Grachtenfestival: where it all happens over the coming days

Walking through Amsterdam these days, you will stumble upon live music in the most unexpected spots during Grachtenfestival. The music festival runs through 16 August and brings some 150 concerts to venues across the city. From canal houses and hidden gardens to city parks, rooftop terraces and iconic Amsterdam buildings: the city becomes the setting for classical music and jazz over the coming days. Here is what is on the programme.

A new generation of talent takes centre stage. The combination with Amsterdam is what makes the festival compelling. Concerts take place not only in established venues, but also in spots that are not normally used as performance spaces. This edition sees the festival deliberately embrace the city's green spaces, with performances in parks, gardens and other green areas across all districts.

What else is on the programme

On Friday 14 August, there is something to discover across the city. Universiteitsbibliotheek hosts flamenco combined with singing and guitar, while Noorderpark presents the Arcis Saxophon Quartett. In the evening, the festival moves to Concertgebouw, where FENNE brings soul, jazz and pop together beneath the chandeliers of the Koorzaal.

That same evening, Felix Meritis focuses on the future of classical music. Three nominees for the GrachtenfestivalPrijs 2026 perform together: pianist Eduard Preda, soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra and double bassist Sasha Witteveen. At the end of the evening, the prize winner is announced, securing a leading role at the Grachtenfestival in 2027.

One of Amsterdam's most distinctive elements follows on Saturday 15 August. Several canal houses open their gardens for intimate concerts. Visitors can combine two garden concerts with a performance by the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest in the courtyard of H'ART Museum. This offers a way to discover not only new music, but also another side of Amsterdam's inner city.

On Sunday 16 August, the festival ventures into the city once more for its closing day. Music ensembles in Vondelpark, Amstelpark, Sarphatipark and Oosterpark host free concerts. Vondelpark Openluchttheater also presents the finalists of the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours with programmes ranging from classical music and jazz to singing and percussion.

The final festival weekend thus offers plenty of reason to explore Amsterdam: from a hidden canal house garden to Concertgebouw, and from emerging talent to jazz in the park.