Grachtenfestival 2027 – Classical & Jazz in Amsterdam

Welcome to the Grachtenfestival 2027 in Amsterdam

Grachtenfestival 2027 runs from 13 to 22 August in Amsterdam – the 30th edition of the Netherlands’ largest festival for classical music and jazz. For ten days, young musicians (generally aged up to 35) perform at around 100 places across the city: canal houses, gardens, rooftops, parks, churches, museums and pontoons on the water. The full 2027 programme is due at the end of June; ticket sales also open in June at grachtenfestival.nl.

Highlights & Attractions at Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam

• Ten days of classical music and jazz with no central festival site – Amsterdam itself is the stage.
• A focus on young talent: soloists, ensembles and jazz groups from the Netherlands and abroad, often competition winners.
• House, garden and rooftop concerts in private canal houses in the centre; the exact address is emailed only on the morning of the concert.
• Many free park, square and neighbourhood concerts, plus the Junior Grachtenfestival for children and families.
• Artist in Residence 2027: soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra, winner of the 2026 GrachtenfestivalPrijs.
• In-house competitions: the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours (GCC) and the Grachtenfestival Jazz Competition (GJC).
• Typical venues from recent editions include the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the ARTIS Planetarium, the Hortus Botanicus, Westerpark, Fabrique des Lumières and floating stages on the canals.

Program & Schedule: What to Expect in 2027

The 2027 lineup will be published at the end of June. In 2026 the festival staged 160 concerts at 110 locations with around 600 musicians and more than 30,000 visitors – about two thirds at free events. Besides chamber and solo recitals, expect Jazz Gems, pop-up sets, NTR Podium broadcasts and the Artist in Residence series. Concerts are spread through the day, roughly from 10:00 to 23:00; exact start times follow with the programme.

Do not confuse it with the Prinsengrachtconcert on the pontoon in front of Hotel Pulitzer: that free open-air concert is produced separately by Stichting Prinsengrachtconcert, AVROTROS and Hotel Pulitzer, even if it often falls in the same August week. Details: prinsengrachtconcert.nl. At Grachtenfestival itself, latecomers are not admitted after a concert has started (exceptions only for designated radio formats). If heavy rain is forecast, outdoor concerts move to a nearby indoor space; you still go first to the advertised outdoor meeting point.

Tickets & Admission for Grachtenfestival Amsterdam

Many concerts are free, with no seat reservations – arrive early. Paid tickets go on sale each June via grachtenfestival.nl; 2027 prices are not out yet. For orientation, the last edition charged roughly 10 to 25 euro per paid concert; Friends of the festival received two complimentary tickets worth up to 19.50 euro. Podiumpas holders can book tickets for paid concerts (one per concert); a VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART gave 50 percent off (max. 4 people); Stadspas covered a selection of 15 concerts at 2.50 euro plus service fee, and CJP offered 50 percent on a selection. E-tickets are emailed. No refunds; resale via TicketSwap is allowed. Buy only from the official website or authorised partners.

Visitor Tips: Travel & Accommodation in Amsterdam

• Getting there: Amsterdam Centraal by NS and international rail, plus metro, tram and bus (GVB) and bicycle. Venues are spread across every borough – walking or cycling between shows in the canal ring is the most practical option. Schiphol Airport is about 20 minutes by train from Centraal.
• Weather and clothing: Mid-August in Amsterdam is often 18–24 °C, with showers and breeze along the canals. There is no dress code. Pack a light rain jacket for outdoor sets; bulky umbrellas are awkward in small gardens. Arrive about 30 minutes before start time.
• Where to stay: August is peak season – book hotels and apartments in the centre and along the canals early. The festival office is at Vondelpark 3, 1071 AA Amsterdam; staying in the inner city, Oud-West or around Vondelpark shortens the hops between venues.
• Secret garden concerts: Buy tickets for Huis-, Tuin- en Dakterrasconcerten online even though the address arrives by email on the morning of the show – all of these venues are in the centre. Do not look them up or wait outside before the email arrives; the private households prefer to stay undisturbed.
• Access and free concerts: Not every location is wheelchair accessible – each concert page states this, and help is available via [email protected]. For park and pontoon concerts, come early. Subscribe to the newsletter on grachtenfestival.nl for the 2027 programme, rain plans and any extra travel notes.