Lucerne Festival

17/06/2026

What knowledge and energies are unleashed by reviving a 2,000-year-old instrument with a wild boar's head?

Composer Liza Lim talks about her new work "Tongue of the Land", written for the "Roche Commissions" 2026, which features the carnyx, an ancient bronze trumpet, nearly two meters long. "The carnyx has a voice, it really has something to say", Liza remarks. We for one can't wait to listen to the message of the wild boar!

Hear the world premiere of "Tongue of the Land" on 29 August at Lucerne Festival Summer 2026:
https://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/program/lucerne-festival-contemporary-orchestra-lfco-elim-chan-jorg-widmann-marco-blaauw/2359

Filmed at Fondazione Giorgio Cini, thanks for having us!

Roche – Main Sponsor and Partner Lucerne Festival Academy

13/06/2026

Rachmaninoff extravaganza with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra 🥳

Tonight at 20.15, 3sat will broadcast the 2025 all-Rachmaninoff concert of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra with Riccardo Chailly and Beatrice Rana, featuring not one, not two, but three works by Rachmaninoff ("The Rock", "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", and the Symphony No. 1).

Tune in and enjoy!

Photo © Priska Ketterer / Lucerne Festival

10/06/2026

Magic Moments at Unique Places with the Leading Swiss Events Golden Ticket 🎫

We are happy to be a part of this extraordinary give-away: The winners of the exclusive Golden Ticket gain access to Switzerland's most prestigious events, including Lucerne Festival. They can create their personal program from four of nine world-famous cultural and sporting highlights and experience them as a VIP guest.

Good luck!

Das Golden Ticket von Leading Swiss Events: Ihr exklusiver Zugang zu den neun bedeutendsten Veranstaltungen der Schweiz. Jetzt entdecken.

09/06/2026

"A concert full of worldly sounds ... and other-worldly sounds!"

On 29 August, Elim Chan returns to Lucerne Festival. Together with the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO) and soloists Jörg Widmann and Marco Blaauw, she will present an exciting program full of listening adventures: From John Adam's "Doctor Atomic Symphony", to "über" by Lucerne Festival's composer-in-residence Mark Andre, and the world premiere of Liza Lim's "Tongue of the Land".

Discover more: https://www.lucernefestival.ch/de/programm/lucerne-festival-contemporary-orchestra-lfco-elim-chan-jorg-widmann-marco-blaauw/2359

Roche – Main Sponsor and Partner Lucerne Festival Academy

05/06/2026

Another year, another Lucerne Festival field trip for our nature: Last week, we teamed up with Pro Natura Luzern for an environmental mission in the Ronfeld Nature Reserve.

Head over to our blog to read more about our day with scythes and water buffalos, and about Lucerne Festival's general commitment to sustainability.

Lucerne Festival unterwegs im Schutzgebiet Ronfeld

03/06/2026

«Ich suche Künstler auf der weltbesten Qualitätsstufe, die bereit sind, Experimente einzugehen und ihre Ideen zu vermitteln.»

In the latest issue of BILANZ, our new Executive and Artistic Director Sebastian Nordmann talks about his plans for Lucerne Festival, attracting the world's best artists, and turning audience members into friends.

Sebastian Nordmann übernimmt mit dem Lucerne Festival ein Vorzeigeprojekt. Im Interview verrät er, wie er mit dem Festival an der Spitze bleiben will und wie er ...

03/06/2026

A grand evening of music deserves an equally beautiful setting 🥂

The Summer Lounge at the KKL Luzern invites you to stay and enjoy before and after the Lucerne Festival Summer concerts – with a relaxing atmosphere, fine cuisine and great views of Lake Lucerne.

A special highlight: the champagne picnic for an elegant start to the concert. A beautifully laid table, exclusive delicacies and amazing view over the Lake Lucerne to the old town will round off your evening perfectly.

02/06/2026

"The expression of the wild boar is definitely part of the instrument."

The upcoming world premiere of Liza Lim's "Roche Commissions" "Tongue of the Land" will feature the most unusual instrument: The carnyx, an ancient bronze trumpet, nearly two meters long.

We met with soloist Marco Blaauw to learn more about the carnyx, its history, and how he came to be the lucky owner of a copy.

Roche – Main Sponsor and Partner Lucerne Festival Academy

28/05/2026

Are you looking for a very special keepsake from Lucerne Festival Pulse 2026?

We are now selling some of the metronomes used in the performance of Ligeti's "Poème Symphonique" – signed by none other than Víkingur Ólafsson 🤩
Available in two sizes and only whilst stocks last.

Metronome und andere Lucerne Festival-Goodies

27/05/2026

Summer vibes in Lucerne ☀️

As we enjoy the beautiful weather, join us at the Grand Hotel National Luzern, where Riccardo Chailly and Sebastian Nordmann chat about the opening night and the theme of Lucerne Festival Summer 2026.

The Opening Night of Lucerne Festival Summer 2026 with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and Chailly on 14 August will feature works by Steve Reich, George Gershwin, and Charles Ives 🇺🇸
Will you be listening at the KKL Luzern or at the free outdoor screening "Lakeside Symphony"?

Read more at https://www.lucernefestival.ch/de/programm/lucerne-festival-orchestra-riccardo-chailly-frank-dupree-solistinnen-des-lucerne-festival-orchestra-und-des-lucerne-festival-contemporary-orchestra-lfco/2346