| 8 – 18 JULY 2026 |
| TRADITION AND NEW HORIZONS |
| “Pärnu has always been a place of return and reconnection for me. In 1993 I came home to a country rediscovering its voice. Today, as we mark 35 years of renewed independence and 16 years of the Pärnu Music Festival, we celebrate not only our past but our cultural future.” Paavo Järvi |
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| photo credit: Kaupo Kikkas |
| ◆ The 2026 Pärnu Music Festival marks 35 years of renewed Estonian Independence with a programme celebrating nature, international talent and the next generation. |
| ◆ Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra perform five concerts, commencing with the world premiere of a new viola concerto by Tõnu Kõrvits with soloist Amihai Grosz, and Carl Nielsen’s Sinfonia espansiva (11 July). |
| ◆ Neeme Järvi and the Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra open the festival with Heino Eller’s Koit (Dawn) and Videvik (Twilight), masterpieces by the father of Estonia’s 20th century symphonic music. |
| ◆ Kristjan Järvi and Nordic Pulse celebrate Solstice with a vibrant tribute to Estonia’s long summer nights and ancient traditions. |
| ◆ Festival finales feature Rudolf Buchbinder and Alice Sara Ott in Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3, paired with the Pastoral Symphony, with Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra. |
| ◆ Additional highlights include premieres of new works by Estonian composers Liisa Hõbepappel, Evelin Seppar and Märt-Matis Lill, the launch of a Young Talents Programme mentoring emerging soloists, and showcases of rising star siblings Hans Christian and Henri Christoffer Aavik (Estonia) and Kristīne and Margarita Balanas (Latvia). |
| ◆ The Pärnu Music Festival and Järvi Academy is Estonia’s leading classical music summer event. Set in a secluded Baltic Sea bay and surrounded by iconic landscapes, Pärnu offers an idyllic experience of authentic Estonia. |
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| photo credit: Visit Estonia / Eiliki Pukk |
| Following a landmark year, which paid tribute to Arvo Pärt on his 90th birthday, the 16th Pärnu Music Festival returns to Estonia’s summer capital from 8–18 July, marking 35 years of Estonian Independence. Under Paavo Järvi’s artistic direction, joined by his father Neeme and brother Kristjan Järvi, the festival welcomes more than 300 musicians from around the world, cementing Pärnu’s reputation as Estonia’s summer-camp for the musical architects of tomorrow. |
| Nestled in a tranquil bay on the Baltic coast between Tallinn and Riga, Pärnu is an historic spa-town where time seems to slow down. Its wide, sun-washed beaches open onto a world of ancient bogs and forests in Soomaa National Park and the windswept UNESCO-listed island of Kihnu. The spirit of Estonia’s landscapes and cultural heritage are reflected in this year’s festival’s programme. |
| Neeme Järvi and the Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra open the festival (8 July) with performances of Heino Eller’s evocative symphonic poems Koit (Dawn) and Videvik (Twilight), alongside Dvořák’s In Nature’s Realm and Smetana’s The Moldau. Kristjan Järvi and Nordic Pulse follow with a performance honouring the Summer Solstice (2 concerts on 10 July). |
| Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra extend the festival’s journey through nature, with richly contrasted programmes featuring Carl Nielsen’s Sinfonia Espansiva and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. They are joined by Latvian sisters Kristīne and Margarita Balanas in Philip Glass’s Double Concerto (13 July) and star soloists Rudolf Buchbinder and Alice Sara Ott for performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 3 in the festival’s closing concerts (17, 18 July). |
| Returning to Pärnu after his hugely successful New York debut last autumn performing Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa with Midori and the Estonian Festival Orchestra, Hans Christian Aavik curates a chamber music programme entitled Rooted Landscapes, interweaving works by Veljo Tormis, Tõnu Kõrvits, Jaan Rääts and Béla Bartók (13 July). His brother Henri Christofer Aavik—winner of the 2025 German Conducting Award—follows with a late night concert and the world premiere of a new double flute concerto by Märt-Matis Lill with the Pärnu City Orchestra. |
| With four world-premieres this summer, the Pärnu Music Festival continues its commitment to championing contemporary music. Highlights include the first performance of Tõnu Kõrvits’ Viola Concerto, with soloist Amihai Grosz (11 July), and the continuation of a major initiative launched by Paavo Järvi in 2024 to commission new works by Estonian female composers. This year’s featured composers are Liisa Hõbepappel (12 July) and Evelin Seppar (17 July). |
