Experience magical musical moments between Haydn's legacy and the international present. Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt is one of Austria's most important cultural sites—a place where the history of music can still be felt. Joseph Haydn worked here for almost four decades, and it was here that Viennese Classicism grew to the point where it still inspires musicians from all over the world today. In 2026, this baroque masterpiece will once again open its doors for a concert year that brings tradition and modernity into an exciting dialogue.
With its magnificent Baroque interior and acoustics that are unrivalled anywhere in the world, the Haydn Hall will continue to be the heart of the concert year in 2026. It is the original venue, Haydn's place of work, and a lively festival forum all at once. Over 100 concerts take place here every year – a place that inspires artists, ensembles, and orchestras to perform at their best. Anyone who enters the hall immediately senses that music history is not a museum piece here, but a vibrant presence.
"The Esterhazy Foundations see their mission not only as preserving cultural values, but also as developing them in a lively way," emphasizes General Director Rico Gulda. "Esterházy Palace offers the ideal setting for this: here, the history and future of music meet in an inspiring dialogue. With the 2026 concert year, we are opening up spaces for encounters that continue Haydn's legacy and at the same time open up new perspectives."
Chamber Orchestra of Europe © Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Highlights of the 2026 concert year:
classic.Esterhazy – Masterpieces in the Haydn Hall
From the start of the year on January 17 to the festive Pannonian Christmas Gala on December 17, the classic.Esterhazy concert series runs like a thread through the year. Great voices and virtuoso instrumentalists will take turns performing, including Sir Antonio Pappano, Alexandre Kantorow, Eva Gevorgyan, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Highlights in 2026:
Start of the year with Nicolas Altstaedt & Freiburger Barockorchester: January 17
Mother's Day concert with Eva Gevorgyan and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe: May 10
Concours Géza Anda prize winners' concert with Ilya Shmukler, Daumants Liepiņš, and Rico Gulda: October 10
"Great Romanticism" – Kantorow & Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Sir Antonio Pappano: November 7
Pannonian Christmas Gala: December 17
classic.Esterhazy, January 17 to December 17, 2026
Isidore String Quartet © Jiyang Chen
quartetto plus – Haydn's legacy in dialogue with the present
March is dedicated entirely to the supreme discipline of chamber music: the string quartet. Leading international ensembles – including the award-winning Opus13, the Isidore String Quartet, and an ensemble from the Europe-wide platform MERITA – interpret Haydn, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and modern compositions. There is hardly a more suitable venue than this one: it was here that Haydn reinvented the genre, and it is here that the quartets unfold their full tonal depth.
March 20 to 22, 2026
European Concert 2026 – The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in Eisenstadt
A highlight of the international music year: the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in the Haydn Hall, conducted by Kirill Petrenko and with Gautier Capuçon as soloist. The concert will be broadcast worldwide, putting Esterházy Palace, where Haydn once laid the foundations for European musical traditions, in the global spotlight as a historic music venue.
May 1, 2026
Gautier Capuçon © Fabien Monthubert, Erato Warner Classics
Choir Festival – Vocal Diversity at
Castle
For the first time, Esterházy Castle will be the center of a major choir festival celebrating the richness of vocal music. Workshops with Johannes Hiemetsberger, ensembles such as Chorus Juventus, Philharmonia Chor Wien, Stimmlos, and Leinsemble, as well as the Pannonian Youth Orchestra, will fill the castle and its courtyards with sound. A special highlight is the closing concert by Finnish a cappella sensation Rajaton, whose genre-spanning stylistic confidence is celebrated worldwide.
June 18 to 21, 2026
With this rich and varied program, the Esterházy concert year 2026 will be a celebration of musical encounters—between eras, cultures, and generations of artists. Visitors to Esterházy Palace will not only experience concerts, but also a living chapter of European music history.
www.esterhazy.at
