Fiskars Summer Festival 2026 in Finland Jukka-Pekka Saraste & LEAD! Foundation Conducting Masterclass

International artists and targeted support for emerging talent in historic Fiskars

The Fiskars Summer Festival under the artistic direction of Jukka-Pekka Saraste will take place for the seventh time in 2026 in the historic village of Fiskars. At its core are an international conducting masterclass and a mentoring programme for young instrumentalists, proposed by the LEAD! Foundation, complemented by orchestral and chamber music concerts at a high artistic level.

The Open House concert of the young conductors on 31 July offers participants of the masterclass the opportunity to lead the Fiskars Festival Orchestra in works by Mozart, Sibelius, Britten and Beethoven. The soloists are Finnish violinist Otto Antikainen and mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill.

The final concert on 1 August, held at the Threshing House in Fiskars, will be conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste with the Fiskars Festival Orchestra. The programme features Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Outi Tarkiainen’s Ring of Love and Fire, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with Karen Cargill, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7. On 2 August the Fiskars Festival Orchestra and Jukka-Pekka Saraste are invited to the Turku Music Festival.

With its clear focus on excellence, education and artistic exchange, the Fiskars Summer Festival continues in 2026 to reaffirm its commitment to the next generation of musicians. The development programme for young conductors is offering talented emerging artists international perspectives, hands-on experience and sustainable professional networking.

Fiskars Easter Concerts - 6 - 12 April 2026

As in previous years, the festival presents a varied programme of chamber music concerts featuring both renowned artists and promising emerging talents. The highlight of the week is a festive final concert with a large string orchestra conducted by Artistic Director Jukka-Pekka Saraste. 

The festival is organised in close collaboration with the renowned Finnish String Academy and brings together outstanding young Finnish musicians. Thanks to this partnership, two concerts will take place in the beautiful historic town of Porvoo, offering audiences an exceptional musical experience in a unique setting.

Concert Highlights with Jukka-Pekka Saraste (selection) 

• 19  February 2026 - Reykjavik HARPA
  Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands
  Rachmaninow & Bruckner / Soloist: Francesco Piemontesi
  
  

• 20 March 2026 - Luxemburg Philharmonie
  Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg  
  Sibelius, Shostakovich & Janácek / Soloist: Leonidas Kavakos
  
  

• 16, 17 & 19 April 2026 - Elbphilharmonie
  NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
  Sibelius, Adès & Tchaikovsky 
  
  

• 8, 9 & 10 May  2026 - Konzerthaus Bremen 
  Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie
  Mendelssohn Bartholdy & Brahms 
  
  

• 27 & 28 May  2026 - Helsinki Music Centre
  Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
  Mahler 3 / Soloist: Karen Cargill