EarRelevant’s 2026 summer festival guide: 66 classical, opera & jazz events across North America | EarRelevant

A curated list of festivals featuring Classical, Opera & Jazz

EarRelevant Staff | 26 MAY 2026

Summer festival season has arrived once again, bringing with it a rich array of musical destinations across North America. Here at EarRelevant, we’ve assembled a curated list of 66 summer festivals devoted to classical music, opera, jazz, and related genres, taking place primarily between Memorial Day weekend and the close of summer in September 2026.

This list is intentionally selective rather than comprehensive. It includes 63 festivals in the United States and 3 in Canada, with streamlined information focused on essentials: location, dates, artistic leadership, genres, and official website links.

From internationally renowned institutions to regional gems in mountain towns, coastal retreats, and major cultural centers, these festivals showcase artists ranging from emerging young musicians to celebrated performers and conductors. Whether your interests lean toward orchestral music, chamber music, opera, avant-garde experimentation, or jazz under the stars, we hope this guide helps inspire your 2026 summer travels. ■

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United States: Alaska · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Georgia · Iowa · Idaho · Illinois · Massachusetts · Maine · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nevada · New Jersey· New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · South Carolina · Texas · Virginia · Vermont · Washington · Wyoming • Canada: Ontario · Quebec

Note: Only the states and provinces named above have festivals appearing in this curated list.

United States

Alaska

SITKA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sitka, AK
June 1 – June 28, 2026
Artistic Director: Zuill Bailey
Genres: Classical
Website: sitkamusicfestival.org

Arkansas

OPERA IN THE OZARKS
Eureka Springs, AR
June 26 – July 24, 2026
Artistic Director: Thomas Cockrell
Genres: Classical, Opera
Website: operaintheozarks.com

California

CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Santa Cruz, CA
July 26 – August 9, 2026
Artistic Director: Cristian Măcelaru
Genres: Classical
Website: cabrillomusic.org

CARMEL BACH FESTIVAL
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
July 11 – 25, 2026
Artistic Director and Principal Conductor: Grete Pedersen
Genres: Classical
Website: bachfestival.org

FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY
Napa Valley, CA
July 4 – 19, 2026
President & CEO: Richard Walker
Genres: Classical
Website: festivalnapavalley.org

LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY SUMMERFEST
La Jolla, CA
July 21 – August 29, 2026
Music Director: Inon Barnatan
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: ljms.org

MAINLY MOZART ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
San Diego, CA
June 17 – 27, 2026
Artistic Director: Michael Francis
Genres: Classical
Website: mainlymozart.org

MUSIC IN THE VINEYARDS
Napa Valley, CA
August 2 – 23, 2026
Artistic Directors: Michael & Daria T. Adams
Genres: Classical, Chamber Music
Website: musicinthevineyards.org

MUSIC@MENLO
Atherton, CA
July 17 – August 8, 2026
Artistic Directors: David Finckel & Wu Han
Genres: Classical
Website: musicatmenlo.org

OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ojai, CA
June 11 – 14, 2026
Artistic Director: Ara Guzelimian
Genres: Classical
Website: ojaifestival.org

Colorado

ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL
Aspen, CO
July 1 – August 23, 2026
Artistic Director: Robert Spano
Genres: Classical
Website: aspenmusicfestival.com

BRAVO! VAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Vail, CO
June 25 – August 6, 2026
Artistic Director: Anne-Marie McDermott
Genres: Classical
Website: bravovail.org

CENTRAL CITY OPERA FESTIVAL
Central City, CO
June 27 – August 2, 2026
General & Artistic Director: Pelham G. Pearce
Genres: Opera
Website: centralcityopera.org

COLORADO MUSIC FESTIVAL
Boulder, CO
July 9 – August 9, 2026
Artistic Director: Peter Oundjian
Genres: Classical, Chamber Music
Website: coloradomusicfestival.org

NATIONAL REPERTORY ORCHESTRA
Breckenridge, CO
June 20 – August 8, 2026
Artistic Director: Michael Stern
Genres: Classical
Website: nromusic.org

Connecticut

NORFOLK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Norfolk, CT
June 27 – August 16, 2026
Artistic Director: Melvin Chen
Genres: Jazz
Website: music.yale.edu/norfolk

Idaho

SUN VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sun Valley, ID
July 27 – August 20, 2026
Music Director: Alasdair Neale
Genres: Classical
Website: svmusicfestival.org

Illinois

RAVINIA FESTIVAL
Highland Park, IL
June 5 – September 13, 2026
Artistic Director: Marin Alsop
Genres: Classical, Jazz, Other
Website: ravinia.org

