Grafenegg plans 48 events across three festival formats for 2027
Wednesday 4th November 2026 on 14:31 in
Austria
Grafenegg will stage 48 events in three formats next summer, with composer Steve Reich in the spotlight, ORF reported. The programme runs from June 17 to September 5, 2027, and will feature more than 80 international participants.
The summer programme will open with Sommerklänge, running from June 17 to July 17 and featuring exclusively the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria. The format includes the traditional Summer Night Gala on June 17 and 18. From July 24 to August 7, a new programme, Im Herzen Europas, will be presented in cooperation with the European Union Youth Orchestra, whose musicians represent 27 EU countries.
The Grafenegg Festival begins on August 13 with a semi-staged performance of Dvorak’s opera Rusalka. Concerts are also planned with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic. Performers will include Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Andris Nelsons and Daniil Trifonov.
Johannes Neubert, the festival’s new artistic director, said he wanted to build on past successes while developing the programme carefully. His predecessor, Rudolf Buchbinder, will remain festival president and perform in four concerts.
The Grafenegg Academy Orchestra will become the Grafenegg Festival Orchestra under conductor Vladimir Jurowski. The Ink Still Wet workshop will continue, and Reich will serve as composer in residence, with 19 of his works scheduled.
Organisers said ticket prices will not rise in 2027. Children up to 12 will continue to receive free admission to lawn seating, while people up to 26 will receive a 50 per cent discount. General ticket sales begin on November 25.
The Grafenegg cultural company has an annual budget of 13.18 million euros. Lower Austria contributes 6.99 million euros, while the company raises 5.91 million euros itself. The company is a public-private partnership involving Lower Austria’s cultural holding, the Metternich-Sandor family and the municipalities of Grafenegg and Grafenwörth.