Westport Festival of Chamber Music returns this week

WESTPORT Festival of Chamber Music returns from this Thursday to Sunday, September 10 to 13, bringing an outstanding line-up of musicians from Ireland and around the world to Westport.

Taking place across Westport Town Hall Theatre, Holy Trinity Church and Westport Woods Hotel, the boutique festival offers audiences four days of chamber music in some of the town’s most intimate and atmospheric settings.

The 2026 festival welcomes Doric String Quartet, Diana Ketler, José Franch-Ballester, Jakob Koranyi, Hélène Clément, Nuala McKenna, Patrick Rafter, Fiachra Garvey, Ai Lin Sun, Ji Hye Jung and Stephen Waarts.

This year’s programme brings together music by Brahms, Fauré, Schubert, Mozart, Stravinsky, Chausson, Schumann and Bach, alongside contemporary works by Gabriela Ortiz and David Bruce.

A major highlight will be David Bruce’s States of Glory for clarinet, marimba and cello. Commissioned by Chamber Music City in the United States and supported by Westport Festival of Chamber Music, the work will be performed by José Franch-Ballester, Ji Hye Jung and Nuala McKenna on Saturday evening.

Audiences can also look forward to the festival’s popular free Balcony Concert in the heart of Westport, a solo piano recital from young Irish musician Ai Lin Sun, a late-night concert blending jazz, classical and traditional Irish music, and a free festival lecture with José Franch-Ballester.

Artistic director Catherine Leonard said: “It is a privilege to bring together musicians of the highest calibre in Westport year after year, and this year’s festival promises that same uncompromising excellence once again.

"The intimacy of the settings creates a uniquely charged atmosphere for audience and performer alike.I look forward to welcoming audiences to Westport.”

Westport Festival of Chamber Music has been part of the town’s cultural life since 2013, creating an environment where musicians spend time together in Westport rehearsing and collaborating ahead of their performances, fostering the musical intimacy and spontaneity that have become central to the festival.

The full programme and booking is available at westportchambermusic.ie.