Sagra Musicale Umbra 2026, Perugia, Italy

• September 19, 2026
  Event date:
• October 3, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

Sagra Musicale Umbra 2026 is the 81st edition of one of Italy’s oldest music festivals, continuing a tradition that began in 1937. The festival focuses particularly on sacred music, spiritually inspired works and classical repertoire, while presenting concerts in historic churches, basilicas, cathedrals, museums, theatres and other distinctive locations throughout Umbria.

The 2026 edition takes place from September 19 to October 3 and extends beyond Perugia into several Umbrian towns, including Spello, Solomeo, Terni, Panicale, Assisi, Montefalco, Norcia, Gualdo Tadino, San Gemini and Montone. This gives the festival a regional character, allowing audiences to experience music alongside some of Umbria’s historic and cultural landmarks.

The programme includes orchestral concerts, chamber music, choral performances, organ recitals, vocal performances, piano concerts, early music and contemporary projects. Among the internationally recognized artists appearing in 2026 are pianist and conductor Angela Hewitt, flautist Emmanuel Pahud, soprano Elisabeth Breuer, pianist Martina Consonni and the Tal & Groethuysen piano duo.

A major opening-night programme at the Basilica of San Pietro features the Orchestra della Toscana with Angela Hewitt, Jonathan Ferrucci and Julia Hamos performing works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Other highlights include the Orchestra da Camera di Perugia, L’Appassionata, Ensemble Libercantus, Micrologus, Maqām Festival Ensemble and numerous Umbrian choirs and musicians.

The festival’s identity is closely connected with sacred and spiritual music. Performances take place inside historic religious buildings, giving the concerts an atmosphere that is closely tied to the architectural and cultural heritage of Umbria.

Event dates

Sagra Musicale Umbra 2026 runs from September 19 through October 3, 2026.

The programme is distributed across 15 days and includes performances in Perugia and other Umbrian towns. Many days contain two concerts, with afternoon or early-evening performances followed by larger evening concerts.

The opening concert is scheduled for September 19 at 9:00 PM at the Basilica of San Pietro in Perugia. The festival then continues with concerts and cultural events through October 3, concluding with a 9:00 PM concert at Perugia Cathedral.

Several dates feature more than one activity, including concerts, talks and performances by students of the Conservatorio Francesco Morlacchi di Perugia.

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Venue & festival site

Sagra Musicale Umbra does not operate from a single festival site. Instead, the 2026 programme uses a network of historic and cultural venues across Umbria.

The main Perugia venues include:

• Basilica di San Pietro
• Auditorium Santa Cecilia
• Chiesa di Santo Spirito
• Tempio di San Michele Arcangelo
• Cattedrale di San Lorenzo
• Università per Stranieri di Perugia

Other 2026 locations include:

• Collegiata di Santa Maria Maggiore, Spello
• Villa Valvitiano, Perugia
• Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Bartolomeo, Solomeo
• Conservatorio Giulio Briccialdi, Terni
• Santuario di Mongiovino, Panicale
• Basilica Superiore di San Francesco, Assisi
• Museo di San Francesco, Montefalco
• Teatro Comunale, Norcia
• Cattedrale di San Benedetto, Gualdo Tadino
• Abbazia di San Nicolò, San Gemini
• Auditorium di San Fedele, Montone

The Basilica of San Pietro is one of the most important recurring festival locations and hosts several major orchestral and vocal performances during the 2026 edition.

Full lineup

The 2026 programme features a broad roster of orchestras, ensembles, soloists, conductors, singers and speakers.

Orchestras and ensembles

• Orchestra della Toscana
• L’Appassionata – Orchestra da Camera
• Orchestra da Camera di Perugia
• Orchestra d’Archi Arrigoni
• Ensemble Libercantus
• Maqām Festival Ensemble
• Micrologus
• Ensemble di Ottoni del Conservatorio G. Briccialdi di Terni
• Armonioso Incanto
• Tal & Groethuysen
• Pegreffi Quartet

Soloists and featured performers

• Angela Hewitt
• Jonathan Ferrucci
• Julia Hamos
• Emmanuel Pahud
• Elisabeth Breuer
• Theresa Kronthaler
• Patrick Vogel
• Mauro Borgioni
• Martina Consonni
• Mark Milhofer
• Marco Scolastra
• Lina Uinskytte
• Marco Ruggeri
• Claudio Brizi
• Stefano Pellini
• Giulia Maria Rita Basile
• Enrico Bronzi
• Mio Imai
• Choi Soojin

Choral and vocal groups

• Coro S. Spirito Volumnia
• Voci della Città
• Coristi a Priori
• Mini Coristi a Priori
• Omphalos Voices
• Coro di Voci Bianche e Giovanile del Conservatorio F. Morlacchi
• Coro Giovanile Umbro
• Coro dell’Università degli Studi di Perugia
• Coro Accademia degli Unisoni
• Cori della Città di Perugia

The full official calendar contains more than 30 individual programme appointments across the festival period.

