Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay
International vocal music festival at the Vézelay Basilica
About Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay
The Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay: A Vocal Beacon in the Heart of Burgundy
Founded in 1999 on the initiative of choirmaster Pierre Cao and his ensemble Arsys Bourgogne, the Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay have established themselves over a quarter of a century as one of the most anticipated vocal music events in Europe. Every year at the end of August, the eternal hill of Vézelay transforms into a global epicenter of song, bringing together around thirty concerts and events focused on the voice in all its expressions over four days.
Since 2015, the festival has been supported by the Cité de la Voix, a national center for vocal art based in Vézelay, whose influence extends throughout the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. Under the artistic direction of François Delagoutte, the Rencontres affirm a humanistic and universal vision of music: rooted in travel, encounters, and the mixing of cultures.
Exceptional Heritage Sites
The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Basilica of Vézelay, a Romanesque jewel from the 12th century and a UNESCO World Heritage site, forms the heart of the festival. Its ancient vaults, natural acoustics, and spiritual power create a unique setting for the grand evening concerts, gathering up to 1,000 spectators for each performance.
But the festival extends far beyond the basilica to encompass other exceptional locations in the area:
- Collégiale Saint-Lazare of Avallon — a Romanesque masterpiece from the 11th-12th century
- Jardin de la Maison Jules Roy (Vézelay) — terraces overlooking the Burgundian plain
- Church of Notre-Dame de Saint-Père — a Gothic cathedral from the 12th-15th centuries
- Church of Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre of Vault-de-Lugny — decorated with thirteen frescoes from the 16th-17th centuries
- Domaine La Croix Montjoie in Tharoiseau — open-air concerts with a panorama of Vézelay
A Program Balancing Excellence and Openness
The programming of the Rencontres is built around a skillful balance between the great masterpieces of sacred vocal repertoire — Monteverdi, Bach, Mozart, Bruckner — and more adventurous proposals, exploring world music, oral traditions, folk repertoires, and contemporary creations. From German polyphony to Afro-Venezuelan songs, from fado to Bolivian baroque music, each edition offers a musical kaleidoscope reflecting the richness of human cultures.
The greatest European vocal ensembles have graced the stages of Vézelay: Le Poème harmonique by Vincent Dumestre, Les Métaboles by Léo Warynski (associated ensemble since 2023), Vox Luminis, Cappella Mediterranea by Leonardo García Alarcón, Les Cris de Paris by Geoffroy Jourdain, Cappella Amsterdam by Daniel Reuss, and many other leading names.
Beyond Concerts: Workshops, Balls, and Parades
The festival is not just a series of recitals. It also offers vocal practice workshops open to amateurs, popular dances, musical parades through the village streets, and many free events. This participatory and convivial dimension, rare in classical music festivals, partly explains the extraordinary loyalty of the audience, who return year after year for this unique experience combining art, landscape, and human communion.
An Institution Serving Vocal Outreach
With nearly 10,000 music lovers welcomed each year — coming from all over France as well as Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom — the Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay embody the ideal of a human-scale yet internationally renowned festival. The support of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, the Department of Yonne, and the Ministry of Culture ensures the sustainability of an exceptional cultural project, rooted in a rural territory but open to the world.
Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay — edition 2026
The 26th edition of the Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay will take place from August 20 to 23, 2026, on the theme of Peace ("Da pacem"). Organized by the Cité de la Voix, these encounters offer four days of excellent vocal music — about thirty events, including ten free ones — in the Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay and the heritage sites of the Avallonnais, featuring the best vocal ensembles from Europe.
26th Edition — August 20-23, 2026, on the Theme of Peace
The Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay return from August 20 to 23, 2026, for their 26th edition, under the sign of Peace ("Da pacem"). On the eternal hill of Bourgogne, the Cité de la Voix gathers for four days the best vocal ensembles from Europe in the incomparable setting of the Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in other heritage sites of the region (collegiate church and sites in Avallon, church of Saint-Père, Tharoiseau estate).
