Oxford will once again become a global meeting place for piano excellence this summer as the Oxford Piano Festival returns for its 27th year, bringing internationally acclaimed performers, rising stars and leading teachers to some of the city’s most iconic venues.
Running from 25 July to 02 August 2026, the festival will feature a programme of evening recitals, masterclasses and performances celebrating the work of some of the greatest composers in the piano repertoire, including Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert and Rachmaninov.
The annual festival has established itself as one of the highlights of Oxford’s classical music calendar, attracting performers, students, teachers and audiences from across the world.
This year’s recital programme features some of the most respected names in classical piano, including Paul Lewis, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Ingrid Fliter and Elisabeth Leonskaja.
Performances will take place in historic Oxford locations including the Sheldonian Theatre, Christ Church Cathedral, the Holywell Music Room and Merton College Chapel.
Tickets for the festival’s evening recitals start from £12, making performances from some of the world’s leading pianists accessible to a wider audience.
Developing the next generation of pianists
Alongside its public concerts, the festival continues its commitment to musical education through a programme of daily masterclasses.
Young pianists taking part in the Oxford Piano Festival will have the opportunity to perform in front of leading figures from the international piano world, receiving guidance from artists and teachers including Kathryn Stott, Vanessa Latarche, Steven Kovacevich and festival founder Marios Papadopoulos.
Previous participants have gone on to achieve international recognition, including recent winners of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko and Alim Beisembayev.
The festival’s closing recital on 1 August will showcase performances from this year’s participants, offering audiences the chance to hear some of the emerging talent shaped by the week’s masterclasses.
Pianist Kathryn Stott previously described the festival as a unique experience for music lovers, highlighting the combination of exceptional evening concerts, young performers developing their craft and the setting of Oxford itself.
A celebration of the piano in Oxford
Founded in 1999 by pianist and Marios Papadopoulos, the Oxford Piano Festival has become an important part of the city’s cultural landscape.
Papadopoulos said this year’s programme would explore the “power of music and its ability to speak to us all through the instrument”, with internationally renowned pianists exploring works from different periods and musical traditions.
“Those attending as participants will enjoy unique experiences as we impart our knowledge and experience to their inquisitive minds and open new horizons for them,” he said.
With Oxford already recognised internationally for its heritage, academic institutions and creative communities, the festival adds another dimension to the city’s cultural offering — bringing together established artists, future performers and audiences in some of Oxford’s most celebrated spaces.
The Oxford Piano Festival takes place from 25 July to 02 August 2026.
For tickets and the full programme, visit the Oxford Piano Festival website.
