From September 9 to 13, the Delft Chamber Music Festival brings international musicians, young talent, and new festival formats together in Delft.

After a year of absence, the Delft Chamber Music Festival (DCMF) returns to Delft. From September 9 to 13, 2026, the festival presents five days of chamber music with theatre DE VESTE as the new festival heart. Under the direction of artistic director Nino Gvetadze, this edition is dedicated to Butterflies : an overarching theme centering on transformation, growth, and new perspectives.

With a new team, a refined artistic direction, and a dynamic mix of familiar and innovative program elements, the festival is building a future-proof concept. In addition to high-quality concerts, encounters, talent development, and in-depth exploration are also given a prominent place within the programming. “Music has the power to make people look at themselves and the world around them differently. With the theme Butterflies, we explore how change shapes us, both as individuals and as a society,” says Artistic Director Nino Gvetadze.

A musical story in five chapters

The program follows the life cycle of a butterfly. Each festival day represents a new phase: from the first germination, through the cocoon, to rebirth and freedom. In this way, the concerts together form one continuous story in which music explores various forms of change and development. From classical masters such as Beethoven and Brahms to modern works by Kaija Saariaho, Steve Reich, and brand-new compositions, the program brings together diverse musical perspectives.

Three program lines

The festival consists of three complementary program lines. The Chamber Music Program forms the artistic core, featuring concerts by international musicians and ensembles. Within the Talent Program, young award-winning musicians are given the opportunity to further develop their skills through masterclasses, coaching, and their own concerts. The Meet & Discover Program offers in-depth exploration through discussions, introductions, and encounters surrounding the concerts.

From philosophy to artificial intelligence

The festival opening takes shape with ‘Prelude – The First Flutter’, in which ecologist and philosopher Schouten, together with artistic director Nino Gvetadze, takes the audience through the theme. Additionally, all evening concerts are preceded by ‘Talk of the Town’, in which music presenter Lex Bohlmeijer explores the background of the music with musicians and special guests.

A special feature is the ‘Spotlight’ concert by percussionist and composer Dominique Vleeshouwers (DOMNIQ). In ‘Water Ripples’, he explores the relationship between classical music, electronics, and artificial intelligence, which aligns with Delft’s annual theme ‘The Robots Are Coming’.

International top musicians and fringe programming

Participants in the festival include Nino Gvetadze, Harriet Krijgh, Juliette Hurel, Thomas Beijer, Tosca Opdam, Asi Matathias, Elina Vähälä, Quirine Viersen, and Frederieke Saeijs, among others. Additionally, DCMF presents an extensive talent program in which young musicians, selected from national and international competitions, collaborate with established festival musicians and present themselves to the public during the festival. Besides the evening concerts, the program includes bicycle route concerts, masterclasses, baby, toddler, and family concerts, talent presentations, and Late Night Jazz, where the audience and musicians meet after the concerts.

Practical information

• Date: Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 September 2026
• Location & Festival Hub: theater DE VESTE, Delft
• Program & tickets: www.theaterdeveste.nl/dcmf
• Additional information via: https://delftmusicfestival.nl/