The festival offers about thirty musical events, with continuous music from 8 AM to midnight on Friday and Saturday, spread across several locations. About ten events are free to access, and the festival provides free shuttles between sites. The basilica's forecourt is illuminated on Friday evening, and a "secret concert" is among the highlights.
A gospel singing workshop led by Magali Lange is also offered during the festival in Avallon, allowing amateur singers to immerse themselves in the spiritual and gospel repertoire and perform in concert with the Gospel Fire Trio. The program also includes world music (Mongolian overtone singing, vocal traditions) and workshops (singing, dance, qi gong).
Programme Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay 2026
Thursday, August 20, 2026 — Opening
- 3 PM — Ensemble Il Caravaggio, conducted by Camille Delaforge · Avallon
- 5 PM — "La Tribu Zinzolin": festive stroll from Porte du Barle to the basilica's forecourt · Vézelay
- Evening — Requiem by André Campra, Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset · Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
Friday, August 21, 2026
- 12 PM — "Here and Now", basilica's forecourt (free access)
- Evening — Ensemble Aedes, conducted by Mathieu Romano: "Résonnances", a cappella program celebrating the ensemble's 20th anniversary
- Illumination of the basilica's forecourt
Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Les Métaboles and the Africa Lyric Choir, conducted by Léo Warynski: "Chichester Psalms" by Bernstein, with works by Poulenc and Pärt
- Gli Angeli Genève: "Salve Regina"
- 10:30 PM — Secret concert (free access)
Sunday, August 23, 2026 — Closing
- 1 PM — Gospel Fire Trio, basilica's forecourt (free access)
- Gli Angeli Genève, conducted by Stephan MacLeod: St. John Passion by J.-S. Bach · Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
Full program, detailed schedules, and prices on the Cité de la Voix website.
Highlights Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay 2026
- About thirty musical events over four days, including ten free events
- Campra's Requiem by Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques as opening
- Bach's St. John Passion by Gli Angeli Genève as closing
- Secret concert with free access on Saturday evening
- Free shuttles and illumination of the basilica's forecourt
Prices Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay 2026
Practical information — Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay
Practical Information
Access to Vézelay
By car:
- From Paris (230 km): A6 motorway towards Lyon, exit n°21 Nitry, then D951 towards Vézelay (25 min)
- From Lyon (215 km): A6 motorway towards Paris, exit n°22 Avallon, then D957 towards Vézelay (25 min)
- From Auxerre (50 km): D606 then D951 towards Vézelay
By train:
- TER Paris-Bercy → Sermizelles (10 min from Vézelay) or Avallon (20 min)
- TGV Paris → Montbard (50 min from Vézelay), then TER or shuttle
The festival encourages carpooling via the Mobigo platform, with a notice board at the basilica ticket office during the festival.
Ticketing and Prices
Reservations for donors open in May; public ticketing opens in early June. Several booking methods are available:
- Online: on lacitedelavoix.net (supplement of €0.95 per ticket)
- By phone: +33 (0)3 86 94 84 40, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- On-site: ticket office in front of the basilica (Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
- By mail: Cité de la Voix, 4 rue de l'Hôpital – BP 4, 89450 Vézelay
Reduced rates are available for under 26s, job seekers, social welfare recipients, and groups (10 tickets or more). The Pass Culture is accepted (€8 per concert). A 10% discount applies for the purchase of 4 or more tickets in a single order.
Some events (parades, popular dances, discovery workshops) are offered on a free participation basis or free admission.
Accommodation
Vézelay has limited accommodation options on-site (hotels, B&Bs). It is strongly recommended to book several months in advance for the festival weekend. The towns of Avallon (20 km), Clamecy, and Auxerre offer many alternatives.
Contact
Cité de la Voix
4 rue de l'Hôpital – BP 4
89450 Vézelay
Tel: +33 (0)3 86 94 84 30
Email: [email protected]
Website: lacitedelavoix.net
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Where does it take place — Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay
Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay
4 rue de l'Hôpital – BP 4, 89450 Vézelay