Iowa

DES MOINES METRO OPERA
Indianola, IA
June 26 – July 19, 2026
Artistic Director: Michael Egel
Genres: Classical, Opera
Website: desmoinesmetroopera.org

ZENITH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Des Moines, IA
June 9 – 13, 2026
Artistic Director: Ashley Sidon
Genres: Chamber Music
Website: zenithchambermusicfestival.org

Maine

BOWDOIN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Brunswick, ME
June 20 – August 1, 2026
Artistic Directors: David Ying & Phillip Ying
Genres: Classical
Website: bowdoinfestival.org

MONTEUX SCHOOL & MUSIC FESTIVAL
Hancock, ME
June 14 – July 26, 2026
Artistic Director: Tiffany Lu
Genres: Classical
Website: monteuxmusic.org

Massachusetts

ROCKPORT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Rockport, MA
June 5 – July 12, 2026
Artistic Director: Barry Shiffman
Genres: Classical
Website: rcmf.org

TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL
Lenox, MA
June 19 – September 6, 2026
Artistic Director: Andris Nelsons
Genres: Classical
Website: bso.org/tanglewood

Minnesota

NORTHERN LIGHTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Gilbert, MN
July 5 – 25, 2026
Artistic Director: Veda Zuponcic
Genres: Classical
Website: northernlightsmusic.org/

MINNESOTA BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL
Winona, MN
June 28 – July 19, 2026
Artistic Director: Ned Kirk
Genres: Classical
Website: mnbeethovenfestival.org

Missouri

TANEYCOMO FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Branson, MO
June 14 – 27, 2026
Executive & Artistic Director: Larkin Sanders
Genres: Classical
Website: taneycomofestivalorchestra.org

Montana

TIPPET RISE ART CENTER
Fishtail, MT
August 14 – September 13, 2026
Artistic Advisor: Pedja Mužijevic
Genres: Classical
Website: tippetrise.org/

Nevada

CLASSICAL TAHOE
Incline Village, NV
July 10 – August 8, 2026
Artistic Director: Laura Hamilton
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: classicaltahoe.org

New Jersey

THE PRINCETON FESTIVAL
Princeton, NJ
June 5 – 21, 2026
Music Director: Rossen Milanov
Genres: Classical
Website: princetonsymphony.org/festival

New Mexico

SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Santa Fe, NM
July 12 – August 17, 2026
Artistic Director: Marc Neikrug
Genres: Classical
Website: santafechambermusic.com

THE SANTA FE OPERA
Santa Fe, NM
June 26 – August 22, 2026
Directors: Robert K. Meya, general director; Harry Bicket, music director
Genres: Opera
Website: santafeopera.org

New York

BARD MUSIC FESTIVAL & SUMMERSCAPE
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
June 26 – August 16, 2026
Artistic Directors: Leon Botstein, Christopher H. Gibbs, Gideon Lester
Genres: Classical, Opera, Theater, Dance
Website: fishercenter.bard.edu

BRIDGEHAMPTON CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Bridgehampton & Water Mill, NY
July 19 – August 16, 2026
Artistic Director: Marya Martin
Genres: Classical
Website: bcmf.org

CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC & THE ARTS
Katonah, NY
June 14 – August 9, 2026
Artistic Director: Kathy Schuman
Genres: Classical, Opera, Jazz, Other
Website: caramoor.org

THE GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL
Cooperstown, NY
July 10 – August 16, 2026
Directors: Rob Ainsley, artistic & general director; Joseph Colaneri, music director
Genres: Classical
Website: glimmerglass.org

THE HAMPTONS FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Wainscott, NY
September 4 – 13, 2026
Artistic Director: Michael Palmer
Genres: Classical
Website: thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com

LAKE GEORGE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Lake George, NY
August 9 – 20, 2026
Artistic Directors: Barbora Kolárová & Roger Kalia
Genres: Classical
Website: lakegeorgemusicfestival.com

ORCHESTRA OF ST LUKE’S BACH FESTIVAL
New York City, NY
June 2 – 23, 2026
President & Executive Director: James Roe
Genres: Classical
Website: oslmusic.org/subscriptions/2025-2026/bach-festival

SEAGLE FESTIVAL
Schroon Lake, NY
June 20 – August 15, 2026
Music Director: Darren K. Woods
Genres: Classical
Website: seaglefestival.org

TIME:SPANS FESTIVAL 2026
New York, NY
August 8 – 22, 2026
Artistic Director: Thomas Fichter
Genres: Contemporary Classical, Avant-Garde
Website: timespans.org

North Carolina

BREVARD MUSIC CENTER SUMMER FESTIVAL
Brevard, NC
May 30 – August 2, 2026
Artistic Director: Keith Lockhart
Genres: Classical, Symphony, Opera, Chamber, Jazz
Website: brevardmusic.org

