Spring 2026

The Lucerne Festival Orchestra isn’t just a summertime affair — it also draws classical-music lovers from around the world to Lake Lucerne each spring. In early spring, just before the traditional Easter holiday period, the musicians launch Lucerne’s festival season with a three-day celebration of music.

In 2026, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra continues its exhilarating deep dive into Beethoven, performing under the batons of Riccardo Chailly and Franz Welser-Möst, respectively. They will tackle two utterly different symphonies: the monumental Third, also known as the Eroica, where Beethoven throws himself into the fight for freedom and equality with burning idealism; and the Fourth, a symphony that all but overflows with playful, irresistible vitality. And when it comes to pure virtuosity, it might just be the most technically demanding of all the Beethoven symphonies.

Audiences can also look forward to two outstanding soloists. The acclaimed Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will perform Mozart’s darkly dramatic D minor Concerto, while the fast-rising violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian makes his Festival debut with Mendelssohn’s ravishing Violin Concerto.

A chamber music highlight is also in store: the legendary Hagen Quartet is bringing its nearly 50-year international career to a close in the 2025-26 season. Since this exceptional ensemble has maintained a close association with the Festival – not least as part of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra – its final Swiss performance will take place at Lucerne Festival Spring. The program also features the pianist Kirill Gerstein and, representing the next generation of the Hagen musical family, the young cellist Julia Hagen.