| In a further new initiative, Paavo Järvi will invite emerging soloists (to be announced) to perform with the Estonian Festival Orchestra in a Young Talents concert (14 July). Designed to support artists at the threshold of their international careers, the project creates a significant platform for the next generation of performers. Together with the annual Järvi Academy for conductors and young instrumentalists—whose masterclasses and concerts have been integral to the festival since its inception—this new project underscores the festival’s long-standing dedication to artistic mentorship and development. |
| “I see my job more as a facilitator of composers and young musicians that I can help” says Paavo Järvi. “because at one point somebody helped me. Everybody needs someone to open the door and it’s my turn now.” |
| PÄRNU MUSIC FESTIVAL PROGRAMME 2026 |
| 8 July, Wednesday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra Neeme Järvi Heiner Eller: Koit (Dawn) Dvořák: In Nature’s Realm, Op. 91 Smetana: The Moldau Heino Eller: Videvik (Twilight) |
| 9 July, Thursday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Järvi Academy Gala Conducting participants of the Järvi Academy Järvi Academy Sinfonietta Programme: selected participants from the Järvi Academy Conducting masterclasses perform works honed during the start of the course. |
| 10 July, Friday 19.00 h & 22.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| “Solstice” Nordic Pulse / Kristjan Järvi |
| 11 July, Saturday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Estonian Festival Orchestra Paavo Järvi Soloist: Amihai Grosz (viola) Tõnu Kõrvits (1969): Concerto for Viola (world-premiere) Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 Sinfonia espansiva |
| 12 July, Sunday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Estonian Festival Orchestra Paavo Järvi Soloists: Kristīne Balanas (violin), Margarita Balanas (cello) Liisa Hõbepappel (1994): new orchestral work (world-premiere) Glass: Double Concerto for Violin and Cello Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 Sinfonia espansiva |
| 13 July, Monday 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 & 20.30 h St Elisabeth Church |
| Järvi Academy Programme: selected participants from the Järvi Academy instrumental courses perform works honed during the course. |
| 13 July, Monday 19.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| “Rooted Landscapes” Chamber music concert curated by violinist Hans Christian Aavik, showcasing rare instruments from the Estonian Instrument Fund Veljo Tormis: It is Late Summer arr. for string orchestra Tõnu Kõrvits: Night Music Jaan Rääts: Concerto for Chamber Orchestra Béla Bartók: Divertimento for Strings |
| 13 July, Monday 22.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| “The Creation” – Night concert Pärnu City Orchestra Henri Christofer Aavik Soloists: Maarika Järvi & Monika Mattiesen (flutes) Rebel: Les Élémens / Chaos Copland: Ballet Suite Appalachian Spring / Moderato – Andante (The Lord’s Day) Märt-Matis Lill (1975): Concert for Flutes (world-premiere) Unsuk Chin: Subito con forza Milhaud: La création du monde |
| 14 July, Tuesday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| EFO & Young Talents Estonian Festival Orchestra Paavo Järvi Paavo Järvi invites three young soloists to perform with the Estonian Festival Orchestra. Programme and soloists TBA |
| 15 July, Wednesday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Järvi Academy – Final Concert Participant conductors on the Järvi Academy Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra Pärnu City Orchestra Programme: selected participants from the Järvi Academy Conducting masterclasses perform works honed during the final phase of the course. |
| 16 July, Thursday 14.00 h Villa Ammende |
| Children’s concert |
| 16 July, Thursday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Chamber Music Gala Soloists from the Estonian Festival Orchestra Programme TBA |
| 17 July, Friday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Estonian Festival Orchestra Paavo Järvi Soloist: Rudolph Buchbinder (piano) Evelin Seppar (1986): new orchestral work (world-premiere) Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major Pastoral |
| 18 July, Saturday 20.00 h Pärnu Concert Hall |
| Estonian Festival Orchestra Paavo Järvi Soloist: Alice Sara Ott (piano) Beethoven: The Consecration of the House Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major Pastoral |
| All concerts will be streamed live for free on: https://parnumusicfestival.tv/pmf |
| https://parnumusicfestival.ee/en/home/ |
