About
The Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron 2026 celebrates the piano in one of the most enchanting settings in Europe, inviting audiences to experience exceptional artistry beneath the centuries-old plane trees of the Parc du Château de Florans in Provence. From 16 July to 16 August 2026, this internationally renowned festival transforms a peaceful corner of southern France into a meeting place for the world's finest pianists, distinguished orchestras, and rising musical talents.
Since its founding in 1981, the festival has become one of the world's leading events dedicated to the piano. Its identity is shaped by an extraordinary combination of artistic excellence and natural beauty: open-air evening recitals, intimate chamber concerts, orchestral performances, and historically informed programmes unfold in an atmosphere unlike any traditional concert hall. Each performance is enriched by the tranquil surroundings of Provence, where music and landscape exist in perfect harmony.
The 2026 edition welcomes an outstanding roster of internationally acclaimed pianists. Among the festival's confirmed highlights are Arcadi Volodos, celebrated for his poetic interpretations and extraordinary virtuosity; Alexandre Tharaud, one of France's most distinguished musicians; Bruce Liu, whose brilliant artistry has captivated audiences worldwide since his victory at the International Chopin Competition; and Hayato Sumino, whose imaginative musicianship continues to attract a new generation of classical music enthusiasts.
Alongside these celebrated soloists, audiences will discover performances by exceptional chamber ensembles and emerging artists, reflecting the festival's long-standing commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Carefully curated programmes explore a broad musical landscape, from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, and Brahms to twentieth-century masterpieces and contemporary works, offering fresh perspectives on both familiar and rarely performed repertoire.
Beyond the main stage at Florans, the festival extends into historic abbeys, picturesque villages, and cultural landmarks throughout Provence. These concerts create an intimate dialogue between performers, audiences, and the remarkable heritage of the region, allowing visitors to experience classical music in inspiring and unexpected surroundings.
The Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron 2026 offers an unforgettable summer experience where world-class pianists, remarkable repertoire, and the timeless charm of Provence come together in one of the most prestigious piano festivals on the international calendar.
About the Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron
The Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron is an international piano festival, founded in 1980 by Paul Onoratini (1920–2010), then mayor of La Roque-d'Anthéron and René Martin, then an intern at the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs, seeking to create a piano festival. Held in the open air every summer in the park of the Château de Florans, it is now recognised as one of the major musical events in Europe. Some newspapers call it the "Mecca of the piano".
It is the meeting place for all pianistic talents, bringing together both new young talents and those whose reputation is well established.
The invited artists include Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, Boris Berezovsky, Youri Egorov, Evgeny Kissin, Zhu Xiao-Mei, François-Frédéric Guy, Claire Désert, Nikolai Lugansky, Valentina Igoshina, Brigitte Engerer,[6] Arcadi Volodos, Anne Queffélec, Alexandre Tharaud, Marie-Josèphe Jude, Hélène Grimaud, Mauricio Vallina, come regularly to perform at this festival.
Although the festival is centered on the piano, other instrumentalists sometimes join the stage, in orchestra formations such as the Concerto Köln and the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, or in chamber formation (Gautier and Renaud Capuçon, Trio Wanderer...), as well as various baroques ensembles, jazz and electronic music composers...
The piano is sometimes also replaced by a harpsichord, an organ, a pianoforte, a clavicord or even a toy piano...
The "ensembles in residence" are small chamber music ensembles made up of young musicians who came to La Roque-d'Anthéron to study during the masterclasses of the great masters of the piano. They also perform in various surrounding villages, La route de la Durance aux Alpilles, during free concerts to discover these artists of tomorrow.