From 28 August to 5 September 2026, Haydneum – Hungarian Centre for Early Music will present the fourth Haydneum Eszterháza Festival, which has rapidly established itself as one of Central Europe’s leading early music festivals. Set in the unique historic surroundings of the Esterházy Palace in Fertőd, the festival brings together internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles specialising in historically informed performance. Alongside exceptional musical experiences, it also invites audiences on a unique cultural journey.
Eszterháza is one of the iconic sites in music history. Joseph Haydn served the Esterházy court there for almost three decades, during which many of the defining works of his oeuvre were composed, and the palace became one of Europe’s foremost musical centres in the eighteenth century. The Haydneum Festival brings this exceptional heritage to life: most of the works, performed on period instruments, are heard in the very historic setting in which they were originally composed.
The festival programme includes a concert performance of an opera, orchestral and chamber concerts, as well as a series of special accompanying events. Once again, the concerts will feature artists of international standing.
One of the highlights of the festival is the opening concert, which continues the tradition established in previous years of presenting one of Joseph Haydn’s operas in concert performance. This year, audiences will have the opportunity to hear the rarely performed Orlando paladino (Knight Orlando). The distinguished cast includes Cyrille Dubois, Jone Martínez, Zoltán Megyesi, Attila Varga-Tóth, Ella Marshall Smith, Szilveszter Szélpál and Katalin Szutrély. György Vashegyi conducts the Orfeo Orchestra, one of the foremost ensembles specialising in historically informed performance.
The chamber music programme features an evening of Schubert performed by the outstanding Hungarian fortepianist Petra Somlai and the young Dutch baritone Raoul Steffani, as well as a Haydn concert by the internationally renowned Gringolts Quartet. Schubert’s “Great” Sonata in B-flat major will be performed, while Winterreise invites listeners on an inward journey. Remaining true to the spirit of Eszterháza, the Gringolts Quartet will perform string quartets by Joseph Haydn. Ádám Bősze will once again lead a themed walk, while the closing concert will feature music by Haydn and his contemporaries, conducted by the internationally acclaimed Swiss bass Stephan MacLeod. The keyboard soloist for the evening will be Olga Pashchenko.
Since its foundation, Haydneum has worked closely with the Esterházy Palace in Fertőd. Over the past few years, the Haydneum Eszterháza Festival has become one of the landmark events of Hungary’s cultural calendar, while attracting an increasing number of international visitors to Eszterháza.
Organiser: Haydneum – Hungarian Centre for Early Music
Co-operating partner: Eszterháza Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.