Stiftfestival

Stiftfestival 2026: Roots & Wings

The 22nd edition of the Stiftfestival revolves around Roots & Wings — a theme that touches the very heart of music and the people who create it. Where do you come from? And where are you going?

From 21 to 28 August, Twente will once again unfold into a week filled with stories, sounds and encounters. On country estates, in churches and beneath open skies, musicians come together to share their roots while exploring new artistic directions. From intimate solo recitals to grand evening programmes, from moments of quiet reflection to exuberant celebrations — each concert carries something of this journey within it.

Internationally acclaimed musicians share the stage, connecting through chamber music that unites, challenges and surprises. Familiar masterpieces are placed in a new context, new compositions meet their very first audiences, and musical traditions intertwine in unexpected ways. From tango to baroque, from Viennese romanticism to contemporary sounds — the festival moves effortlessly between past and future.

Beyond the concert halls, music is never far away. During cycling and walking concerts, encounters with musicians and special projects in unique locations, the landscape itself becomes part of the experience. Here, in Twente, everything comes together: music, place and audience.

Roots & Wings is therefore more than a theme. It is an invitation — to listen, to discover, and to let yourself be carried away.