Hey travellers, Biennale Musica 2026 at Venice returns to Venice from October 10 to 24, 2026, with the 70th edition of the International Festival of Contemporary Music organized by La Biennale di Venezia. For two weeks, the city will host concerts, performances, installations, talks and projects dedicated to contemporary sound research, bringing together artists from different countries and generations.
The theme chosen for this edition is “A Child of Sound”, a journey curated by artistic director Caterina Barbieri around the idea of an open and curious way of listening, free from predetermined musical categories. The programme brings together more than 130 artists, over 40 events and 23 new works, including 18 world premieres.
For travellers planning a trip to Venice in October 2026, Biennale Musica in Venice is therefore an event worth adding to the itinerary alongside the many cultural initiatives taking place across the city during the autumn.
Discover all the information you need about Biennale Musica Venice 2026 in this ultimate guide by Venice Insider Guide.
Biennale Musica Venice 2026: all info you need
Biennale Musica 2026 takes place in Venice from October 10 to 24, 2026, marking the 70th edition of the International Festival of Contemporary Music organized by La Biennale di Venezia.
Directed by composer Caterina Barbieri and titled “A Child of Sound”, the festival features more than 130 artists, over 40 events and 23 new works, including 18 world premieres.
Concerts, performances, installations and talks will take place mainly at the Venice Arsenale, as well as at venues including Ca' Giustinian, Teatro Goldoni, Teatro Malibran, Forte Marghera and Parco Albanese.
Tickets for concerts start at €25, with reduced rates for students and visitors under 26, while a three-performance pass costs €60. The 2026 programme includes artists such as Keiji Haino, Sarah Davachi, Lyra Pramuk, Kara-Lis Coverdale, Gigi Masin and KMRU, making Biennale Musica Venezia 2026 one of the key contemporary music events in Venice this autumn.
Biennale Musica 2026: When Is It?
Biennale Musica 2026 will take place from October 10 to 24, 2026.
This is the 70th edition of the International Festival of Contemporary Music, organized by La Biennale di Venezia and directed for the second consecutive year by Caterina Barbieri. The calendar includes events spread across almost two weeks, with concerts and activities taking place at several venues in Venice.
The extensive schedule makes it possible to create a personalized musical itinerary, even if you are only spending a few days in Venice.
A Child of Sound: The Theme of Biennale Musica 2026
A Child of Sound is the title chosen by Caterina Barbieri for the Biennale Musica 2026 edition.
The central idea begins with childhood understood as a condition of openness and discovery: listening to the world without predetermined expectations and allowing yourself to be surprised by sound and its possibilities.
This curatorial approach is reflected in a festival that crosses different eras, genres and geographical areas. Contemporary music interacts with historical repertoires, electronic music, improvisation, vocal music, traditional instruments and new forms of performance.
The result is a programme that can also appeal to visitors who do not normally attend contemporary music festivals. The emphasis is on experimentation, contamination and the discovery of very different approaches to sound.
Biennale Musica 2026 Program
One of the most interesting aspects of the 2026 edition is the scale of its programme. More than 130 artists, over 40 events and 23 new works are scheduled, including 18 world premieres.
The line-up includes composers, musicians, ensembles, performers and sound artists from a wide range of international backgrounds.
The Parco della Musica Contemporanea Ensemble, conducted by Tonino Battista, will present a programme bringing together Ennio Morricone, Johann Sebastian Bach and Sarah Davachi. The programme also includes the world premiere of Morricone's Musica per una fine, an unpublished posthumous work based on a poem by Pier Paolo Pasolini.
The festival also places considerable emphasis on the human voice. Composer and vocalist Lyra Pramuk will present a new transcultural opera together with Iranian percussionist Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, while the Tallis Scholars will bring the great vocal tradition of the Renaissance and Baroque periods to Venice.
The program of the Biennale Musica Venice 2026 also includes Kara-Lis Coverdale, Clarissa Connelly, the French ensemble ONCEIM, ML Buch, Venetian musician Gigi Masin and Kenyan musician KMRU, who will take part in the multisensory performance As Nature.
Opening Day: What Happens on October 10
Biennale Musica 2026 opens on Saturday, October 10.
Among the events scheduled for the first day is Heaven is Ours / O Céu é Nosso, a polyphonic celebration of the culture of Brazilian baloeiros.
At 6 pm, Laraaji – Alignment is scheduled, followed by the performance Heaven Is Ours / O Céu é Nosso. The evening continues at 9 pm at Teatro alle Tese with two world premieres: Changes in Air by Kara-Lis Coverdale and It has become something like this by Keiji Haino. The first day concludes with a DJ set by Livwutang at 11 pm.
The opening programme provides a good introduction to the overall spirit of the festival: contemporary music, electronic music, experimentation, performance and sounds from different cultural traditions coexist within the same programme.
ORIGINE: A Space Dedicated to Listening
One of the new features of the 2026 edition is ORIGINE, located in the Sale d'Armi at the Arsenale.
The space has been conceived as a place dedicated to deep listening, encounters and exchange. Its programme includes live concerts, listening sessions, film screenings and talks.
Masaru Hatanaka, from Tokyo listening bar Nightingale, will also contribute to the programme with musical and visual selections.
For visitors who want to experience Biennale Musica Venice 2026 beyond the traditional concert format, ORIGINE is therefore one of the spaces to look out for.
Keiji Haino and Sarah Davachi: The Biennale Musica 2026 Lions
Among the most important figures of the 2026 edition are the two artists receiving the Biennale Musica 2026 Lions.
The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement has been awarded to Keiji Haino, a key figure in Japan's noise and radical improvisation scene.
The Silver Lion goes to Canadian composer and organist Sarah Davachi, who will also perform an organ recital as part of the festival programme.
