The 14th Chofu International Music Festival 2026

This acclaimed classical music festival brings together leading musicians, composers, and audiences in an open, community-focused setting.

For the 2026 edition, renowned conductor and musician Masato Suzuki, a prominent figure in Japan's early music scene, will serve as Executive Producer. Acclaimed pianist Yui Morishita, known for his refined technique and expressive performances, joins as Associate Producer. The festival is supervised by Masaaki Suzuki, an internationally respected authority on the music of J.S. Bach.

The theme for the 2026 festival is "Delicious Music, Please Enjoy". Drawing on the image of the entire city of Chofu as a single kitchen, the festival presents composers as creators of musical "recipes", performers as those who carefully prepare sound, and audiences as participants who experience and appreciate the results.

The program includes concerts open to audiences from infancy, large-scale orchestral performances, composition workshops, and special collaborations unique to Chofu. Together, these offerings form a diverse musical program designed to create memorable experiences for listeners of all ages.

The World Premiere of the Opera ZEN

The 2026 edition marks the festival's first-ever full-length opera staging: the world premiere of ZEN, a brand-new work by composer Atsuhiko Gondai, conducted by Executive Producer Masato Suzuki and performed by Bach Collegium Japan, with a libretto by Harue Tsutsumi and direction by Tetsu Taoshita.

Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, the opera follows the philosopher Kitarō Nishida and the Buddhist scholar Daisetz (D.T.) Suzuki as they struggle to move beyond the binary, either/or logic of Western thought. As the war unfolds and its human cost mounts, the story arrives at the Zen idea of myō – a state in which self and other become one, described in the work as a sense of "Wonderful". The performance also features shakuhachi player Reison Kuroda.

Ahead of the premiere, an opening talk event will bring composer Atsuhiko Gondai and conductor Masato Suzuki together to discuss the ideas behind the work and the story of its creation (June 20).

Three Highlights at the Green Hall

Several of the festival's marquee concerts take place at Chofu City Green Hall, which is approaching its 50th anniversary and is prized for its warm, vintage acoustics.

• Opening Concert – Masato Suzuki × Panda Wind Orchestra (June 21): A powerful wind-band program opens the festival, with saxophonist Kohei Ueno and the male chorus of Bach Collegium Japan. The program includes J.S. Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in a newly revised arrangement by Masato Suzuki, alongside other works.

• Festival Orchestra All-Stars – The Carnival of the Animals and a French Program (June 25): A one-off ensemble of internationally celebrated soloists performs Debussy chamber works and Saint-Saëns's beloved The Carnival of the Animals.

• Festival Orchestra – Masaaki Suzuki × Mahler's "Titan" (June 27): A large-scale program featuring Handel, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 with pianist Kanon Matsuda, and Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "Titan".

Festival Orchestra: A Participatory Program

One of the festival's long-running participatory initiatives, the Festival Orchestra, will once again recruit members. Formed primarily of young musicians, this orchestra was created specifically for the Chofu International Music Festival.

In 2026, members will prepare and perform the festival's closing orchestral program (June 27) under Masaaki Suzuki, working alongside pianist Kanon Matsuda. Participants receive instruction from distinguished soloists and principal players from leading orchestras in Japan and abroad, including violinist Kei Shirai and flutist Seiya Ueno.

After a series of joint rehearsals, participants will take part in the final performance. To support a diverse range of musicians, partial assistance with travel and related expenses will be provided for international participants and those traveling from distant regions, encouraging cultural exchange through orchestral performance.

Venues

Performances take place across several locations in Chofu, including Chofu City Green Hall, Chofu City Cultural Hall Tazukuri, Sengawa Theatre, the main hall of Jindaiji Temple, Shirayuri University, and Fuda Tenjin Shrine, among others.

Tickets

Each concert and event is individually ticketed, with admission paid per performance. The festival also offers ticket packages that bundle several concerts or events together. Information about tickets and how to purchase them can be found on the dedicated site.