From 9 to 18 September 2026, the 80th edition of the Septembre Musical Montreux-Vevey presented 9 ticketed concerts, including 5 sold out, 6 free concerts as part of the Festival OFF and 5 cultural outreach activities for schoolchildren in the canton of Vaud. This anniversary edition was marked by the festival’s grand return to the Auditorium Stravinski after three years away, and by the exceptional enthusiasm of audiences.
From Gautier Capuçon to Ara Malikian, Avi Avital, Ksenija Sidorova, Kirill Gerstein, Brad Mehldau, Marina Viotti, Alexandra Conunova, Peter Bence, Lukas Sternath and Gianandrea Noseda, alongside Les Siècles, the Sinfonietta de Lausanne and the Orchestre National de France, the programme brought together international artists, young talents and prestigious ensembles. This edition also opened a window onto Azerbaijan’s finest artists, brought together for the gala.
The Festival OFF also showcased Lyam Chenaux, Tatiana Korsunskaya, Mark Kurmanbayev, Éléonore May, La Lyre de Vevey, the Tango Jazz Quartet, the winners of the Concours Riviera, the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble and the trio Julian Schad, Alexander Vicar and Max Philip Klüser, in sometimes unexpected venues including Chaplin’s World.
Launched in 2024, the Classic & Lab concept, combining excellence in classical music with exploratory formats, continues to prove its success. This year, the festival recorded its highest attendance since Mischa Damev took over as director, a sign of growing public support for this new identity. “To paraphrase Charlie Chaplin, the future of classical music demands modern thinking. That is precisely the ambition of Classic & Lab: to preserve excellence while daring to experiment. This 80th edition, with standing ovations at every one of our concerts, confirms that audiences embrace this approach,” says festival director Mischa Damev.
Beyond the concerts, this edition also confirmed the Septembre Musical as an essential meeting place. Several major Swiss companies celebrated important anniversaries there, while numerous national and international figures attended the festival. The new Golden Circle at the Auditorium Stravinski proved highly successful, extending the concert experience in an exclusive setting.
This 80th edition comes to a close this evening with the Orchestre National de France, Lukas Sternath and Gianandrea Noseda. The day will also be marked by the presentation to Mischa Damev of the insignia of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ambassador to Switzerland, Marion Paradas. “The Foundation I chair is particularly proud to see Mischa Damev’s commitment to promoting French culture recognised in this way. A wonderful way to conclude this historic 80th edition,” says Laurent Maire, President of the Septembre Musical Montreux-Vevey Foundation.
The 81st edition will take place from 7 to 17 September 2027.