Festival Ravel
The international classical music festival in the footsteps of Maurice Ravel
About Festival Ravel
Festival Ravel: Classical Music in the Basque Country
The Festival Ravel perpetuates the legacy of Maurice Ravel, one of the greatest French composers, born in Ciboure in 1875. Since its launch in 2021, the festival has quickly established itself as a must-attend event for classical music in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, attracting artists and music lovers from around the world to the Basque Coast.
A History Rooted in the Region
The festival's roots go back to 2007, the year of the 70th anniversary of Ravel's death, which marked the beginning of the collaboration between Musique en Côte Basque and the Académie Ravel. In 2017, the two organizations joined forces to co-produce the first Festival Ravel with the support of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region. After a break due to the pandemic, the festival truly took off in 2021.
An Exceptional Program
The Festival Ravel offers a program that brings together the greatest French and international orchestral ensembles:
- Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris
- Orchestre National de France
- Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
- Orchestre de Chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse
- Ensemble intercontemporain
The concerts take place in emblematic venues in the Basque Country, from the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Saint-Jean-de-Luz to the gardens of Villa Harriet Baita.
The Académie Ravel
In parallel to the festival, the Académie Internationale de Musique Maurice Ravel, with over fifty years of experience, hosts young musicians and composers from around the world each summer for masterclasses given by internationally renowned artists. The concerts by the young soloists of the Académie are held throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Festival Ravel — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Ravel Festival, titled « Ravel and Spain », takes place from August 26 to September 5, 2026 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure and Urrugne, in the heart of the Basque Country. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla, the festival offers a journey between modern and dreamed Spain, over eleven days of concerts, recitals, conferences and creations.
2026 Edition – « Ravel and Spain »
From August 26 to September 5, 2026, the Ravel Festival celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla and explores the musical dialogue between France and Spain, from the Iberian colors of Boléro to L'Heure espagnole, including Albéniz, Granados, Boccherini and Chopin.
Concerts take place in three communes of the Basque Country: Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, Peyuco Duhart cultural center), Ciboure (Saint-Vincent church, CIAP Les Récollets) and Urrugne (Saint-Vincent church). The festival welcomes major national orchestras (Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées) and international soloists such as Bertrand Chamayou, Javier Perianes, Nelson Goerner, Yulianna Avdeeva, Barbara Hannigan, Nicolas Altstaedt and Xavier de Maistre.
The Ravel Festival is supported by the Académie Internationale de Musique Maurice Ravel, whose Ravel Academy takes place beforehand, from August 17 to 30, 2026, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Programme Festival Ravel 2026
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
- 20h00 — Night in a Spanish Garden · Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Josep Pons (conductor), Bertrand Chamayou (piano) · Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Thursday, August 27, 2026
- 17h00 — Tribute to García Lorca · Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Bertrand Chamayou (piano) · Église Saint-Vincent, Ciboure
- 20h00 — Fandango! Boccherini and Haydn at the Royal Court of Spain · Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Nicolas Altstaedt (cello/conductor), Anna-Lena Elbert (soprano), Enrike Solinís (guitar) · Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Friday, August 28, 2026
- 20h00 — Masses in Madrid · Ensemble Les Métaboles, Léo Warynski (conductor) · Église Saint-Vincent, Ciboure
Saturday, August 29, 2026
- 14h00 — Maurice Ravel and Ricardo Viñes: Views on a Friendship (lecture by Màrius Bernadó) · Centre culturel Peyuco Duhart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- 16h00 — Ricardo Viñes: The « Belle Époque » Piano · Soloists of the Ravel Academy, Bertrand Chamayou, Jean-François Heisser (piano) · Centre culturel Peyuco Duhart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- 20h00 — Andalusian Impressions: Albéniz, Iberia · Nelson Goerner (piano) · Église Saint-Vincent, Ciboure
Monday, August 31, 2026
- 16h00 — Manuel de Falla, an Andalusian Musician with a French Touch (lecture by Katia-Sofía Hakim) · Centre culturel Peyuco Duhart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- 20h00 — Chopin in Valldemossa · Yulianna Avdeeva (piano), Alphonse Cemin (conductor), soloists of the Ravel Academy · Église Saint-Vincent, Urrugne
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- 17h00 — 100% Manuel de Falla · Javier Perianes (piano) · Église Saint-Vincent, Urrugne
- 20h00 — Spanish Fantasies · Quatuor Quiroga, Tabea Zimmermann (viola), Javier Perianes (piano) · Église Saint-Vincent, Urrugne
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- 17h00 — Cine-concert: Buñuel-Dalí / Matalon · Ensemble 2e2m, Léo Margue (conductor) · Centre culturel Peyuco Duhart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- 20h00 — An Evening in Granada · Bertrand Chamayou, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger (piano) · Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- 17h00 — Manuel de Falla: Inspirations and Influences · Benjamin Alard (harpsichord), Gabriel Pidoux (oboe), soloists of the Ravel Academy · CIAP Les Récollets, Ciboure
- 20h00 — L'Heure espagnole · Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Valentina Peleggi (conductor) · Centre culturel Peyuco Duhart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Friday, September 4, 2026
- 20h00 — Federico Mompou: Heartbeats · Jean-François Heisser (piano) · CIAP Les Récollets, Ciboure
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- 17h00 — Serenata Española · Xavier de Maistre (harp), Lucero Tena (castanets) · CIAP Les Récollets, Ciboure
- 20h00 — Surprise Closing · Centre culturel Peyuco Duhart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Highlights Festival Ravel 2026
- « Ravel and Spain » edition for Manuel de Falla's 150th anniversary
- 11 days of concerts in the churches and heritage sites of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure and Urrugne
- Major orchestras: Capitole de Toulouse, Bordeaux Aquitaine, Champs-Élysées
- International soloists: Bertrand Chamayou, Javier Perianes, Nelson Goerner, Barbara Hannigan, Yulianna Avdeeva, Xavier de Maistre
- Creation, Buñuel-Dalí cine-concert and thematic conferences
Prices Festival Ravel 2026
Practical information — Festival Ravel
Practical Information
Concert Venues
Concerts are held in several locations in the Basque Country, notably the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and other heritage sites in the region.
Festival Headquarters
Villa Harriet Baita: 16 avenue Larreguy, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Ticketing
Tickets are available online through the festival's official ticketing service. Ticketing contact: [email protected]. Sales open in the spring.
Contact
Email: [email protected] — Tel: 05 59 47 13 00.
Access
By train: Saint-Jean-de-Luz - Ciboure SNCF station, served by TGV and TER.
By car: A63 motorway, Saint-Jean-de-Luz exit.
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Where does it take place — Festival Ravel
Villa Harriet Baita et lieux patrimoniaux du Pays basque
16 avenue Larreguy, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz