Music on the Water Festival 2026

From 3 to 26 July 2026, the 22nd Festival Musica sull’Acqua returns to some of the most picturesque locations around Lake Como, bringing together world-class classical music and extraordinary lakeside settings. The festival features 17 concerts across Colico, Gravedona, Pianello del Lario and Como, where historic venues and breathtaking scenery provide the backdrop for unforgettable performances.

The theme for the 2026 edition is “Civilisation”, under the artistic direction of the festival’s founder, Francesco Senese. This year’s programme pays tribute to Ottorino Respighi on the 90th anniversary of his death, while also celebrating Beethoven’s String Quartets ahead of the composer’s bicentenary in 2027.

The line-up includes internationally acclaimed artists such as Mario Brunello, Sara Mingardo, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Diego Matheuz, Gabriele Carcano and Antonio Valentino, alongside emerging musicians from the MACH project, which brings together talented young performers from around the world. Special guest Ambra Senatore joins the festival as choreographer.

The festival’s signature immersive experiences also return, including a Concert Promenade through the grounds of Villa Osio, specially opened for the occasion, a sunrise musical breakfast by the lake, and a spectacular closing concert on a floating stage in Piona Bay. There, the 50 young musicians of the MACH Orchestra, conducted by Diego Matheuz, will perform Respighi’s The Birds and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8, bringing the festival to a magical close as the sun sets over Lake Como.