Italy Leads Granada Festivals 75th Anniversary with Zubin Mehta, Ludovico Einaudi, and Riccardo Muti

The 75th edition of the Granada International Music and Dance Festival, one of Europe’s most prestigious cultural events, opened on 12 June 2026 in the historic Palacio de Carlos V in Granada, Andalusia. The anniversary edition is centered on Italy, which has a prominent artistic presence throughout the program.

The opening concert was conducted by the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under Maestro Zubin Mehta, who made his debut on the Granada stage. The event was attended by representatives of the Spanish Royal House, including Queen Emerita Sofía, and by Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun. The concert marked the first time Mehta has conducted at the festival and the first time he has performed in Granada.

On the previous evening, 11 June, Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi made his Granada debut with a recital at the Teatro del Generalife. The performance took place in the Alhambra complex and was billed as a special anniversary event for the festival.

The program continues on 21 June with a concert by the vocal ensemble Odhecaton. The event is part of a series of celebrations dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Charles V’s visit to Granada. Odhecaton’s performance adds a historic dimension to the festival’s focus on cultural heritage.

The Italian presence will close on 28 June with Maestro Riccardo Muti, who will conduct the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra at the Palacio de Carlos V. This marks the first time Muti has taken the podium at the festival’s main venue, and the concert is described as one of the most anticipated moments of the celebratory edition.

The Italian Embassy in Madrid has issued a press release stating that its support for the 75th edition confirms the vitality and prestige of Italy’s musical tradition on the international stage. The embassy’s contribution is said to enrich the program and attest to the depth of cultural relations between Italy and Spain, emphasizing music as a powerful tool for dialogue.

The festival, which runs from 11 June to 12 July 2026, features more than 100 shows, including 35 concerts and performances of music, dance, flamenco, and jazz. The 75th edition’s Italian‑led lineup underscores the festival’s role as a major platform for cross‑cultural collaboration in Europe’s music scene.