Venice Biennale Music 2026 Announces 'A Child of Sound' Festival Program

The 70th International Festival of Contemporary Music, part of the Venice Biennale Music, will take place from October 10 to 24, 2026, under the artistic direction of Caterina Barbieri. Titled 'A Child of Sound' (Un bambino di suono), the festival emphasizes music's cathartic and non-judgmental power, drawing inspiration from childlike openness to sound. The program features over 130 artists across more than 40 events, including 23 new works with 18 world premieres. Performances will occur at historic Venetian venues like the Arsenale and Teatro alle Tese, as well as in Marghera, Mestre, and the newly included Parco Albanese in Mestre. Highlights include Keiji Haino, recipient of the Golden Lion for Music 2026, ambient music pioneer Laraaji, and new commissions from composers like ML Buch and Gigi Masin. The festival opens with a procession of young guitarists through Venice's streets. Notable premieres include a work by Ennio Morricone based on a Pier Paolo Pasolini poem, and the transcultural piece 'In the Threshold of Your Love' featuring Lyra Pramuk and Mohammad Reza Mortazevi. The program blends genres and eras, with performances ranging from Egyptian ensemble Mazaher's shamanic healing rituals to Tanzanian Singeli electronic music and Japanese electronic artists Phew and Dj Nobu at Forte Marghera. The Biennale College Musica will mentor five emerging musicians from various countries, guided by artists including Lyra Pramuk and Miller Puckette. Lighting design for the festival will be handled by Marcel Weber (MFO).