h
- 11:00 PM — Stitch ’n’ Bitch, with YARD, Zoë Mc Pherson, Lullahush, ELLLL, SARC, and a∼a∼r∼d∼e∼n∼t · Karmen Camina · 5h
Saturday, September 26th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — BlackGate, concert by Caimin Gilmore with Kate Ellis and Lavinia Meijer · NooToos - Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Protestant Church · 1h
- 11:00 AM — La Boutique des rêves, musical theater by Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · TAPS - Scala · 1h · ages 10+ · headphone show, headsets distributed 30 min prior
- 4:00 PM — La Boutique des rêves, Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · TAPS - Scala · 1h
- 5:00 PM — Musical meeting with Kevin Fowley and Aria Ungerer · Tomi Ungerer Museum · ages 6+ · access from 4:40 PM · free with reservation, museum entry not included
- 7:00 PM — The Curing Line, opera by Michael Gallen · Cité de la musique et de la danse, auditorium · 1h20 · in English with French subtitles
- 9:00 PM — Martin Hayes and Brian Donnellan, concert · Sainte-Aurélie Church · 1h15
Sunday, September 27th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — La Boutique des rêves, Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · TAPS - Scala · 1h
- 11:00 AM — Land of Winter, by Donnacha Dennehy performed by Crash Ensemble · Salle de la Bourse · 1h
- 3:00 PM — À feu doux, concert by Kevin Fowley · NooToos - Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Protestant Church · 50 min · ages 6+
- 4:00 PM — La Boutique des rêves, Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · TAPS - Scala · 1h
- 5:00 PM — The Curing Line, opera by Michael Gallen · Cité de la musique et de la danse, auditorium · 1h20
Tuesday, September 29th, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Aman silaT, performance by Violaine Lochu · HEAR - Manufacture, stage · 1h
- 8:30 PM — Éliane Radigue and Marina Rosenfeld, with Frédéric Blondy, Jean-Luc Iffrig, and Onceim · Sainte-Aurélie Church · 1h20 · Occam XXV adapted for two organs, in tribute to Éliane Radigue (1932-2026)
Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 — Georges Aperghis day
- 2:00 PM — Un mot d’après l’autre, film by Éric Darmon about Georges Aperghis · Le Cosmos Cinema · 1h · free with reservation
- 4:00 PM — Zig Bang, concert by Zone expérimentale · HEAR - Manufacture, stage · 45 min · free with reservation
- 7:00 PM — Double Recital, Marco Blaauw and Florentin Ginot · Salle de la Bourse · 50 min
- 8:30 PM — Tell Tales, with Tabea Zimmermann and EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble · Cité de la musique et de la danse, auditorium · 1h
Thursday, October 1st, 2026
- 8:30 AM — Violon pour violon, morning concert by Aisha Orazbayeva · NooToos - Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Protestant Church · 50 min
- 7:00 PM — La Boutique des rêves, Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · Colmar Municipal Theater · 1h
- 7:00 PM — Hunger, show by Franck Vigroux · Maillon, small hall · 1h
- 8:30 PM — Kassia Undead, show by Lara Barsacq · Maillon, main hall · 1h10
- 9:00 PM — Sonic Temple vol.9 "Turbulences sur le Rhin", with Zoe Heselton, Fantôme Josepha, Radio Hito, Heimat, and ACTLN · Saint-Paul Church · 3h
Friday, October 2nd, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Punk à l’Est, public meetings and archive collection · Karmen Camina · free access
- 10:00 AM — Retors paniques, school session · TJP - Petite Scène
- 2:15 PM — La Boutique des rêves, Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · Colmar Municipal Theater · 1h
- 2:30 PM — Retors paniques, school session · TJP - Petite Scène
- 6:00 PM — À nos nuits punk, film by Béatrice Dedieu and Adèle Dumour · Le Cosmos Cinema · 52 min · free with reservation
- 6:30 PM — Allēlōn, concert by Olivier Duverger Houpert · Salle de la Bourse · 1h10
- 8:00 PM — Zone autonome temporaire, with Violent Sadie Mode, Last Night, Avale, and DJ Elio · La Grenze · 4h
