Summer 2026
Themed “American Dreams”, the Lucerne Festival’s summer edition, the first under new Artistic Director Sebastian Nordmann, will explore the rich and varied history of American music, spanning a broad spectrum of stylistic traditions and cultural influences – from musical theater and film music to jazz and minimalism.
The festival welcomes Jörg Widmann as the new Artistic Director of the Lucerne Festival Academy, composer-in-residence Mark Andre, celebrates Anne-Sophie Mutter’s 50th stage anniversary in Lucerne, and features Augustin Hadelich as “artiste étoile“.
Over a period of 32 days, more than 120 events will be presented. The festival features leading international soloists, more than 20 orchestras, and places particular emphasis on the concerts of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO).
Concert Calendar in Detail
List of World Premiers
Riccardo Chailly in Conversation with Sebastian Nordmann (Video)
Augustin Hadelich in Conversation with Sebastian Nordmann (Video)
"American Dreams“
America dreams on . . . It began 250 years ago, when the United States formally declared its independence on 4 July 1776. And the dream carried forward as American composers carved out new musical worlds: jazz and film scores, folk and Minimalism came into their own, while composers like Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and Korngold found a haven there and reshaped the growing musical landscape. With its “American Dreams” theme, Lucerne Festival Summer 2026 showcases the richly varied forms of expression in which musical dreams take shape.
Sebastian Nordmann on Lucerne Festival Summer 2026:
“We do not wish to comment on American day-to-day politics. ‘American Dreams‘ stands for the individual dreams and diverse styles of American music history. Unlike in Europe, development in America has been broader, more multifaceted, and less defined by a separation between ‘serious’ and ‘popular’ music. In today’s times, political developments risk further deepening divides between cultures and nations – with the summer motto, we aim to build bridges through music and create platforms for exchange. A highly heterogeneous programme has been created, which we are delighted to present to our audience in all its diversity. This includes artists such as our ‘artiste étoile‘ Augustin Hadelich, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New York, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the poet Amanda Gorman, and the clarinettist Doreen Ketchens from New Orleans, as well as music by Charles Ives, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Amy Beach, and Frank Zappa."
All Pieces of Music Exploring the Theme “American Dreams“
