PÉCS CANTAT 2026
August 3–9

Pécs, the City of Europa Cantat (1988, 2015), welcomes choirs and conductors who would like to take part in a joyful, friendly festival in one of Hungary’s most beautiful historic cities.

Programs

2026. AUG. 3

Arrival in Pécs and hotel check-in.

  • 18.00-20.00

     

    Masterclass

    Open to the public

    Venue: University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Room 202

2026. AUG. 4

  • 10.00-12.00

     

    Masterclass

    Open to the public

    Venue: University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Room 202

  • Masterclass

    Open to the public

    Venue: University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Room 202

     

    14.00-16.30

2026. AUG. 5

  • 10.00-12.00

     

    Masterclass

    Open to the public

    Venue: University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Room 202

  • Masterclass with orchestra rehearsal

    Open to the public

    Venue: University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Room 202

     

    14.00- 16.30

2026. AUG. 6

The remainder of the program is shared by the Masterclass participants and the choirs.

  • 10:00

     

    Opening for participants

    Official Welcome

    Learning the festival’s signature song together

    Open to the public

    Venue: Kodály Centre, Conference Room
    (via the artists’ entrance)

  • Choir workshop – Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

    Led by: Prof. Dr. Tamás Lakner, Dr. Tibor Hoffner, and the masterclass participants

    Open to the public

    Venue: Kodály Centre, Conference Room
    (via the artists’ entrance)

     

    10:30-12:00

  • 13:00

     

    City tour

  • Choir workshop – Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

    Led by: Prof. Dr. Tamás Lakner, Dr. Tibor Hoffner, and the masterclass participants

    Open to the public

    Venue: Kodály Centre, Conference Room
    (via the artists’ entrance)

     

    16:00-17:30

  • 19:30

     

    Introductory concert by the participating choirs featuring folk and classical music.

    International Folk Choir Festival
    Venue: Pyrogranite Courtyard – 07.06. 19.30
    Performing Choirs
    19.30 Bartók Béla Male Choir
    19.40 Méhes Imre Choir
    19.50 Assonantia Women’s Choir
    20.00 Fermata Mixed Choir
    20.10 Musica Ludens
    20.20 Wanyun Choir
    20.30 University Choir
    20.40 Edelweiss Women’s Choir
    20.50 Mecsek Choir
    21.00 Community Sing-Along
    Folk Dance House

  • Dance house

    Hungarian folk dance workshop

     

    21:00

2026. AUG. 7

  • 9.30 – 11.00

     

    Folk music symposium – The place of folk music in today’s world

    Round-table Discussion with the Directors of the Participating Ensembles

    Open to the public

    Venue: University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Liszt Hall

  • Choir workshop – Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

    Open to the public

    Venue: Kodály Centre, Conference Room
    (via the artists’ entrance)

     

    11.00 -12.30

  • 14.30 -16.00

     

    Choir workshop – Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

    Orchestra Rehearsal

    Open to the publi
    c

    Venue: Kodály Centre, Conference Room
    (via the artists’ entrance)

  •  

    17.00 -19.00

  • 19:30

     

    Singing together (community sing-along)

    Venue: Széchenyi Square

2026. AUG. 8

  • Morning

     

    City tour and reception for choir directors at the Mayor’s Office

  • Rehearsals at the Kodály Centre

     

    14.30-17.30

  • 19.00

     

    Gala concert at the Kodály Centre

    Part 1: Individual presentations by the participating ensembles

    Part 2: Carl Orff: Carmina Burana – excerpts

2026. AUG. 9

  • Morning

     

    Participants’ departure home