Classical music in Bologna: the 2026 season
Updated on 26 February 2026 From Martina Cavezza
Bologna, UNESCO Creative City of Music, once again confirms itself for 2026 as the premier stage for the greatest performers on the international scene. From historic theatres to more informal clubs, the city offers a calendar ranging from Baroque repertoire to contemporary avant-garde. Whether you are an experienced listener or simply curious and looking for a new experience, the 2026 concert season has unmissable events in store.
In this article, we will explore the key players and events not to be missed:
- Bologna Festival
The Bologna Festival, now in its 45th edition, remains the cornerstone of the city’s musical programming. The Great Performers season (April 29 – June 10) officially opens on April 29, 2026 with a world-class event: Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Among the other most anticipated highlights of the festival: the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Daniel Harding (May 8); the grand finale with the Cuban-European Youth Orchestra conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock, featuring the extraordinary participation of mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey (June 10); and a “Special Project” event to mark in red on your calendar: the return of piano superstar Lang Lang (December 9).
The themed series The New, the Ancient, the Elsewhere (September 15 – October 27) is also not to be missed, a concert cycle dedicated to early and contemporary music, with composers and programs that move beyond traditional repertoires, also drawing on traditional music from other cultures.
For younger audiences, Bologna Festival presents Baby BoFe’, a series of six theatrical-musical events dedicated to children of all ages. The program ranges from repertoire for instrumental ensembles to the great operatic tradition, with scripts, costumes, and choreography specially created for each production. Every performance features live music accompanied by theatrical storytelling, with programs spanning from Baroque to contemporary music, from opera to modern dance.
- Opera and Symphony at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna
“Towards Ithaca” is the title of the 2026 season of the Teatro Comunale, offering opera, dance, and symphonic performances throughout the year at the Comunale Nouveau and the Auditorium Manzoni. There are eight titles in total: six staged productions at the Comunale Nouveau and two concert performances at the Auditorium Manzoni. The Nouveau will host La traviata (February 21 – March 1); Rapsodia satanica / Cavalleria rusticana (March 21 – 29); Roberto Devereux (April 17 – 22); Olympia (May 15 – 19); and Napoli milionaria (June 12 – 17). Meanwhile, the stage of the Auditorium Manzoni will present Semele (October 23 and 25) and Samson et Dalila (November 13 – 15).
- Musica Insieme and Accademia Filarmonica
The historic Bolognese institutions safeguard the chamber music repertoire with outstanding names. Musica Insieme (February – May) brings to the Auditorium Manzoni leading ensembles such as the Quartetto Adorno and the Orchestra del Mozarteum di Salisburgo (May 18).
The Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, on the other hand, presents in the evocative Sala Mozart at its headquarters in Via Guerrazzi: Saturdays at the Accademia, a chamber music concert series with a varied program. The season includes ten afternoon events, scheduled from February 14 to December 12, divided into two cycles: spring and autumn. Also at the Accademia, audiences can attend The Song of Poetry (February 21 – March 28), a new series of four concerts for piano and voice featuring internationally acclaimed artists.
- Classical in Sneakers: music for everyone
One of the most interesting new initiatives to engage younger audiences is the series Classica in Sneakers, a project by Bologna Festival that combines live classical music with a convivial atmosphere. From March 23 to November 9, at the Birreria Popolare, great music sheds its formal evening wear to be experienced in a relaxed setting, creating an original and accessible experience for all. The perfect way to enjoy a high-level concert while sipping a craft beer, breaking down every barrier between artists and audience.
- Palazzo Pepoli in Music and Pianofortissimo & Talenti
Music also moves into courtyards and historic palaces. Palazzo Pepoli hosts Palazzo Pepoli in Music, a series running from March to December that highlights the Baroque and early music repertoire within the Museum of the History of Bologna.
Meanwhile, the Courtyard of the Archiginnasio hosts the Pianofortissimo & Talenti season (June 15 – July 13). The series is dedicated to the great names of international pianism and the most promising young talents, such as the concert by the Orchestra Senzaspine and Daniele Martinelli on June 30.
- Classical Music outside the City
Outside the city, in Imola at the Teatro Ebe Stignani, be sure to catch the dates of the Emilia Romagna Festival which offers a varied musical program. Also in Imola, from January to May 2026, the concerts of the renowned International Piano Academy of Imola return at Palazzo Monsignani Sassatelli. In the plains area, at the Teatro Consorziale di Budrio, on April 2 the Orchestra Senzaspine will perform the live soundtrack to the silent film The Pilgrim (1923), creating an intense experience of cinema and live music. On May 22, at the Teatro Laura Betti in Casalecchio di Reno, the Symphonic Concert of the Orchestra Fondazione Pavarotti will perform Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68.
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Where great classical music resounds
A curious explorer with a passion for trekking and photography, I discover the world one step at a time. I have been writing for bolognawelcome.com and editor for extrabo.com since 2022.
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