Les Nuits Pianistiques
Piano festival and academy at the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud in Aix-en-Provence, combining concerts and training
About Les Nuits Pianistiques
A piano festival and music academy
The Nuits Pianistiques are a unique musical event in Aix-en-Provence, combining a high-level concert festival and an international music academy. Created in 1993 by the French pianist Michel Bourdoncle, who is also the artistic director, the Nuits Pianistiques take place every summer for two weeks, from late July to early August, at the Auditorium Campra of the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud.
Recital and chamber music concerts
The festival's program features a series of piano recitals, chamber music concerts, and symphonic evenings that showcase both established artists and young talents from the academy. The repertoire covers a wide spectrum, from classical to romantic, from Spanish music to French composers, with a significant place given to the works of Chopin, Liszt, Grieg, Albéniz, Granados, and Scarlatti. Concerts are held in the evening, usually at 7:30 PM, in the warm acoustics of the Auditorium Campra.
The Academy: training and transmission
The Nuits Pianistiques Academy is an essential part of the festival. During two training sessions, young pianists from around the world benefit from masterclasses given by internationally renowned professors. The academy celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, confirming its role in training the new generation of pianists. Trainees have the opportunity to perform in concert as part of the festival, creating a bridge between training and the professional stage.
An accessible event in the heart of Aix-en-Provence
Les Nuits Pianistiques stands out for its accessible pricing policy, with tickets at 20 euros for full price, 10 euros for reduced price (students, job seekers), and free admission for conservatory students and children under 15. This commitment to democratizing classical music echoes the festival's educational mission. The setting of the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud, located on Avenue Mozart in the southern district of Aix, offers an intimate environment conducive to listening, away from the summer bustle of the city center.
Les Nuits Pianistiques — edition 2026
34th edition of Les Nuits Pianistiques in Aix-en-Provence, from July 28 to August 8, 2026, at the Auditorium Campra of the Darius Milhaud Conservatory. Piano recitals, chamber music, and orchestral evenings (Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Brahms, Albéniz, Granados…), in parallel with the International Piano Academy. Concerts at 7:30 PM, full price 20 €.
34th Edition at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory
The 34th edition of Les Nuits Pianistiques takes place from July 28 to August 8, 2026 at the Auditorium Campra of the Darius Milhaud Conservatory in Aix-en-Provence. The festival offers a series of piano recitals, chamber music concerts, and orchestral evenings, in conjunction with the International Piano Academy which is held over two sessions (July 27 – August 2, then August 3 – 9, 2026).
Concerts take place in the evening, at 7:30 PM, in the warm acoustics of the Auditorium Campra. The 2026 repertoire honors Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Brahms, Weber, Mahler, as well as a tribute to pianist Ricardo Viñes featuring Spanish and French music (Albéniz, Granados, Debussy, Ravel).
Preliminary Evenings
The 2026 edition is preceded by several off-site evenings: a lyrical recital on January 20 at Théâtre La Manufacture, a concert with the Orchestre Philharmonique de l'Opéra de Toulon on April 4 in La Ciotat, and a symphonic evening with the Orchestre symphonique de Sanremo (conducted by Gudni Emilsson) on June 1 at the Auditorium Campra.
