Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 24 July – 1 August, 2026
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Home is where the heart, and the piano, is: North Queensland's own Piers Lane AO returns to Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Before the standing ovations at London's Wigmore Hall, before five appearances at the BBC Proms, before performances at New York's Carnegie Hall and concert halls in more than 40 countries around the world, there was Far North Queensland.
This July, one of Australia's greatest living pianists, internationally acclaimed musician and former Australian Festival of Chamber Music Artistic Director Piers Lane AO, returns to his northern roots as the Festival begins an exciting new chapter in Cairns-Gimuy, just a short drive from the region where his remarkable musical journey began.
It's more than another Festival appearance. It's a homecoming: raised in Queensland and with deep family connections to Innisfail, Piers Lane has spent decades building one of the most distinguished careers of any Australian classical musician. A Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, an Officer of the Order of Australia, Artistic Director of the Sydney International Piano Competition and former Artistic Director of AFCM for eleven transformative years, he has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, recorded more than 70 albums and presented over 100 programs for BBC Radio 3.
Yet despite a career that has taken him to the world's greatest concert stages, North Queensland has never been far from his heart. Returning to Tropical North Queensland for the Festival's historic first year in Cairns carries particular significance, reconnecting one of Australia's most celebrated musical ambassadors with the community that helped shape him.
Festival audiences will see Lane in a series of unforgettable performances throughout the week, including the deeply personal A Tale of Two, where he joins current Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in a rare recital celebrating friendship, legacy and the passing of the artistic baton. He also features in the atmospheric Epoch Echoes, the evocative Ray Golding Sunset Series, Festival Conversations and a host of chamber performances that showcase the extraordinary artistry which has made him one of the world's most respected pianists.
Artistic Director Jack Liebeck said welcoming Piers back to AFCM was one of the great joys of the 2026 Festival. “Piers is woven into the fabric of this Festival. His vision helped shape AFCM into one of the world’s great chamber music festivals, and his artistry continues to inspire audiences and musicians alike. To have him return as the Festival begins its exciting new chapter in Cairns is incredibly special.”
For audiences, it is a rare opportunity to experience one of Australia's greatest musical treasures in an intimate setting. For Far North Queensland, it is the return of one of its own.
Whether it's hearing the Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic from just metres away, discovering one of Europe's finest chamber ensembles or witnessing tomorrow's stars before the rest of the world catches on, AFCM 2026 offers a rare opportunity to experience global musical excellence in one of the world's most extraordinary destinations.
In 2026, the Festival enters an exciting new chapter, relocating to Cairns, Queensland, Australia, where from 24 July to 1 August it will transform the tropical city into a global chamber music capital. Here, extraordinary performances will unfold against the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, creating a rare fusion of cultural and destination appeal.
Imagery of 2026 artists HERE
Imagery of Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in Cairns HERE
Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 24 July – 1 August, 2026
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.
For media enquiries please contact Kath Rose | 0416 291 493 | [email protected]
Contact details:
Kath Rose | 0416 291 493 | [email protected]
