Mozart Week Salzburg 2027: Your Guide to the World's Leading Mozart Festival
Every January, Salzburg transforms into a global stage for the music of its most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart Week, organized by the International Mozarteum Foundation, packs the city’s historic concert halls with an intensive program of operas, orchestral concerts, chamber music, and talks—all timed around Mozart’s birthday on January 27.
First held in 1956 for the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, the festival has grown into the world’s leading Mozart celebration, drawing renowned orchestras, conductors, and soloists. For newcomers and seasoned festival-goers alike, planning ahead is essential: the 2027 edition runs from January 21 to 31, and the full program is typically released months in advance on the official Mozarteum website.
History and Concept: From 1956 to the World's Leading Mozart Festival
Mozart Week began in 1956 when Salzburg celebrated the 200th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Mozarteum Foundation organized a series of concerts and operas that evolved into an annual festival, held each year around January 27. Over the decades, it has earned a reputation as the world’s most important platform for Mozart’s music, welcoming great conductors, celebrated soloists, and renowned orchestras.
The festival’s concept is rooted in exploring Mozart’s works “pure, unadulterated, and with the ambition to rediscover them again and again,” as the city’s tourism site puts it. Each edition sets a new thematic focus, often pairing Mozart’s masterpieces with works by his contemporaries or later composers. For 2027, the theme “Mozart and ‘Mozarts’” spotlights composers like Joseph Bologne, Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, and Joseph Martin Kraus, offering a broader view of the musical landscape of Mozart’s time.
Mozart Week 2027: Dates, Theme, and Key Performers
The 2027 edition of Mozart Week takes place from January 21 to 31, 2027, with the theme “Mozart and ‘Mozarts’.” The centerpiece is a new production of Mozart’s opera Così fan tutte, directed by the festival’s artistic director Rolando Villazón. This staging completes Villazón’s Da Ponte cycle, following his previous productions of Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.
The program also includes three concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Christian Thielemann leads the orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to mark the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, while a second concert features Adam Fischer and pianist Igor Levit, a duo returning for the third consecutive year. Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson makes his Mozart Week debut, and the great American baritone Thomas Hampson appears as an artist-in-residence, giving talks and performances.
2027 Program Highlights: Operas, Concerts, and Special Events
Beyond the Vienna Philharmonic concerts, the 2027 program features a wide array of chamber music, orchestral performances, and special events. Highlights include an opening concert by the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, a chamber concert by the Kammerorchester Basel with pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout and violinist Alina Ibragimova, and an evening with the Baborák Ensemble Plus. The Quatuor van Kuijk performs works by Mozart and Bologne, and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Oksana Lyniv, plays a program reflecting turbulent times.
Opera lovers can catch the new Così fan tutte in three performances at the Haus für Mozart, while the Salzburg Marionette Theatre presents La finta giardiniera. For those seeking deeper insights, there are opening talks, artist talks with Thomas Hampson and Oksana Lyniv, and introductory lectures on the festival theme. Films about Mozart and his music are shown at the Mozarteum, and guided tours of the Autographentresor, the vault holding original Mozart manuscripts, are offered in both German and English.
Venues and Atmosphere: Where Mozart Week Unfolds
Mozart Week events are scattered across Salzburg’s most historic and acoustically refined venues. The Stiftung Mozarteum’s Grosser Saal and Wiener Saal host many chamber concerts and talks, offering an intimate atmosphere ideal for Mozart’s music. The larger Großes Festspielhaus and Haus für Mozart accommodate opera and orchestral performances, the latter staging the new Così fan tutte.
Special venues add variety: the Mozart Residence, where the composer was born, hosts letters-and-music events and vault tours, while the OVAL – Die Bühne im Europark presents the dramatic work “The Other Mozart” about Mozart’s sister Nannerl. The Marionette Theatre, a Salzburg institution, stages a Mozart opera in its own unique style. For a complete list of venues and programs, check the official Mozart Week page on the Salzburg tourism site or the Mozarteum Foundation website.
