Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy | 18 July – 6 September 2025

There are few places where music and nature meet so impressively as in Gstaad. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Bernese Alps, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy returns from 18 July to 6 September 2025 with over 60 concerts that promise both artistic excellence and emotional depth.

This year marks the culmination of the festival’s three-year thematic cycle on “Change,” with a focus on Migration. From questions of belonging to stories of exile and return, the programme journeys across continents and cultures, embracing transformation as both artistic and human experience. At the centre of this year’s edition stands Turkish pianist and composer Fazıl Say as Artist in Residence, offering deeply personal reflections through music, while violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja brings an unflinching look at the state of the world with her “Music for the Planet” series.

Gstaad’s iconic Festival Tent once again plays host to global stars and grand productions – from virtuosic solo recitals and opera to cinematic performances with live orchestra. Highlights include Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero, the piano duo Lucas & Arthur Jussen, a production of Bellini’s Norma with soprano Sonya Yoncheva, and a Bizet Celebration on 23 August featuring mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti. The movie The Chorus (Les Choristes) will be presented live-to-film with orchestra and choir.

Beyond the main stage, the Festival pushes boundaries – not least on the summit of the Eggli, where music meets the mountains under the open sky. This year’s Mountain Spirit series embraces everything from classical reinventions to electro beats and Alpine folklore, inviting audiences to listen, move, and connect in unexpected ways.

The 2025 season concludes with a poignant milestone: a concert marking the transition from long-time artistic director Christoph Müller to celebrated violinist and incoming director Daniel Hope – a symbolic handover ushering in a new chapter for one of Europe’s most unique summer festivals.

For more information and for tickets, visit gstaadmenuhinfestival.ch