Garda Festival 2026 in Peschiera and Verona: music, awards and art exhibitions

The Garda Festival 2026 returns from July 24 to August 1, 2026, for its fourth edition under the direction of Maximilien Seren-Piccinni and promoted by the Niccolò Piccinni Foundation, with the theme “Beyond the Surface.” The program opens on Friday, July 24 in Peschiera at the Teatro Estivo of the Artillery Barracks at Porta Verona with saxophonist Jacopo Taddei and pianist Filippo Farinelli presenting “Shaping the Curve.”

On Saturday, July 25, Donatella Rettore will hold the talk “Splendida‑Mente,” followed by the delivery of the Premio Cigno del Garda 2026 sponsored by Cantine Vitevis. Sunday, July 26 features the Musici Piccinniani marking the 270th anniversary of Mozart with “The Mozart Wunderkammer,” while Friday, July 31 in Peschiera at the Church of San Martino hosts “Viola Nocturna” by violist Vittorio Benaglia. The festival concludes on Saturday, August 1 at the Conservatorio “Evaristo Felice Dall’Abaco” in Verona with the 44th Premio Piccinni awarded to Pier Luigi Pizzi and an homage to Elena Moșuc, also a Premio Cigno del Garda 2026 recipient, with baritone Yu Ruoyang and pianist Fabio Maggio.

The event also introduces a new marble statue made with support from Verona Stone District and the marble school of the Istituto Salesiano San Zeno, and is backed by Banca Ifis and Cantine Vitevis (with a limited-edition Garda DOC Brut label). The festival includes five events with free admission, subject to availability.
Italian Version