Janáček Festival Brno 2026
Festival Janáček Brno 2026 – all Janáček operas will be performed
From October 15 to November 17, 2026, Brno will once again immerse itself in the world of Leoš Janáček’s music, exploring his inspirations, life story, and the impact he had on those around him and on future musicians. The theme for this tenth celebration of the festival, known as Janáček Brno 2026, is Roots, which reflects a journey back to the sources of Janáček’s creativity. This includes elements of folk and sacred music, as well as their connections to modern works and interactions with pieces by other composers.
The festival will highlight performances of all nine Janáček operas, spanning his early works to his most acclaimed creations, all presented by the Janáček Opera Company from the National Theatre Brno. This remarkable series will feature not only outstanding soloists in leading roles but also renowned foreign orchestras and conductors who will join the Brno company.
Main performers of the Janáček Brno 2026 Festival
The festival will showcase top artists including Corinne Winters, Kateřina Kněžíková, Adam Plachetka, Bella Adamova, Ivo Kahanek, among many other distinguished performers. This year, for the first time as part of the Janáček Brno Festival, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra will perform, alongside the returning Bamberger Symphoniker and the Bavarian State Opera, which will present Janáček’s Katya Kabanova under the direction of Krzysztof Warlikowski.
The National Theatre Brno will present full productions of all Janáček operas that the Janáček Opera Company has staged since 2014. Notable directors involved include Robert Carsen, David Radok, Jiří Heřman, and Martin Glaser. World-renowned orchestras and prominent conductors such as Jakub Hrůša, Tomas Hanus, Tomas Netopil, Marko Ivanovic, and the new chief conductor of the Janáček Opera NdB, Robert Kružík, will be special guests for the Brno productions.
The festival will also feature two unique site-specific premieres of Janáček operas – The Beginning of the Novel (directed by Marek Řihák, performed at the auditorium of the Rector’s Office of the BUT) and Šárka (directed by Jiří Heřman, performed at Besední dům). In the case of Šárka, it will be a concert version from 1888, with star pianist Julius Drake and celebrated tenor Nicky Spence performing the role of Ctirad.
The festival will also showcase a special dance performance by NdB3 Ballet, which was previously part of the Czech Pavilion program at Expo 2025 in Japan. Traditionally, the younger generation of artists will also be highlighted by students from the Faculty of Music of JAMU and the Brno Conservatory and feature the Winner of the 31st Leoš Janáček International Competition in the string quartet category, the Swiss ensemble Arola Quartet.
The festival will once again take place in the exceptional spaces of Brno villas and at water reservoirs on Yellow Hill, where two unique productions will connect with the essence of the site. Visitors can enjoy an exhibition in the foyer of the Janáček Theatre, displaying large-format prints of original manuscripts for all nine of Janáček’s operas, providing insights into the early stages of these remarkable works and showcasing the beauty of their handwritten scores.
