The 8th Fest Clásico Ribeira Sacra will bring together international musicians from 23 to 30 August 2026
The festival will celebrate its eighth edition with concerts in Chantada, Nogueira, Quiroga and Os Peares, as well as painting exhibitions and a competition for young performers.
· 3 min read
The 8th Fest Clásico Ribeira Sacra 2026 will take place from 23 to 30 August, with the participation of musicians with international careers. The new edition will feature Carole Petitdemange, Tomoko Akasaka, Julio Pastor, Pau Fernández Benlloch and Beatriz Blanco, as part of a programme that will once again combine concerts, training, the promotion of young performers and complementary cultural activities.
For reasons beyond the festival’s control, pianist Anton Kernjak will be replaced by Pau Fernández Benlloch. The presence of the piano is also one of the main new features of this edition, as it will be included in two of the concerts by the Resident Artists. These performances will take place in auditoriums for logistical reasons.
Resident Artists and rehearsals open to the public
The Resident Artists, from France, Japan, Austria and Switzerland/Spain, will meet at the Os Peares Language Immersion Centre, where they will hold rehearsals ahead of the concerts. Members of the public who are interested will be able to attend these rehearsals.
The organisation is thus offering an insight into the preparation of the concerts, in addition to the performances scheduled at various venues across the Ribeira Sacra. This edition’s recitals will take place at the Chantada Municipal Auditorium, the Church of San Martiño de Nogueira and the Quiroga Municipal Auditorium.
Young musicians and the 2026 competition
The Os Peares Local Consortium will host a performance by the young musicians who won the 2025 Galimusic Fest Clásico Ribeira Sacra Prize, who are already listed in the festival’s roll of honour. The programme will feature Lucía Lara on the violin and Abel Gómez-Antequera on the cello, accompanied by Raquel Garzás on the piano.
The 2026 edition will also feature a new final of the competition. It will be contested by participants who pass the Second Round. The name of the winner will be announced on Sunday 30 August at 12.00 noon, during the so-called Vermouth Concert.
The Galimusic-Fest Clásico Ribeira Sacra Prize will be presented after the Closing Concert. The award carries a prize of €1,500 for the winners, thanks to the collaboration agreement with AIE. In addition, the prize includes a solo recital for the winner as part of the Opening Concert of 2027, corresponding to the festival’s 9th edition.
Free tickets with prior booking
Admission to the concerts will be free, although seats must be booked in advance through the festival’s website. All information about the programme and the booking platform is already available at www.festclasicoribeirasacra.com.
Friends of the Festival will have priority when booking seats. The organisation is keeping this means of collaboration open to those who wish to contribute financially to the continuation of the cultural project. The Sponsorship Project is also available to the public and businesses.
The festival is supported in various ways by the Xunta de Galicia, the Provincial Councils of Lugo and Ourense, the Ribeira Sacra Tourism Consortium, the Os Peares Local Consortium, AIE, the bishoprics of both provinces and the local councils involved. Collaborating companies include Naturgy, Galimusic, Caixa Rural Gallega, Regina Viarum and Gadis.
Painting exhibitions from June
The Fest Clásico Ribeira Sacra programme is rounded off by a series of parallel activities taking place from June onwards. These include the RSC Painting Exhibitions, organised alongside the festival.
This year, the exhibitions are being held in Montederramo, Ferreira de Pantón, Quiroga and Os Peares. In total, they bring together 36 works by 16 male and female painters, with pieces focused on three broad themes: the Ribeira Sacra, the Fest Clásico Ribeira Sacra and Inland Galicia.
The exhibition schedule can be consulted on the Association’s blog, which also contains information about the artists and their works. The cultural programme allows the festival’s activity to extend beyond the concerts and bring it to different parts of the area.
Information about the exhibitions is available from the Ribeira Sacra Cultural Association, with a nofollow link.