Headliners & featured artists

Angela Hewitt is one of the principal featured artists of the 2026 edition. She appears at the opening concert at the Basilica of San Pietro as pianist and conductor alongside Jonathan Ferrucci and Julia Hamos, with the Orchestra della Toscana performing three Mozart piano concertos.

Another major international guest is Emmanuel Pahud, who appears with L’Appassionata – Orchestra da Camera at the Basilica of San Pietro. The programme places his flute performance within the festival’s orchestral and classical repertoire.

Soprano Elisabeth Breuer also has a significant presence in the 2026 programme. She appears with the Orchestra da Camera di Perugia and L’Appassionata under Enrico Bronzi and later participates in the large-scale September 30 performance at the Basilica of San Pietro.

Other featured performers include pianist Martina Consonni, tenor Mark Milhofer, pianist Marco Scolastra, organist Claudio Brizi and the Tal & Groethuysen piano duo.

Stages & performance areas

Sagra Musicale Umbra is structured around individual concert venues rather than conventional festival stages.

The Basilica di San Pietro in Perugia is one of the central performance spaces, hosting major orchestral and vocal concerts. The venue appears repeatedly in the 2026 calendar, including the opening concert, the Emmanuel Pahud performance and the September 30 large-scale choral and orchestral programme.

The Auditorium Santa Cecilia provides another important Perugia concert space, hosting chamber performances, vocal recitals and the Conservatorio Francesco Morlacchi student project.

Churches and historic religious buildings form a particularly important part of the festival’s performance network. These include Santo Spirito, San Michele Arcangelo, San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Basilica Superiore di San Francesco in Assisi and the cathedrals of other Umbrian towns.

Museums and historic sites such as the Museo di San Francesco in Montefalco further expand the festival’s cultural setting.

Stage-by-stage schedule

Saturday, September 19

The festival opens at 9:00 PM at the Basilica di San Pietro in Perugia with the Orchestra della Toscana, Angela Hewitt, Jonathan Ferrucci and Julia Hamos. The programme is dedicated to Mozart and includes three piano concertos.

Sunday, September 20

The programme includes Pegreffi Quartet at Villa Valvitiano at 6:00 PM and organist Fabio Ciofini at the Collegiata di Santa Maria Maggiore in Spello at 9:00 PM.

Monday, September 21

Mark Milhofer and Marco Scolastra perform at the Auditorium Santa Cecilia at 6:00 PM. Later that evening, Coro S. Spirito Volumnia performs at the Church of Santo Spirito under In Sang Hwang.

Tuesday, September 22

Art historian and journalist Marco Carminati presents a cultural appointment at Università per Stranieri at 5:00 PM. At 9:00 PM, L’Appassionata and Emmanuel Pahud perform at the Basilica di San Pietro.

Wednesday, September 23

Voci della Città, Coristi a Priori and Mini Coristi a Priori perform at 6:00 PM, followed at 9:00 PM by Lina Uinskytte and Marco Ruggeri in Solomeo.

Thursday, September 24

Omphalos Voices performs at Università per Stranieri at 6:00 PM. The evening concert takes place at Terni Conservatory with its brass ensemble under Andrea Di Mario.

Friday, September 25

Roberto Calabretto presents a musicology appointment at 5:00 PM. L’Appassionata performs at Santuario di Mongiovino at 6:00 PM, followed by Micrologus at the Basilica Superiore di San Francesco in Assisi at 9:00 PM.

Saturday, September 26

The afternoon features the children’s and youth choirs of the Conservatorio Francesco Morlacchi and other Umbrian ensembles at Santo Spirito. The evening continues with Maqām Festival Ensemble at the Tempio di San Michele Arcangelo.

Sunday, September 27

Orchestra d’Archi Arrigoni performs at Montefalco’s Museo di San Francesco at noon. At 6:00 PM, Orchestra da Camera di Perugia and L’Appassionata perform at the Basilica di San Pietro, followed by Claudio Brizi on organ at Assisi Cathedral at 9:00 PM.

Monday, September 28

Lucetta Scaraffia presents an afternoon cultural event at Università per Stranieri. The evening concert features L’Appassionata, Martina Consonni and Elisabeth Breuer at Auditorium Santa Cecilia.

Tuesday, September 29

Cristina Mecucci presents an afternoon appointment at Università per Stranieri. Martina Consonni performs in Norcia at 6:00 PM, followed by organist Stefano Pellini at Gualdo Tadino Cathedral at 9:00 PM.