JOHN COLTRANE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
High Point, NC
August 29 – 30, 2026
Artistic Director: Joe Williams
Genres: Jazz
Website: coltranejazzfest.com

EASTERN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Greensboro, NC
June 30 – August 1, 2026
Artistic Director: Gerard Schwarz
Genres: Classical
Website: tangercenter.com/events/eastern-festival-of-music

HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Highlands & Cashiers, NC
July 5 – August 9, 2026
Artistic Director: William Ransom
Genres: Classical
Website: h-cmusicfestival.org

Ohio

BLOSSOM MUSIC FESTIVAL
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
July 3 – September 6, 2026
Artistic Director: Franz Welser-Möst
Genres: Classical, Other
Website: clevelandorchestra.com/blossom

CINCINNATI OPERA SUMMER FESTIVAL
Cincinnati, OH
June 11 – July 26, 2026
Artistic Director: Evans Mirageas
Genres: Opera
Website: cincinnatiopera.org

Oregon

CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST SUMMER FESTIVAL
Portland & Beaverton, OR
June 25 – July 26, 2026
Artistic Directors: Gloria Chien & Soovin Kim
Genres: Classical
Website: cmnw.org

OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
Eugene, OR
June 26 – July 12, 2026
Artistic Partners: Jos van Veldhoven, Ken-David Masur
Genres: Classical
Website: oregonbachfestival.org

South Carolina

SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA
Charleston, SC
May 22 – June 7, 2026
General Director: Mena Mark Hanna
Genres: Classical, Opera, Jazz, Other
Website: spoletousa.org

Texas

TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Houston, TX
June 6 – 27, 2026
Artistic Director: Alan Austin
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: www.tmf.uh.edu

ROUND TOP MUSIC FESTIVAL
Round Top, TX
June 1 – July 11, 2026
Artistic Director: James Dick
Genres: Classical
Website: festivalhill.org

Vermont

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Colchester, VT
June 23 – July 18, 2026
Artistic Director: Elizabeth Chang
Genres: Classical
Website: gmcmf.org

KILLINGTON MUSIC FESTIVAL
Killington, VT
June 20 – July 18, 2026
Artistic Director: Daniel Andai
Genres: Classical
Website: killingtonmusicfestival.org

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Manchester, VT
July 9 – August 6, 2026
Artistic Director: Philip Setzer
Genres: Classical
Website: mmfvt.org

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL
Marlboro, VT
July 11 – August 9, 2026
Artistic Directors: Mitsuko Uchida & Jonathan Biss
Genres: Classical
Website: marlboromusic.org

WEST WINDSOR MUSIC FESTIVAL
West Windsor, VT
June 26 – 28, 2026
Artistic Director: Sakiko Ohashi
Genres: Classical
Website: westwindsorvtmusicfestival.com

Virginia

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BACH FESTIVAL
Harrisonburg, VA
June 7 – 14, 2026
Artistic Director: David Berry
Genres: Classical
Website: svbachfestival.org

WINTERGREEN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Nellysford, VA
July 3 – 26, 2026
Artistic Director: Erin Freeman
Genres: Classical
Website: wintergreen-music.org

WOLF TRAP
Vienna, VA
May 28 – September 20, 2026
President & CEO: Arvind Manocha
Genres: Classical, Jazz, Other
Website: wolftrap.org

Washington

BELLINGHAM FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Bellingham, WA
June 28 – July 19, 2026
Artistic Director: Marcelo Lehninger
Genres: Classical
Website: bellinghamfestival.org

ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Orcas Island, WA
August 1 – 16, 2026
Artistic Director: Aloysia Friedmann
Genres: Classical
Website: oicmf.org

Wyoming

GRAND TETON MUSIC FESTIVAL
Jackson Hole, WY
July 3 – August 22, 2026
Artistic Director: Sir Donald Runnicles
Genres: Classical
Website: gtmf.org

CANADA

Ontario

FESTIVAL OF THE SOUND
Parry Sound, ON
July 17 – August 2, 2026
Artistic Director: James Campbell
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: festivalofthesound.ca

OTTAWA CHAMBERFEST
Ottawa, ON
July 23 – August 6, 2026
Artistic Director: Carissa Klopoushak
Genres: Classical
Website: chamberfest.com/

Quebec

MONTREAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Montréal, QC
June 11 – 21, 2026
Artistic Director: Denis Brott, C.M., C.Q.
Genres: Classical
Website: festivalmontreal.org

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This entry was posted in Chamber & Recital, Jazz & World, Symphony & Opera, ~ Uncategorized ~ and tagged Music Festivals, Summer Festivals on May 26, 2026 by EarRelevant Staff.