Haino will also present a site-specific concert for voice and string instruments, as well as a documentary dedicated to his career.
Where Is Biennale Musica 2026 Held?
Biennale Musica 2026 is not concentrated in a single venue. Events take place across several locations in Venice and, in some cases, on the mainland.
The heart of the festival is the Venice Arsenale, with events taking place at:
- Teatro alle Tese
- Tese dei Soppalchi
- Sale d'Armi
- Teatro Piccolo Arsenale
The programme also includes Ca' Giustinian, La Biennale's headquarters, as well as historic Venetian theatres such as Teatro Goldoni and Teatro Malibran.
Some initiatives will also take place at Forte Marghera and Parco Albanese in Mestre, extending the programme beyond the historic centre.
This distribution of venues makes Biennale Musica an interesting opportunity to discover parts of Venice that do not usually feature on classic tourist itineraries.
Biennale Musica 2026 Tickets: Prices and Passes
The online ticket office for Biennale Musica 2026 is open through the official La Biennale di Venezia website. Ticket prices vary depending on the type of event.
For concerts, tickets cost:
- €25 full price;
- €16 for students and visitors under 26;
- €18 with a Biennale Card;
- €14 with a Biennale Card Young Adult.
For performances at Teatro Goldoni, prices range from €30 to €15 for full-price tickets and from €20 to €12 for students and visitors under 26.
The ticket for Biennale College, on October 21, costs €10.
For ORIGINE, including live concerts, listening sessions, screenings and talks, tickets cost €5.
Biennale Musica 2026 Passes
Visitors planning to attend several events can purchase a three-performance pass for €60, or €36 for students and visitors under 26.
There is also an Art + Music option, which combines admission to Biennale Arte 2026 with a ticket for a Biennale Musica Venezia 2026 concert for €40.
For travellers planning a weekend or a longer stay in Venice, these options can be useful for combining several cultural experiences during the same trip.
How to Get to Biennale Musica 2026
For events at the Arsenale, visitors arriving from Piazzale Roma or Venezia Santa Lucia railway station can use the ACTV public transport network.
La Biennale recommends vaporetto line 1, stopping at Arsenale, or line 4.1, also stopping at Arsenale, for Teatro Piccolo Arsenale and Teatro alle Tese.
For Ca' Giustinian, the reference stop is San Marco Vallaresso, served by line 1.
Once in Venice, remember to allow enough time to walk between venues, especially if you are planning to attend two consecutive events in different parts of the city.
Useful Information for Visiting Biennale Musica 2026
Before purchasing tickets, it is advisable to check the details of each event carefully. Some concerts, performances and installations may include smoke effects or strobe lighting, which may not be suitable for every visitor.
Tickets and passes are non-refundable, and late admission is not permitted once a concert has begun.
For events at the Arsenale and Teatro Goldoni, a box office is also available at the venue from one hour before the scheduled performance, subject to availability.
Dedicated ticketing and access arrangements are available for visitors with disabilities. Companions of visitors with mobility disabilities may be entitled to free admission under the conditions established by La Biennale.
Why Visit Biennale Musica 2026 in Venice?
The distinctive character of Biennale Musica 2026 lies in the opportunity to experience contemporary music within the unique urban landscape of Venice.
A concert at the Arsenale, an experimental performance, a listening session or a sound installation can become part of a day spent walking through calli, campi and historic districts. The festival is therefore not simply a series of concerts: it creates connections between sound, space, art, performance and research.
For international visitors, the October programme also makes it possible to organize a cultural trip around contemporary art and music, combining Biennale Musica 2026 with Biennale Arte 2026, museums, exhibitions and other autumn events taking place across Venice.
Biennale Musica 2026 FAQ
When is Biennale Musica 2026?
Biennale Musica 2026 takes place in Venice from October 10 to 24, 2026. It is the 70th edition of the International Festival of Contemporary Music.
Who is the artistic director of Biennale Musica 2026?
The artistic director of Biennale Musica 2026 is Caterina Barbieri, the Italian composer and musician based in Berlin.
What is the theme of Biennale Musica 2026?
The title of the 2026 edition is A Child of Sound, exploring the idea of open, curious listening without predetermined stylistic boundaries.
How much do Biennale Musica 2026 tickets cost?
Standard concert tickets cost €25, with reduced prices available for students, visitors under 26 and Biennale Card holders. A three-performance pass costs €60, or €36 for students and visitors under 26.
Where is Biennale Musica 2026 held?
The main venues are located at the Venice Arsenale, including Teatro alle Tese, Tese dei Soppalchi, Sale d'Armi and Teatro Piccolo Arsenale. The programme also includes Ca' Giustinian, Teatro Goldoni, Teatro Malibran and other locations in Venice and on the mainland.
Where can I buy Biennale Musica 2026 tickets?
Tickets are available online through the official La Biennale di Venezia website. The online box office is open for events taking place from October 10 to 24, 2026.
Biennale Musica 2026: Save the Dates
Venice from October 10 to 24, 2026 will once again become an international meeting point for contemporary music. With A Child of Sound, Caterina Barbieri presents a programme bringing together world premieres, historical repertoire, electronic experimentation, vocal research, performance and emerging artists.
For anyone visiting Venice in autumn, Biennale Musica 2026 offers an opportunity to experience a different side of the city: one shaped not only by monuments and masterpieces, but also by new sounds, contemporary spaces and venues away from the most familiar tourist routes.
Hey travellers, if you are planning a trip to Venice in October 2026, keep an eye on the official calendar and choose the Biennale Musica 2026 events you would like to include in your itinerary. The programme is extensive and spread across several venues, so planning your movements in advance will allow you to enjoy the festival while still leaving plenty of time to explore Venice.
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