- 8:00 PM — La Boutique des rêves, Clara Chabalier and Karl Naegelen · Colmar Municipal Theater · 1h
- 8:30 PM — Walden, by Heiner Goebbels with Keir Neuringer, Ensemble Klang, and Ensemble Kaleidoskop · Cité de la musique et de la danse, auditorium · 1h10 · in English with French subtitles
- 8:30 PM — Kassia Undead, Lara Barsacq · Maillon, main hall · 1h10
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
- 9:30 AM — Nébula, youth show by Giulia Lorusso and Kapitolina Tsvetkova performed by HANATSUmiroir · Comédie de Colmar · 40 min
- 10:00 AM — Retors paniques, show by Renaud Herbin · TJP - Petite Scène · 1h
- 10:00 AM — Archives immédiates du punk, participatory exhibition assembled in one day with Archives d’Alsace · HEAR, 1 rue de l’Académie
- 11:00 AM — Nébula, HANATSUmiroir · Comédie de Colmar · 40 min
- 11:00 AM — Dance workshop with Lara Barsacq · POLE-SUD · 2h · €10, registration via POLE-SUD, reserved for show ticket holders
- 3:00 PM — Retors paniques, Renaud Herbin · TJP - Petite Scène · 1h
- 4:00 PM — Nébula, HANATSUmiroir · Comédie de Colmar · 40 min
- 5:00 PM — MUSICA x HEAR, concert programmed by students, with Amor Fati, Les Animaux au Printemps, Roma Bantik, Too Cool 2 Schedule, and Acouphène éternel · HEAR · free access
- 8:00 PM — Le Mur, dance by Mathilde Monnier and Ève Risser · Opéra national du Rhin · 1h40
Sunday, October 4th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Retors paniques, Renaud Herbin · TJP - Petite Scène · 1h
- 11:00 AM — Ce qui reste, by Quatuor Adastra, programmed by the public · Salle de la Bourse · 1h
- 3:00 PM — Le Mur, Mathilde Monnier and Ève Risser · Opéra national du Rhin · 1h40
- 3:00 PM — Retors paniques, Renaud Herbin · TJP - Petite Scène · 1h
- 7:00 PM — The People united will never be defeated !, recital by Maroussia Gentet · Salle de la Bourse · 1h
Prices Musica 2026
Musica Solo card: €26, then €13 to €32 per performance. Musica Duo card: €36, then €13 to €32 per performance. Recommended for those purchasing more than 3 single tickets.
At €18 full price (€13 Musica card, €10 under 28, €8 solidarity, €7 under 15, €6 culture cards): Confluences, Dada Digeste, PRÉSENCES électronique, Hyper Paxton, La Boutique des rêves, Land of Winter, À feu doux, Aman silaT, Double Recital, Allēlōn, Ce qui reste, The People united will never be defeated!
At €13 full price (same reduced rates): Open Symmetry, Sonic Temple vol.8, Violon pour violon, Sonic Temple vol.9.
Hunter and Kassia Undead: €26 full price, €14 reduced (accompanying an under-15, Cezam card), €12 under 30 and students without culture card, €7 under 15 and solidarity, €6 culture cards and Atout voir.
Paradis plage: category 1 €6 to €32, category 2 €6 to €22, restricted view €6 to €15, Musica card €14.
Le Mur: category A €36 (Musica card €32.40), B €30 (€27), C €24 (€21.60), D €18 (€16.20).
Stitch ’n’ Bitch: €16 full price, €13 solidarity and Musica card. Zone autonome temporaire: €6 to €15, €12 Musica card. Retors paniques: €6 flat rate.
Free: L’Allumette qui cache la forêt, Crabe Chorus, Après la mémoire (ceremonies require reservation), Kevin Fowley and Aria Ungerer meeting (reservation required), screenings of Un mot d’après l’autre and À nos nuits punk (reservation required), Zig Bang (reservation required), Punk à l’Est meetings, MUSICA x HEAR.
Solidarity rate requires proof: Évasion card, freelance/intermittent status, artist-author, job seeker, RSA, AAH and companions, subsidized contracts, civic service.
Box office: 2 rue de la Manufacture des tabacs in Strasbourg, August 26th to October 4th, Wednesday to Saturday, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Online at billetterie.festivalmusica.fr, by phone at 03 88 23 47 23, and at venue entrances 30 minutes before each event.
Practical information — Musica
Getting there
The festival takes place in around twenty venues across Strasbourg city center and the surrounding area, as well as in Colmar from October 1st to 3rd, 2026.
- By tram: Lines A, B, C, D, stop depending on the venue.