Programme Les Nuits Pianistiques 2026
Preliminary Evenings
- Tuesday, January 20, 2026 — 7 PM · Théâtre La Manufacture · Lyrical Evening — Joanna Wos (soprano), Artur Jaron (piano) · arias by Verdi, Bellini, Puccini; pieces by Chopin and Paderewski
- Saturday, April 4, 2026 — 8 PM · Salle Michel Simon, La Ciotat · Orchestre Philharmonique de l'Opéra de Toulon, cond. Lawrence Golan, Nikita Mndoyants (piano) · Mozart (The Marriage of Figaro, Concerto No. 21, Symphony No. 40)
- Monday, June 1, 2026 — 8 PM · Auditorium Campra · Orchestre symphonique de Sanremo, cond. Gudni Emilsson, Inya Cutova and Gianluca Luisi (pianos) · Beethoven (Coriolan Overture), Schumann (Concerto Op. 54), Chopin (Concerto No. 1)
Festival — First Week
- Tuesday, July 28 — 7:30 PM · Recital Estefan Iatcekiw (piano) · Chopin (Ballade No. 4, Scherzo No. 4, Sonata No. 3), Rachmaninov (Sonata No. 1)
- Wednesday, July 29 — 7:30 PM · Trio Forte — Maxat Jussupov (violin), Murat Narbekov (cello), Timur Urmancheyev (piano) · Arensky (Trio Op. 32), Tchaikovsky (Trio Op. 50)
- Thursday, July 30 — 7:30 PM · Orchestre de chambre Atlantide, cond. Manuel Tévar · Albéniz, Mozart (Serenade K.375), Dvořák (Serenade Op. 44)
- Friday, July 31 — 7:30 PM · Weber Evening — Pierre-Stéphane Schmidlet (violin), Pascal Robault (viola), Véronique Marin (cello), David Walter (oboe), Pascal Gallet and Nikita Mndoyants (pianos) · Weber (Sonata No. 1, Trio Op. 63, Quartet Op. 18)
Festival — Second Week
- Tuesday, August 4 — 7:30 PM · Recital Attila Szaniszló (piano) · Liszt (Mephisto Waltz No. 1, Consolations, Reminiscences de Norma, Liebesträume No. 3, Sonata in B minor)
- Wednesday, August 5 — 7:30 PM · Chamber Music — Anne Ménier and Pierre-Stéphane Schmidlet (violins), Marie-Anne Hovasse (viola), Luc Dedreuil (cello), Pascal Moragues (clarinet), Claire Chiu and Samuel Parent (pianos) · Weber (Clarinet Quintet Op. 34), Mahler (Quartet), Brahms (Quintet Op. 34)
- Thursday, August 6 — 7:30 PM · Sacred and Profane Dances — Beer-Demander ensemble · Bach (Chaconne), Vivaldi, Bartók (Six Romanian Dances), Cosma
- Friday, August 7 — 7:30 PM · Tribute to Ricardo Viñes — Marta Zabaleta (piano) · Albéniz, Debussy (Estampes), Granados (Goyescas), Ravel (Miroirs), Albéniz (Iberia)
Program subject to change; concerts at the Auditorium Campra of the Darius Milhaud Conservatory unless otherwise stated.
Highlights Les Nuits Pianistiques 2026
- 34th edition of a leading piano festival in Aix-en-Provence, founded in 1993 by Michel Bourdoncle
- Recitals by Estefan Iatcekiw, Attila Szaniszló (Liszt's Sonata) and Marta Zabaleta (tribute to Ricardo Viñes)
- Opening symphonic evening on June 1 with the Orchestre symphonique de Sanremo (Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven)
- International Piano Academy over two sessions, from July 27 to August 9, 2026
- Accessible prices: full price 20 €, free for conservatory students and children under 15
Prices Les Nuits Pianistiques 2026
Practical information — Les Nuits Pianistiques
Practical Information
Access
Concerts take place at the Auditorium Campra, Conservatoire Darius Milhaud, 380 Avenue Mozart, 13100 Aix-en-Provence.
- By bus: Lines serving the Jas de Bouffan / Mozart district.
- By car: Conservatory parking or park-and-ride facilities with shuttle buses.
Schedules
- Evening concerts at 7:30 PM
Prices
- Full price: 20 euros
- Reduced price: 10 euros (students, job seekers)
- Free: Conservatory students and children under 15 years old
Contact
- Website: www.lesnuitspianistiques.fr
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 — Les Nuits Pianistiques
Auditorium Campra — Conservatoire Darius Milhaud
Conservatoire Darius Milhaud, 380 avenue Mozart, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, 13100 Aix-en-Provence