International Royal Route Organ Festival
International Festival of Historic Organs between Nice and Turin
2026
About International Royal Route Organ Festival
The International Festival of the Royal Road of Organs follows a trade route established in the 16th century between Nice and Turin, commissioned by the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel I. Around fifteen towns across the Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian Piedmont region mark this path, each housing a historic 17th, 18th, or 19th-century organ—often of Italian craftsmanship—within its local church.
Since the 1980s, French and Italian local authorities have worked to restore and showcase these instruments. Organized in partnership with the Menton, Riviera & Merveilles Tourist Office, the festival leverages this cross-border heritage to offer around thirty events every autumn, including concerts, film-concerts, lectures, and tours that blend organ music, nature, and the history of the Roya Valley and its Italian neighbors.
International Royal Route Organ Festival — edition 2026
The 24th edition runs from September to November 2026, spanning the region between Breil-sur-Roya on the French side and the Cuneo area in Italy. It kicks off on September 19th with a cine-concert at the Santa-Maria-in-Albis church in Breil-sur-Roya for the European Heritage Days, before joining forces with the Cuneo Organ Festival for a series of recitals on the historic organs of Cuneo's churches. A short film evening with live piano accompaniment and a concert by the Armonia della Parola choir, celebrating their 50th anniversary, round out the program until November 21st.
Programme International Royal Route Organ Festival 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Cine-concert "L'orgue fait son cinéma ! #5" · Santa-Maria-in-Albis Church, Breil-sur-Roya (European Heritage Days), organ improvisation by Guy-Baptiste Jaccottet
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- Cuneo Organ Festival Concert · Santa Maria del Bosco Cathedral, Cuneo (Italy), Vincent Thévenaz on the historic Vegezzi-Bossi organ
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Cuneo Organ Festival Concert · Sacred Heart Church, Cuneo (Italy), organist Elisa Teglia
Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Cuneo Organ Festival Concert · Sacred Heart Church, Cuneo (Italy), organist Ulfert Smidt
Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Cuneo Organ Festival Concert · Sacred Heart Church, Cuneo (Italy), organist Jack Oades
Friday, October 23, 2026
- "Organi...zziamo la città", educational program for schools · Cuneo (Italy)
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Short film evening with live music · Musée des Merveilles, piano improvisation by Franck Marcon
- Cuneo Organ Festival Concert · Cuneo Cathedral (Italy), organist Letizia Romiti
Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Concert by the Armonia della Parola choir, celebrating their 50th anniversary · Robilante (Italy)
Program sourced from the "Agenda" page of the official festival website, accessed on 2026-08-23; please also check the downloadable PDF program on the same site for any potential updates.
Practical information — International Royal Route Organ Festival
The festival takes place across roughly fifteen towns in the Alpes-Maritimes (including Breil-sur-Roya and Tende) and the Italian Piedmont (including Cuneo and Robilante). Since each event is held in a different church, please verify the exact location before traveling. The detailed program, including performance times, is available as a downloadable PDF on the official website.
Where does it take place — International Royal Route Organ Festival
International Royal Route Organ Festival in brief
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