- By train: Strasbourg station, TGV from Paris in 1h46.
- By car: Use P+R park-and-ride facilities, then take the tram.
2026 Venues
In Strasbourg: Maillon (1 boulevard de Dresde), Opéra national du Rhin (19 place Broglie), Cité de la musique et de la danse (1 place Dauphine), Salle de la Bourse (1 place de Lattre de Tassigny), Salle Ponnelle (place du Petit Broglie), Théâtre national de Strasbourg (1 avenue de la Marseillaise) and TnS Espace Grüber (18 rue Jacques Kablé), HEAR - Manufacture et Chaufferie (5 rue de la Manufacture des Tabacs), HEAR (1 rue de l’Académie), TAPS Scala (96 route du Polygone), TJP Petite Scène (1 rue du Pont Saint-Martin), POLE-SUD (1 rue de Bourgogne), CEAAC (7 rue de l’Abreuvoir), Karmen Camina (4 cour des Cigarières), La Grenze (23 rue Georges Wodli), Le Cosmos cinema (3 rue des Francs-Bourgeois), Tomi Ungerer Museum (2 avenue de la Marseillaise), and the churches of Saint-Paul, Sainte-Aurélie, Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune, Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux (NooToos), and Temple Neuf. In Colmar: Théâtre municipal (3 rue des Unterlinden) and Comédie de Colmar (6 route d’Ingersheim).
Tickets
Single tickets: €26 full price, €13 with the Musica card, €10 for under-28s, €8 solidarity rate, €7 for under-15s, €6 with Culture or Atout Voir cards. Some events are priced at €18 or €13 full price, many are free, and opera, dance, and musical theater performances have tiered pricing up to €36. For more than three single tickets, the Musica card costs €26 for individuals or €36 for duos, with tickets then ranging from €13 to €32 per performance. The solidarity rate requires proof of eligibility.
Box Office
On-site at 2 rue de la Manufacture des tabacs in Strasbourg, at the Haute École des Arts du Rhin, from August 26 to October 4, 2026, Wednesday to Saturday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Online at billetterie.festivalmusica.fr. By phone at 03 88 23 47 23 during box office hours. At venue entrances, 30 minutes before each event.
Contact
Website: festivalmusica.fr · [email protected] · 03 88 23 47 23. Musica is a local association chaired by Emelie de Jong and directed by Stéphane Roth.
A Pillar of Musical Creation in Europe
Founded in 1983 on the initiative of the City of Strasbourg and the Ministry of Culture, Festival Musica has established itself over four decades as one of the major events for contemporary and experimental music in Europe. Every autumn, for nearly three weeks, the festival presents about fifty artistic projects in all formats: symphonic concerts, electroacoustic performances, sound installations, chamber operas, and transdisciplinary creations.
Strasbourg's Great Venues at the Service of Creation
Musica's strength lies in its integration within the exceptional network of Strasbourg's cultural venues. The festival takes over Le Maillon (Strasbourg theatre - European stage), the Opéra national du Rhin, the Cité de la musique et de la danse, the HEAR (Haute école des arts du Rhin), the POKOP, the Karmen Camina, and the église du Temple Neuf. This diversity of locations allows for varied formats and acoustics, from large orchestras to intimate solo performances.
A Program Between Heritage and Avant-Garde
Musica's program blends the historical figures of contemporary music with emerging voices. Over the decades, the festival has hosted composers such as Pierre Boulez, Steve Reich, Kaija Saariaho, and prestigious ensembles like the Kronos Quartet, the Ensemble intercontemporain, and the Percussions de Strasbourg. Each edition also features commissions and world premieres, making Strasbourg a living laboratory for musical invention.
Mini Musica: Creation for the Youngest
As a spring extension of the festival, Mini Musica offers music discovery shows and workshops for young audiences in March. Participatory sound installations, musical walks, concert-performances: this inventive offshoot proves that contemporary music can enchant all audiences, from the youngest age.
Strasbourg, Land of Music
Festival Musica benefits from fertile ground: Strasbourg is a crossroads city where French and Germanic musical traditions meet, equipped with a European-level conservatory and the Opéra national du Rhin. The festival contributes to making the Alsatian capital a place of excellence for musical creation, attracting professionals and curious music lovers from around the world.
Where does it take place — Musica
Musica in brief
History of Musica
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Strasbourg
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