The most famous native of Litomyšl, composer Bedřich Smetana, is celebrated every summer with a big music festival. Dating from 1949, it is the second oldest music festival in Czechia.
The Smetana Litomyšl Festival is one of the most important music festivals in Czechia. It is held annually in the historic town of Litomyšl, including the courtyard of the Renaissance castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The quality of vocal artistry is paramount for the organizers, which is why they have selected top-tier singers who will perform across various genres. Bryn Terfel and Slávka Zámečníková in the Opera Gala, Kateřina Kněžíková in The Devil’s Wall and a song recital with a string quartet, Paul Appleby in Oedipus Rex, Eric Greene and Elizabeth Llewellyn in Porgy and Bess. The symphonic repertoire will feature world-renowned conductors such as Antonio Pappano (with London Symphony Orchestra) , David Robertson, J. David Jackson, Petr Popelka and Tomáš Netopil.
As part of the accompanying programme, you can look forward to Festival Gardens, art installations, guided tours, poetry readings and family events. The Smetana’s Arts Litomyšl, running from June to September., transforms Litomyšl into a vibrant gallery where music meets the visual arts. And it's not just indoors, but all over the city.
programme and tickets⬈
Programme Highlights and News
From 12 June to 5 July 2026, the 68th edition of the festival will offer programmes combining opera, symphonic music, ballet, and chamber concerts. For the first time in its history, the 2026 edition of Smetana’s Litomyšl will open with two concerts reflecting the festival theme NATURA, culminating in The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. The opening programme also features Wallenstein’s Camp by Bedřich Smetanaand Piano Concerto No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by the Czech Philharmonic with world-renowned pianist Seong-Jin Cho under the baton of Grammy Award-winning conductor David Robertson.The quality of vocal artistry is paramount for the organizers, which is why they have selected top-tier singers who will perform across various genres. Bryn Terfel and Slávka Zámečníková in the Opera Gala, Kateřina Kněžíková in The Devil’s Wall and a song recital with a string quartet, Paul Appleby in Oedipus Rex, Eric Greene and Elizabeth Llewellyn in Porgy and Bess. The symphonic repertoire will feature world-renowned conductors such as Antonio Pappano (with London Symphony Orchestra) , David Robertson, J. David Jackson, Petr Popelka and Tomáš Netopil.
As part of the accompanying programme, you can look forward to Festival Gardens, art installations, guided tours, poetry readings and family events. The Smetana’s Arts Litomyšl, running from June to September., transforms Litomyšl into a vibrant gallery where music meets the visual arts. And it's not just indoors, but all over the city.
programme and tickets⬈
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