From 1 to 9 August 2026, Wrocław once again becomes a meeting place for lovers of early music as Forum Musicum returns with a programme that explores the boundaries of musical imagination from the Middle Ages to the early Baroque.
Presented across the National Forum of Music (NFM) and several historic venues throughout the city, this year’s festival is built around the theme “Reaching the Boundaries” (Sięgając do granic), highlighting composers and performers who challenged the musical conventions of their time.
Rather than focusing primarily on vocal repertoire, the 2026 edition shines a spotlight on instrumental music, tracing a period when instruments gradually developed their own artistic identity and expanded the possibilities of musical expression.
A Journey Through Centuries of Innovation
Artistic director Tomasz Dobrzański, one of Poland’s leading specialists in early music and founder of the Wrocław ensemble Ars Cantus, has designed another carefully curated programme that invites audiences to hear familiar historical periods from a fresh perspective.
The festival explores an era when composers experimented with new forms, new instrumental techniques and increasingly ambitious sound worlds. One inspiration comes from the Renaissance ricercar composition technique. The name literally means “to search”, perfectly reflecting the spirit of musical exploration running throughout this year’s programme.
Across nine days, audiences can experience performances ranging from medieval songs and Renaissance dances to early sonatas and richly expressive Baroque chamber music.
Highlights of Forum Musicum 2026
Several concerts stand out in this year’s programme.
The festival opens on 1 August at the NFM with an appearance by Sławomir Zubrzycki, performing on the viola organista, an instrument designed by Leonardo da Vinci and painstakingly reconstructed by the musician himself. Its distinctive sound combines characteristics of string and keyboard instruments, creating a sound unlike anything found in a modern orchestra.
On 2 August, daytime audiences can enjoy medieval repertoire performed by Polish ensemble The Medievals, featuring anonymous European songs alongside works by Guillaume de Machaut and selections from the celebrated Cantigas de Santa Maria.
Later that evening, the international group Stylus Phantasticus performs at the historic Oratorium Marianum, presenting imaginative works by composers including William Lawes, John Jenkins, Giovanni Coperario and Dietrich Buxtehude.
Italian ensemble Castello Consort appears on 8 August in the Great Hall of Wrocław Town Hall, bringing together Italian canzonas and sonatas alongside music by the Polish Baroque composer Adam Jarzębski, whose travels in Italy helped shape his distinctive musical style.
The festival concludes on 9 August in the atmospheric Old Refectory of the Dominican Monastery, where Ensemble Pampinea explores the rich and colourful world of late medieval and early Renaissance music through works by composers including Matheus de Perusio, Solage, Jacob Vaillant, Johannes Symonis Hasprois, Petrus Fabri and Antonello da Caserta.
Historic Venues Add to the Experience
One of Forum Musicum’s greatest attractions is its setting. Alongside performances in the National Forum of Music, concerts take place in some of Wrocław’s most beautiful historic interiors, allowing audiences to hear centuries-old music in surroundings that complement the repertoire.
The combination of carefully chosen venues and specialist performers creates an intimate festival atmosphere that has made Forum Musicum a favourite among both dedicated early music enthusiasts and curious newcomers.
Event Details
Dates: 1 to 9 August 2026
Locations:
- National Forum of Music (NFM)
- Oratorium Marianum
- Great Hall of Wrocław Town Hall
- Old Refectory at the Dominican Monastery
Ticket prices: 15 to 55 PLN
Tickets remain available through the NFM box office and online, although availability is limited for some concerts.
For anyone interested in discovering music beyond the standard concert repertoire, Forum Musicum offers a rare opportunity to hear internationally respected performers bring centuries-old compositions to life in the historic heart of Wrocław.
Sources: nfm.wroclaw.pl / wroclaw.pl
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