Wednesday, September 30

Coro Accademia degli Unisoni performs at Santo Spirito at 6:00 PM. The major evening programme at the Basilica di San Pietro brings together Orchestra da Camera di Perugia, L’Appassionata, Ensemble Libercantus, Enrico Bronzi, Elisabeth Breuer, Theresa Kronthaler, Patrick Vogel and Mauro Borgioni.

Thursday, October 1

The Conservatorio Francesco Morlacchi student project occupies several time slots at Auditorium Santa Cecilia. The evening concludes with Armonioso Incanto and Elena Modena at Santo Spirito.

Friday, October 2

Tal & Groethuysen perform their four-hands piano programme at the Abbey of San Nicolò in San Gemini at 9:00 PM.

Saturday, October 3

The closing day includes organist Giulia Maria Rita Basile at the Auditorium di San Fedele in Montone at 6:00 PM. The festival concludes at 9:00 PM at Perugia Cathedral with the Choirs of the City of Perugia and Orchestra da Camera di Perugia under Giancarlo Guarino.

Set times

The official 2026 programme provides individual starting times for concerts and cultural events.

Typical performance times include:

• 12:00 PM — selected Sunday performances
• 5:00 PM — talks and cultural appointments
• 6:00 PM — afternoon concerts
• 7:00 PM — selected special programmes
• 9:00 PM — principal evening concerts

Most major evening performances are scheduled for 9:00 PM and are listed with an expected two-hour programme window. The opening concert at the Basilica di San Pietro, for example, is scheduled from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

Visitors should check each individual event listing because start times differ according to the venue and programme.

Ticket types

The 2026 ticket prices are not clearly published in the currently available official programme pages. The most recent fully published price schedule available from the organizers is for 2025, so the following prices are provided as previous-edition reference prices and converted to USD.

Using approximately €1 = $1.1485, the 2025 individual ticket structure converted to approximately:

• €5 ticket — $6
• €10 ticket — $11
• €15 ticket — $17
• €20 ticket — $23
• First-category €20 ticket — $23
• Second-category €15 ticket — $17
• Reduced €18 ticket — $21
• Reduced €15 ticket — $17
• Reduced €12 ticket — $14
• Reduced €10 ticket — $11
• Student €5 ticket — $6

Some concerts were free in 2025, including selected performances at Perugia Cathedral, Università per Stranieri and the Accademia di Belle Arti.

These figures are previous-edition reference prices and should not be treated as confirmed 2026 prices.

VIP & premium options

The festival does not currently advertise a dedicated VIP ticket, backstage package or premium hospitality programme for the 2026 edition.

Its ticketing model is centered on individual concert admission and multi-concert carnet options rather than VIP festival packages.

The 2025 programme offered several carnet choices, including a 22-concert carnet, a 21-concert carnet, a 10-concert carnet and a 5-concert carnet. These provide a useful indication of the festival’s premium multi-event purchasing structure.

The 2025 full-price carnet values converted to approximately:

• 22-concert carnet — $253
• 21-concert carnet — $241
• 10-concert carnet — $138
• 5-concert carnet — $69
• Choral series carnet — $24

2026 carnet availability and prices should be confirmed through the official ticket office.

Event rules

Sagra Musicale Umbra takes place in churches, basilicas, cathedrals, museums and other cultural buildings, so visitors should respect the rules of each individual venue.

Concertgoers should arrive before the published starting time, particularly for performances in churches and historic buildings where late admission may be restricted.

Visitors should follow staff instructions concerning seating, photography, mobile phones and movement within the venue.

Because several concerts take place in active religious or historic environments, appropriate behaviour and respect for the character of the venue are expected.

Ticket conditions, entry requirements and any venue-specific regulations should be checked when purchasing tickets.

How to get there

Perugia is the principal base for the festival and is accessible by road, rail and air connections through nearby airports.

Visitors flying internationally can use Perugia San Francesco d’Assisi Airport, while Rome airports provide a larger range of international connections. From the airport, visitors can continue toward Perugia by bus, taxi or rental car.

Perugia’s historic centre is built on a hill and includes pedestrian streets and restricted traffic areas. Visitors staying in the centre should therefore expect to walk between accommodation, restaurants and concert venues.

For performances outside Perugia, such as those in Assisi, Montefalco, Norcia, San Gemini, Gualdo Tadino, Spello and Montone, a rental car can provide greater flexibility, particularly when attending multiple performances in different towns.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is practical for many activities within Perugia, although some historic venues require a final walk through pedestrian areas.

