Hortênsia Music Festival 2026 | Musical Eruption

Hortênsia Music Festival 2026 (HMF26) is the 8th edition of a cultural, educational and community project founded in 2017 by the Hortênsia Cultural Association, with its main base in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal. 

Taking place from 1 to 10 September 2026, HMF26 is presented under the theme Musical Eruption, inspired by the volcanic origins and landscape of the Azores. The festival brings together music, education, heritage and community, presenting high-level artistic programming in an island context beyond the usual circuits of cultural programming. 

At the heart of the festival is chamber music, with an international line-up of acclaimed performers including Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg, British violinist Jack Liebeck, violinists Maria-Elisabeth Lott and Hrachya Avanesyan, cellist Kyril Zlotnikov, pianist Matan Porat, violist Hiyoli Togawa and pianist Anna Ulaieva. The 2026 edition welcomes Portuguese composer, pianist and essayist António Pinho Vargas as Composer in Residence. The centrepiece of his residency is the world premiere of Piano Quartet No. 2 (Heimat), commissioned by the festival. The programme also marks the centenary of György Kurtág, whose music features prominently in the festival programme. 

The festival also highlights the international connections of its artistic community. Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg makes her Azorean debut, performing repertoire ranging from Schubert, Kurtág and Debussy to Weill, Poulenc, Puccini, Lehár and André Previn, while also leading a vocal workshop for young musicians. British violinist Jack Liebeck, Artistic Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, also makes his Azorean debut. 

The festival was co-founded by Melbourne-born Australian violist Paul Tulloch, who serves as Artistic Director and performs throughout the chamber-music programme. 

Education and access are central to HMF26. Alongside the professional concert programme, the festival offers masterclasses, chamber-music training, a vocal workshop, student performances and a dedicated concert for children and families. These activities create opportunities for young musicians to learn directly from internationally established artists and for local audiences to experience classical music in an accessible and engaging environment. All public events are free of charge, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to cultural access and community participation. 

Set in the historic city of Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, HMF26 offers artists and audiences an opportunity to experience chamber music within the distinctive cultural, architectural and volcanic landscape of the Azores. The festival seeks to create meaningful encounters between international artistic excellence and the local community, positioning Terceira as a destination for musical discovery and cultural exchange.

Hortênsia Music Festival 2026 1–10 September 2026 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal All public events free of charge.