Roya Ancient Music Festival 2026: Baroque Music Returns to Saorge and the Roya Valley

Ancient music takes centre stage once again in summer 2026 with the 9th edition of the Roya Ancient Music Festival (FMAR), taking place from 10 to 21 August 2026 in Saorge, Tende, La Brigue and Breil-sur-Roya. A cultural event dedicated to Baroque and Renaissance music, the festival combines historical heritage, artistic creation and community participation.

Created to strengthen local cohesion, build intergenerational connections and involve residents in the creative process, the festival offers a rich programme of concerts, opera performances, theatrical events, night walks and musical encounters in some of the most remarkable locations of the valley.

An Ancient Music Festival among villages, churches and landscapes of the Roya Valley

The Roya Ancient Music Festival 2026 transforms the valley into a vast open-air stage. Historic churches, chapels, village squares and the monastery of Saorge will welcome international artists and ensembles specialising in historically informed performances on period instruments.

Among the highlights of the 2026 edition is the new production of the Baroque opera “Attila” by Pietro Andrea Ziani, presented on 20 and 21 August 2026 at the Monastery of Saorge. First performed in Venice in 1672 and never staged again for more than three centuries, the opera is brought back to life by the Stylus Luxurians ensemble through extensive research based on original sources.

This exceptional event offers audiences the opportunity to rediscover a forgotten masterpiece of 17th-century Italian opera, performed on historical instruments by an international cast.

The Programme of the Roya Ancient Music Festival 2026

The ninth edition offers a musical journey through different eras and cultures, from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to Romanticism.

10 August – Violeta Parra Reimagined by Ensemble il Festino

The festival opens with “Una flor voy a nombrar”, a programme dedicated to the great Chilean artist Violeta Parra, one of the most important figures in Latin American culture.

The il Festino ensemble presents a new interpretation of her songs through early music instruments such as viola da gamba, Spanish harp, guitar and lute, creating a unique dialogue between South American popular traditions and Renaissance sounds.

A tribute to a singer, composer and researcher who dedicated her life to preserving Chile’s musical heritage.

11 August – Baroque Music and Mystery in the Streets of Saorge

The day features two special events:

• “Les Sonates oubliées” by Ensemble La Ferté, dedicated to the forgotten compositions of Charles-François Grégoire de La Ferté;
• Julien Cohen-Lacassagne’s Night Walk, an immersive musical journey through the medieval streets of Saorge.

During the evening, the village becomes the setting for a true musical detective story. Streets, historic buildings and hidden corners create the atmosphere for an experience combining theatre, storytelling and music.

12 August – The Sounds of 17th-Century Europe with Artifisioso

At the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin in La Brigue, the Artifisioso ensemble presents a programme devoted to Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber.

Baroque violins, viola da gamba, theorbo and harpsichord lead audiences into a musical world filled with virtuosity, dance rhythms and innovative sound experiments.

13 August – Monteverdi and Purcell with Il Buranello

The Il Buranello ensemble presents “Come, follow us!”, a theatrical journey through the Baroque music of words.

Works by Claudio Monteverdi and Henry Purcell take centre stage in a concert full of emotion, poetry and theatrical expression, moving between epic, humorous and contemplative moments.

14 August – Baroque Celebration and Romantic Guitar

The festival offers two events:

• “Pop! Alba di Festa” by the La Capriola ensemble in Tende, a celebration inspired by Italian Renaissance traditions, featuring popular songs, dances and festive atmospheres;
• “Paris-Brussels, 1830”, a romantic guitar recital with Elodie Brzustowski and poetic readings in Saorge.

16 August – The Festival Walk: Saint Francis Through Music and Theatre

One of the most original events of the programme is the artistic walk from the Monastery to the Sainte-Croix Chapel in Saorge.

On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, Francesco Scarrone presents a story combining theatre, early music and landscape.

The audience follows an immersive narrative exploring the saint’s most human side: a young man passionate about life, a preacher, a lover of nature and defender of the poor.

18 August – “Histoire d’un souffle”: Early Music for All Ages

Lucile Tessier invites children and adults on a journey through the history of ancient wind instruments.

Designed for families and audiences aged 6 and over, the performance brings flutes, shawms, dulcians and early bassoons to life through stories, myths and musical landscapes.

Saorge and the Roya Valley: Where Heritage Meets Music

The Roya Ancient Music Festival is not only a concert series, but also a cultural project dedicated to promoting the region.

The medieval architecture of Saorge, the historic churches of the valley and the Alpine landscapes become an essential part of each performance, creating a unique encounter between ancient music, cultural tourism and local communities.

The festival’s ambition is to create a direct connection between artists, residents and visitors, turning every event into a shared experience.

Roya Ancient Music Festival 2026: Practical Information

Dates: 10–21 August 2026
Locations: Saorge, Tende, La Brigue, Breil-sur-Roya
Genre: Early music, Baroque music, opera, musical theatre, immersive performances

For information and bookings:

Official website: Festival de Musique Ancienne de la Roya

Email: fmasaorge@gmail.com

Phone:

• Galel Sánchez: 07 68 31 18 80
• Maud Sinda: 06 29 93 80 56