Île-Rousse / Calvi - Corsica, France

Summer music in Corsica: Rencontres de Calenzana from 17 to 24 August 2026

The musical highlight

The Rencontres de Calenzana will take place from 17 to 24 August 2026. The 26th edition will feature 30 concerts at 23 venues

across 19 villages in the Balagne.

The concerts will take place in churches, chapels, gardens, village squares and locations in the heart of the countryside.

The festival will feature internationally renowned guests, Corsican musicians and 15 artists in residence, who will perform in varying

line-ups throughout the week. The programme and tickets are now available.

Selected concerts 2026

The festival opens on 17 August in the Jardins de Sainte-Restitude in Calenzana. Renaud Capuçon and pianist Guillaume Bellom will perform works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

On 20 August, the festival moves straight to Calvi. In the morning, a programme featuring Haydn and Mozart is on the bill

at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral in the citadel. In the evening, the Corsican soprano Amélie Tatti will combine Corsican songs with classical singing in ‘Cantu Intimu’.

23 August is a particularly good day to visit L’Île-Rousse. At 11 am, ‘Mozart at Twenty’ will be performed on the Place de la Mairie.

This will be followed at 7.30 pm by the piano recital ‘Schubert intime’ with Denis Pascal at the Église de l’Immaculée-Conception.

To round off the programme, on 24 August you can hear Mozart’s Requiem at the Church of Saint-Blaise in Calenzana.

The work will be performed in a chamber version featuring four vocal soloists and the festival’s Artists in Residence.

Other guests include the pianist and composer Jérémy Hababou, the Quatuor Leonis, the soprano Margaux Poguet, the clarinettist Raphaël Sévère, and Corsican ensembles such as Trio L’Onda, Isulatine and Cant’in Celli.

Experience Île-Rousse, Calvi and Bastia

Île-Rousse is a coastal town with a long, bright city beach and an old town. Sit in small cafés under the arcades, and just a stone's throw away is the covered market hall, where French delicacies from the region are sold in the morning.

A nice tip for in between:

The Chemins de Fer de la Corse island railway will take you to Calvi in around 45 minutes. The trains run along the coast, right past the beach, with magnificent views of the bay. To reach Bastia, you will travel through the interior of the island, crossing mountains that are up to 2,700 metres high in places. Depending on the connection, the total journey time is approximately 3 hours. It's a journey that is definitely worth it for the scenery.

Calvi is known for its citadel overlooking the bay and its old town. Quai Landry, the promenade along the harbour, is lined with cafés and small bars. The fine sandy town beach begins a few steps from the centre and gently curves around the bay, sloping gently and ideal for swimming.

Bastia lies between the sea and the slopes at the foot of Cap Corse. Fishing boats bob at the Vieux Port, above which rises the baroque silhouette of the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Cafés line the Place Saint-Nicolas. Around the Vieux Port, the atmosphere remains pleasantly local, with many establishments frequented by the locals. In the morning, the market on the Place du Marché is well worth a visit. For an aperitif, try a Cap Corse in one of the bars on the square.

Your travel options

Hôtel La Villa Calvi (5-star, Relais & Châteaux), Calvi

The hotel is situated high above the bay, nestled in gardens with pine and olive trees. When you arrive, the view opens up over the water to the citadel.

The location is ideal for concert evenings in the hilltop villages of Balagne. Depending on your destination, most venues can be reached by car in around 30 to 45 minutes.

Perla Rossa (4-star boutique), Île-Rousse

The Perla Rossa, a small house in a historic palace, is located on the edge of the old town of L'Île-Rousse, overlooking the sea and the promenade.

Depending on the location of your room, it is a two to five-minute walk to the covered market hall. The town beach is just a few steps away.

The venues in the hills of Balagne can be reached by car in around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your destination.

Would you prefer a different hideaway? We can also recommend other properties in L'Île-Rousse or Calvi and tailor your trip accordingly.

Music Travel Hideaways Special

We’ll tailor your concert selection so that several venues in the Balagne region can be combined in a logical way. On request, we can arrange a private driver for the day of the concert. This means you can also attend evening events in Calenzana or the mountain villages without having to drive yourself.

Travel details

Festival dates: 17 to 24 August 2026

Festival: Rencontres de Calenzana: concerts at special locations in Balagne (churches, squares, gardens)

Accommodation: e.g. La Villa Calvi (Calvi) or Perla Rossa (Île-Rousse)

Your individual journey

Are you interested in the Rencontres de Calenzana 2026? Please let us know your preferred travel dates and departure airport.

We are also happy to check last-minute travel enquiries, subject to availability of flights, hotels and concert tickets.

To make a non-binding booking enquiry

Phone: +49 30 21964804

E-mail: info@musictravelhideaways.com