Visitors arriving by train can use Perugia railway connections and then continue toward the historic centre using local public transport, taxis or the city’s hillside transport systems.

Parking facilities around Perugia’s historic centre are generally located outside the most restricted central streets. Visitors driving should use designated car parks and continue into the centre on foot or by local transport.

The 2025 festival information listed evening parking at Pellini, Viale S. Antonio and Piazza Partigiani for approximately $3 when converted from the published €2.50 rate.

Parking arrangements for the 2026 edition should be checked against the current venue and municipal information, particularly for concerts taking place outside Perugia.

Accommodation areas

The most convenient base for the festival is central Perugia, especially around the historic centre and areas with easy access to the main concert venues.

Useful accommodation areas include:

• Perugia historic centre
• Piazza IV Novembre area
• Corso Vannucci area
• Porta Sole
• Sant’Angelo
• Elce
• Perugia railway station area

Staying in central Perugia is particularly useful for visitors attending several concerts at the Basilica di San Pietro, Auditorium Santa Cecilia, Santo Spirito, San Michele Arcangelo and Perugia Cathedral.

Visitors planning to attend several concerts outside Perugia can also consider staying in regional towns such as Assisi, Montefalco or Spello, although this can make travel between venues more complicated.

For a multi-day festival itinerary, Perugia provides the broadest combination of accommodation, restaurants, transport and cultural attractions.

Food & drink

The festival provides an opportunity to combine classical music with Umbrian cuisine and wine.

Perugia’s historic centre contains restaurants, trattorias, cafés, bakeries and wine bars within walking distance of many festival venues.

Visitors can sample regional specialties such as Umbrian cured meats, truffles, legumes, local cheeses, handmade pasta and traditional meat dishes. Umbria is also known for wines from areas including Montefalco and Torgiano.

For concerts outside Perugia, visitors can use the festival as an opportunity to explore local food traditions in Assisi, Montefalco, Norcia, Spello, Panicale, San Gemini and other towns included in the programme.

The official 2026 festival programme does not currently advertise a dedicated festival food-vendor area, so dining should generally be planned around the individual venue.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies between venues because the festival uses historic churches, basilicas, cathedrals, museums and other heritage buildings.

Some historic buildings may have steps, uneven surfaces, narrow entrances or other architectural limitations. Visitors with mobility requirements should check the specific venue before attending.

Perugia’s historic centre is also characterized by steep streets and pedestrian areas, so accommodation close to the relevant concert venue can make the experience easier.

Visitors who require wheelchair access, reserved seating or other assistance should contact the festival organization before purchasing tickets so that arrangements can be confirmed with the relevant venue.

Best days to attend

The opening weekend is particularly suitable for visitors interested in major orchestral and chamber performances. The opening concert features Angela Hewitt, Jonathan Ferrucci, Julia Hamos and the Orchestra della Toscana performing Mozart at the Basilica di San Pietro.

September 22 is another notable day, with Emmanuel Pahud performing with L’Appassionata at the Basilica di San Pietro.

September 27 combines a midday performance in Montefalco with evening concerts in Perugia and Assisi, making it an especially varied day for visitors interested in experiencing several parts of the regional programme.

September 30 features one of the festival’s larger vocal and orchestral programmes, bringing together multiple ensembles, soloists and conductors at the Basilica di San Pietro.

October 3 is the closing day and includes an afternoon organ performance in Montone followed by the final concert at Perugia Cathedral.

Visitors who want the broadest experience should consider several days rather than a single concert, because the festival’s programme changes substantially from one venue and town to another.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 edition was the 80th Sagra Musicale Umbra and was presented under the theme “Visionari.” The programme explored composers and musicians described by the festival as unconventional or visionary figures, ranging across historical periods and styles.

The programme connected works by figures including Hildegard von Bingen, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jean-Féry Rebel, Heinrich von Biber, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Robert Schumann and John Cage.

The 2025 edition also continued the festival’s regional format, with concerts presented across Perugia and other Umbrian locations.

The previous edition’s ticket structure included individual concert tickets ranging from approximately $6 to $23 depending on venue and seating, while multi-concert carnet options extended from five selected concerts to a 22-concert package.

The festival’s longstanding emphasis on sacred music, spiritual repertoire, historical venues and regional cultural connections continued into the 2026 programme.

Official tickets

Official information for Sagra Musicale Umbra 2026 is available through the Fondazione Perugia Musica Classica website.

The festival’s official 2026 programme lists the complete concert calendar, venues, performers and scheduled times.

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Programma SMU26

For ticket reservations and current admission prices, visitors should use the official festival website or contact the festival directly.

Contact

Phone: +39 075 572 22 71

Email: info@perugiamusicaclassica.com

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