Death, defiance, legacy and lush tropical reinvention – the 2026 Australian Festival of Chamber Music rewriters the chamber music rulebook (again)
Australia’s finest musicians meet international masters in a bold new chapter for the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in Cairns, with tickets to the 2026 Festival on sale NOW
Death, defiance, legacy and lush tropical reinvention; the 2026 Australian Festival of Chamber Music program proves chamber music is anything but polite. From composers who met wildly dramatic ends in Horrible Histories, Composer Edition, to Schubert’s Winterreise reimagined for North Queensland, a lost Holocaust-era work completed 80 years on, a rare onstage reunion of past and present Artistic Directors, and a sweeping multimedia tribute to the natural world, this year’s program is bold, cinematic and unafraid to take risks. It’s chamber music with edge, story and serious emotional punch.
From 24 July to 1 August 2026, over nine glorious winter days, AFCM will transform Cairns–Gimuy into a global chamber music capital, where world-class musicians, once-in-a-lifetime performances and unforgettable experiences unfold against the backdrop of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.
Forget everything you think you know about classical music, because a whole new experience is taking place this year. Artistic Director and acclaimed British violinist Jack Liebeck today announced a program that balances global excellence with powerful storytelling, fresh commissions and deeply personal artistic connections.
“The Australian Festival of Chamber Music is built on surprise, storytelling and extraordinary musicianship,” said Liebeck. “From comic tales of composers’ untimely ends to deeply moving works of remembrance and environmental reflection, these concerts represent the breadth, imagination and emotional power at the heart of this year’s Festival.”
International artists include Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Stefan Dohr, French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca, Irish tenor Robin Tritschler and world-renowned ensembles including the Sitkovetsky Piano Trio. They are joined by leading Australian musicians including Piers Lane, Karin Schaupp, Lloyd Van’t Hoff, Charlotte Miles and many more, alongside emerging artists and new works from the AFCM Pathways Emerging Composer in Residence Sam Wu. Importantly, audiences will hear new commissions that connect past and present, including British composer Alex Turley’s new work for flute and string quartet.
Imagery of 2026 artists HERE
Imagery of Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in Cairns HERE
JACK LIEBECK’S TOP 5 FOR 2026
Horrible Histories, Composer Edition: Sunday July 26
Inspired by the hit BBC series, this irreverent concert revives composers who met dramatic and sometimes absurd ends. Did you know:
- Composer Henry Purcell allegedly froze to death after being locked out of his house?
- Jean-Baptiste Lully fatally stabbed his own foot while conducting?
- Isaac Nathan, the “father of Australian music,” was crushed by a tram, in the first traffic accident in Sydney in 1864?
- Ernest Chausson cycled into a wall and never composed another note?
It may sound grim, but the music is glorious. At CPAC, these composers are brought thrillingly back to life in a programme that blends storytelling, humour and sublime chamber music. A miracle, indeed.
A Tropical Winter’s Journey: Friday July 31
Schubert’s Winterreise reimagined in rare chamber arrangements, performed by acclaimed Irish tenor Robin Tritschler. A haunting masterpiece transformed for tropical North Queensland.
Epoch Echoes: Friday July 31 – Ray Golding Sunset Series
In a poignant Festival highlight and AFCM co-commission, Australian composer Lee Bradshaw has completed a work begun 80 years ago by Gideon Klein in a Nazi concentration camp. Klein was murdered on January 25, 1945, the date that now titles this extraordinary new composition. Paired with Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in C minor, this is music of memory, resilience and humanity.
A Tale of Two: Wednesday July 29 – Ray Golding Sunset Series
Current Artistic Director Jack Liebeck joins beloved former Artistic Director Piers Lane for a rare recital of Elgar and Brahms; two Artistic Directors, two master musicians, one shared legacy.
a meeting of legacy and leadership.
Wonderful World: Wednesday July 29
French cello star Christian-Pierre La Marca curates a sweeping multimedia tribute to nature, pairing breathtaking cinematography by Yann Arthus-Bertrand with music from Fauré to Philip Glass. Epic. Emotional. Immersive.
Also Not To Miss…
- Cairns Colossal 150th – Monday July 27: A musical celebration of Cairns’ 150-year history, tracing the city’s story through works spanning centuries, from 1770 to the year Cairns became a city.
- Harbour Harmonies – Spirit of Cairns Lunch Cruise: A Festival first combining chamber music, fine dining and Trinity Inlet views in an unforgettable on-water experience.
- AFCM Families’ Concert – Saturday August 1: An interactive, joy-filled introduction to classical music where instruments transform into birds, bears and fantastical creatures, perfect for young listeners and the young at heart.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 24 July – 1 August, 2026
MONDAY 2 MARCH: tickets on sale to the general public.
www.afcm.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #afcm
AFCM is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland; Cairns Regional Council; the Ian Potter Foundation; and the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Contact details:
Kath Rose | 0416 291 493 | [email protected]
