Event Details
Welcome to the Carinthian Summer Festival 2026
From 2 July to 2 August 2026, Ossiach Abbey on the shores of Lake Ossiach and numerous stages in Villach and Klagenfurt become venues for music, literature and discourse. The Carinthian Summer is one of Austria's most significant cultural festivals; founded in 1969 in Ossiach, it has also taken place in Villach since 1972. Under the artistic direction of Nadja Kayali, the 2026 edition carries the motto "fern & nah" (far and near).
Highlights
- Opening concert on 4 July with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
- World star Hilary Hahn with the Bremen Chamber Philharmonic on 22 July
- Church concerts at Ossiach Abbey Church and Klagenfurt Cathedral
- Free city festival "Villach klingt" on 18 July
- Morning concerts at 8:00 AM at the Protestant Church in Villach's city park
- Music hikes and city walks as an active part of the program
- Picnic concerts and special programming at the Carinthia Museum
Program
The festival opens on 2 July with a concert titled "Maria Orientalis" at Klagenfurt Cathedral, featuring hymns from East and West. The official opening ceremony and concert follow on 4 July at the Congress Center Villach. Musical highlights include clarinetist Kinan Azmeh on 3 July, Handel's oratorio "Messiah" on 10 July, and a concert by Hilary Hahn with the Bremen Chamber Philharmonic on 22 July, featuring the world premiere of a double concerto for violin and accordion by Aziza Sadikova. To mark the 100th anniversary of Ingeborg Bachmann's birth, the festival dedicates several literary and musical programs to the Carinthian poet. The season closes on 1 and 2 August with the concert "Mephisto's Keyboard Magic" featuring pianist Adela Liculescu at the Alban Berg Hall in Ossiach.
Tickets
Advance sales opened in late November 2025 with a 10 percent early bird discount. Tickets are available through the festival website and through oeticket; single concerts start at around 25 euros, day passes cost between 62 and 65 euros, and subscriptions for several concerts range from 99 to 145 euros. Prices for individual high demand concerts featuring international soloists can run higher.
Visitor Tips
- Book early, especially for concerts with well known soloists such as Hilary Hahn.
- A free shuttle bus runs to Ossiach concerts from Villach's main train station.
- Entry to the concert venue usually opens half an hour before the start.
- Bring light, warm clothing for the atmospheric evening concerts by the lake.
- The free city festival "Villach klingt" is a good, low commitment way to get a first taste of the festival.