How to Get Tickets and Save
Tickets for Mozart Week can be purchased online or at the box office, and subscribing to multiple concerts offers savings—up to 20% off standard prices. For younger audiences, substantial discounts are available: concert-goers under 27 who are in education (with a valid student or apprentice ID) can enjoy tickets for €25, subject to availability. Those under 30 receive 50% off single ticket prices, depending on seat categories.
Given the festival’s prestige and the star-studded lineup, popular concerts and operas sell out quickly. It’s wise to book as soon as the program is released—typically in May of the preceding year. Always verify the most current ticket prices and availability on the official Mozarteum website, as details may change.
Beyond the Concerts: Guided Tours, Films, and Special Events
Mozart Week is more than a series of concerts; it’s a cultural immersion in Mozart’s world. You can explore the Autographentresor at the Mozart Residence on guided tours, where original autograph manuscripts are preserved and displayed. Films screened during the festival include documentaries and performances, such as “Mozart: Symphonies & Arias” and “Oksana Lyniv conducts Mozarts.”
For a lighter diversion, the festival includes a “Krimicafé” crime-themed café event, and the Marionette Theatre’s production of La finta giardiniera offers a family-friendly option. Artist talks and lectures provide deeper insight into the music and its context. Many of these special events require separate tickets, so plan your schedule in advance.
Practical Visitor Information
If you are traveling to Salzburg for Mozart Week, book your accommodation early—the festival attracts international visitors each January. The city is easily reachable by train from Vienna, Munich, and other European hubs, and Salzburg Airport has direct flights from several cities. In winter, combine your festival days with the Christmas markets (if arriving earlier) or a visit to the nearby Alps for skiing or sleigh rides.
To make the most of your trip, consider browsing the full range of Salzburg festivals offered throughout the year, from the Easter Festival to the renowned summer Salzburg Festival, which shares some venues with Mozart Week. Each has its own distinct atmosphere and programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mozart Week? Mozart Week is an annual festival in Salzburg, organized by the Mozarteum Foundation, dedicated to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It has been held every year since 1956, around Mozart’s birthday on January 27.
When does Mozart Week 2027 take place? Mozart Week 2027 runs from January 21 to January 31, 2027. For future editions, always verify the exact dates on the official Mozarteum website, as schedules are subject to change.
Plan Your Visit
Attending Mozart Week is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for classical music lovers, offering an immersive celebration of Mozart’s genius in the city where he was born. Whether you are drawn by the new Così fan tutte, the Vienna Philharmonic concerts, or the intimate chamber recitals, planning well ahead is key.
Remember that dates and program details for future editions are subject to change, so always confirm the current schedule and ticket information on the official Mozarteum website before making travel arrangements. With careful planning, you can enjoy a magical winter visit to Salzburg and be part of the world’s most important Mozart festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mozart Week in Salzburg?
Mozart Week is an annual festival in Salzburg dedicated to the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, held every January around his birthday. Organized by the Mozarteum Foundation since 1956, it features concerts, operas, chamber music, and talks by renowned artists.
When does Mozart Week 2027 take place?
Mozart Week 2027 is scheduled from January 21–31, 2027. For any future edition, it’s essential to verify exact dates on the official Mozarteum website, as they may be updated.
Where do Mozart Week events take place?
Events are held across Salzburg, including the Mozarteum’s Grosser Saal and Wiener Saal, the Großes Festspielhaus, Haus für Mozart, the Mozart Residence, the Marionette Theatre, and other venues. Specific locations are listed per event in the official program.
Who performs at Mozart Week?
The festival attracts top-tier performers, including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, and soloists like Víkingur Ólafsson, Igor Levit, and Kristian Bezuidenhout. Conductors such as Christian Thielemann and Adam Fischer regularly appear.
How do I get discounted tickets for Mozart Week?
Subscription packages offer up to 20% off standard ticket prices. Additionally, there are special reduced-price offers for younger concert-goers: those under 27 in education can get tickets at a favorable rate, and those under 30 receive 50% off single tickets. Check the official Mozarteum website for current prices and eligibility.