The Ojai Music Festival has released the first highlights of its 80th edition, which will take place from 11 to 14 June 2026 and will be led by Esa-Pekka Salonen as Music Director. The initial announcement includes major premieres, collaborations with leading soloists and ensembles, and a strong focus on Salonen’s own music.
Among the planned events are the world premiere of a new work by John Adams for the Attacca Quartet, the U.S. premiere of a duo for violin and cello by Salonen performed by Geneva Lewis and Jay Campbell, and the first complete performance of Salonen’s Piano Preludes with Conor Hanick. The Festival also anticipates a prominent spotlight on Salonen’s works, including FOG and kinēma, featured in the evening concerts at Libbey Bowl.
Large-scale programs include Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps, Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, Ligeti’s Violin Concerto with Leila Josefowicz, and a selection of contemporary works with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group. Full programs will be announced in early 2026.
Leadership transition
The 2026 edition marks a transitional moment for the Festival. Esa-Pekka Salonen, who previously served as Ojai Music Director in 1999 and 2001, returns for this anniversary year. His appointment follows the long tenure of Ara Guzelimian, who will step down as Artistic and Executive Director after the 2026 Festival, concluding a period marked by expanded programming and a renewed focus on new music.
In parallel, Ojai has already announced that the 2027 edition will be led by Teddy Abrams, continuing the Festival’s tradition of naming a new Music Director each year — a structure that has shaped its identity since the late 1940s.
A landmark for contemporary music
Founded in 1947, the Ojai Music Festival has long occupied a singular place in the landscape of contemporary music. Conceived as a space for experimentation, it has invited leading artists, ensembles, and composers — from Stravinsky, Copland, and Boulez to Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Mitsuko Uchida, John Adams, Rhiannon Giddens, and AMOC* — to build four-day editions that reflect their artistic vision.
With its intimate scale, outdoor setting, and emphasis on premieres, unusual formats, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, Ojai has become one of the most influential annual gatherings for new and adventurous music in the United States. The Festival typically welcomes around 5,000 attendees and reaches global audiences through extensive streaming and broadcasts.
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