Al Bustan Festival 2026: Upcoming Performances You Can’t Miss
Lebanon’s most prestigious cultural tradition has returned to take center stage. This year, the Al Bustan International Festival celebrates its 32nd edition with the heartwarming theme of “Family & Friends,” bringing together world-class virtuosos, legendary ensembles, and rising stars in a series of intimate performances.
Here are the upcoming performances that you can’t miss!
1. Sir Bryn Terfel & Yerevan Youth Orchestra, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi
Date & Time: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Under the patronage of the Italian Embassy, this operatic centerpiece features the world-renowned Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel in the title role. A sharp, witty one-act opera, this performance brings a massive international cast to the Emile Bustani stage. It’s a rare chance to see a global opera star of this caliber perform in Lebanon alongside the talented Yerevan Youth Orchestra.
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2. Renaud Capuçon, Paul Zientara & Krzysztof Michalski, Goldberg Variations
Date & Time: Monday, March 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Celebrated violinist Renaud Capuçon returns to the festival with a profound exploration of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Joined by Paul Zientara on viola and Krzysztof Michalski on cello, this performance offers a refined, intimate string trio arrangement of one of the most complex and beautiful masterpieces in the classical canon.
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3. Renaud Capuçon & Guillaume Bellom, Aimez-vous Brahms?
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 8:30 PM
For those who can’t get enough of Capuçon, he returns the very next night for an evening dedicated to Johannes Brahms. Accompanied by Guillaume Bellom on piano, they will perform three of Brahms’ most iconic violin sonatas. It’s the ultimate “date night” performance for anyone who loves high-emotion, romantic classical music.
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4. Yerevan Youth Orchestra & Notre Dame University Choir, Dvořák’s Sacred Masterpiece
Date & Time: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Taking place in the breathtaking Saint-Joseph Jesuit Church in Monnot, this performance of Dvořák’s Stabat Mater (A Mother’s Prayer) is set to be a spiritual highlight of the festival. With a full choir, orchestra, and four soloists, the acoustics of the Monnot church will amplify the deep emotional weight of this sacred work.
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5. Dvořák’s Stabat Mater (A Mother’s Prayer)
Date & Time: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Set in the stunning Saint-Joseph Jesuit Church in Monnot, this sacred masterpiece features the Notre Dame University Choir and the Yerevan Youth Orchestra. The acoustics of the church combined with Dvořák’s soul-stirring choral work make this a spiritual highlight of the season.
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6. The Ayoub Sisters, Family, Strings and Pop
Date & Time: Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Sarah and Laura Ayoub bring their viral, multi-instrumental energy to Beirut. Known for blending classical training with Arabic influences and pop hits, the sisters will be backed by the Lebanese String Orchestra. This is the festival’s most “accessible” and high-energy show—perfect if you want a night that feels as much like a celebration as a concert.
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7. Trio Hèrmes: Beethoven & Brahms
Date & Time: Monday, March 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Winners of multiple international awards, this all-female Italian trio performs Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio and Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 3. Expect technical precision and a deep, intuitive musical dialogue between three young stars.
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8. Makedonissimo: Family and Friends in Concert
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Led by pianist Simon Trpčeski, this quintet reinvents Macedonian folk music with a classical twist. It’s a vibrant, rhythmic performance that perfectly captures the festival’s theme of heritage and cultural friendship.
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9. Trio Moreau, Schubert en Famille
Date & Time: Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Embodying the festival’s theme of “Family & Friends,” the Moreau brothers (Jérémie on piano, Edgar on cello, and David on violin) take on the works of Schubert. There is a specific kind of musical chemistry that only siblings share, and seeing these three world-class French musicians perform together is a masterclass in artistic intuition.
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10. Geniušas Duo: Strings Attached
Date & Time: Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 8:30 PM (AUB Assembly Hall)
Husband-and-wife piano duo Lukas Geniušas and Anna Geniushene perform a four-hand piano recital featuring Schubert, Friedman, and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances. A powerhouse performance in the historic setting of AUB.
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11. Julien-Laferrière Au Carré
Date & Time: Monday, March 16, 2026 at 8:30 PM (St. Elie Church, Kantari)
Sibling duo Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello) and Alice Julien-Laferrière (violin) perform a unique program of Händel and Bach. The intimacy of the Kantari church provides the perfect backdrop for this brother-sister musical conversation.
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12. The Tango Family
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM
A dramatic night of Tango featuring Gloria Campaner on piano and Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi on bandoneon, accompanied by professional dancers. It’s a passionate tribute to the works of Piazzolla and Gardel that brings the fire of Argentina to Beit Mery.
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13. Julian & James Joseph: Jazz and Family Brothers in Sync
Date & Time: Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Jazz takes the lead as brothers Julian and James Joseph bring an evening of improvisation and standards. This is the festival’s soulful side, proving that the “Family & Friends” theme extends across every genre.
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14. Grand Finale: Jahida Wehbe – The Poets Family
Date & Time: Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The festival concludes with the evocative voice of Jahida Wehbe. Conducted by André Hajj, this performance pays tribute to the “family” of great poets—Mahmoud Darwich, Gibran Khalil Gibran, and Talal Haidar—weaving music and literature into a poignant finale.
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This year’s “Family & Friends” theme feels especially right for Lebanon—intimate, collaborative, and high-energy. For more content like this, make sure to browse the #Festivals section on our website.
